“We are being born again.” With these heartfelt words Graciela Díaz, founder and president of Confitexpo, kicked off the 35th edition of the largest confectionery industry trade fair in Latin America, held in Guadalajara. Leaders of the national confectionery associations, the state of Jalisco, and the state government, accompanied her at the official ceremony.
Confitexpo’s president emphasized that thanks to the efforts of all the participants, they were able to hold the event in person again, after great difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is the sweetest, warmest event, and all the people behind this industry can’t be any different. The warmth identifies us,” Diaz said.
Ernesto Sánchez Proal, Secretary of Economic Development of the State of Jalisco, who was officially in charge of inaugurating the trade show at Expo Guadalajara, highlighted that the confectionery industry’s contribution to Jalisco’s Gross Domestic Product in 2019 amounted to almost 4.5 billion pesos.
Sánchez Proal said that the industry exported $153 million in confectionery products last year, mostly 75 percent, to the United States.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Jorge Ibarra Jiménez, President of the Sugars, Chocolate, Sweets and Similar Products Section of the Jalisco Chamber of the Food Industry (CIAJ), Alicia Páramo, General Director of the National Association of Chocolate, Sweets and Similar Products Manufacturers (ASCHOCO), Gustavo Staufert Buclón, General Director of the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau, and José María Herrera, General Director of Confitexpo.
Videos of the Confectionary Exhibition in Guadalajara
Alicia Paramo, General Director of the National Association of Manufacturers of Chocolates, Sweets and Similar Products (ASCHOCO), said she was delighted to be at this exhibition and acknowledged that it was a great effort for everyone. “It is an exhibition reference to offer innovations every year,” and she congratulated herself for both the 35 years of Confitexpo and the 85 years of Aschoco.
In his welcoming message, Jorge Ibarra Jiménez, President of the Sugars, Chocolate, Sweets and Similar Products Section of the Jalisco Chamber of the Food Industry (CIAJ), commented that even with all the disruptions generated by the 2020 pandemic, the sector continues to grow. “Not as we would like, but with firm steps to recover the dynamism we had before the pandemic” and emphasized that companies remain committed to offering more innovative products, but at the same time healthier ones.
Federico Díaz González, President of Expo Guadalajara, said that “it is an honor for our venue to host another edition of Confitexpo, especially in this year when we celebrate its 35th anniversary. Undoubtedly, there is no better way to honor this achievement than by returning to the in-person format, which is the ideal way to do business.
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From the early hours of Tuesday morning, August 3, close to 200 exhibiting companies from Germany, El Salvador, Spain, the United States, Holland, Switzerland, Russia, and Mexico, with their sales teams, put the finishing touches on their product exhibition pavilions and celebrated the return of Confitexpo in person.
Well-known brands of snacks and candies, such as Manzela, Las Sevillanas, Cool Toons, Dulces Tinajita, and Dulces Beny, are part of the group of exhibitors that supported the resumption of the trade fair which, due to sanitary restrictions by Covid, was forced to reduce the number of exhibitors, as well as the number of daily visitors to the event.
“We are thrilled to be able to return to this kind of show because last year, due to the pandemic, we could not be here. But we are very motivated that it will be a positive show for us and our colleagues, the other brands. We hope we have a year of many sales, and we are hopeful and with faith that this year will bring excellent results”, said Andres Venado Morales, manager of Manzela, in an interview with Abasto.
Confitexpo wrapped up on August 6th, leaving a hopeful message of the reactivation of in-person events where personal interaction generates new business.
Confitexpo Photo Gallery
