“As a barometer of sentiment in the sector, BrauBeviale is defying the prophecies of doom from the Council of Economic Experts,” said a pleased Andrea Kalrait, Exhibition Director BrauBeviale. “The large numbers of new contacts, both local and international, and the number of new business deals prepared and concluded, all confirm that eating and drinking are not going out of fashion.” Exhibitors, visitors and partner entities expressed complete satisfaction: for them, the exhibition is unmissable and firmly established on their calendars. The exhibition provided a platform to discuss current and key future topics and take them forward.
Between 12 and 14 November 2019, BrauBeviale once again became the focal point of the international beverage industry. About 40,000 trade visitors (2018: 40,882), including around 18,000 from outside Germany, travelled to the most important international capital goods exhibition for the beverage industry this year. With 1,088 exhibitors, 54 percent from outside Germany, the exhibition provided an opportunity to learn all about the beverage manufacture process chain: high-quality raw materials, innovative technologies and components, efficient and sustainable packaging, and creative marketing ideas. Once again this year, the exhibition had the key theme of “Future viability of the beverage sector”.
The exhibitors were happy with the discussions at their booths, as confirmed by the results of an independent survey. About 90 percent of the trade visitors are involved in the decision-making processes in their companies. They came from various parts of the beverage industry: from breweries, malthouses, businesses engaged in the manufacture or bottling of water, soft drinks, juices and spirits, from wineries and sparkling wine factories, dairies, and from the fields of marketing, retail and catering. According to the survey, about 98 percent were happy with the products and services at the exhibition, and as many as 97 percent of visitors intend to visit BrauBeviale again next year.
The themes in the supporting programme relating to the future of the sector were well received, and without exception the exhibition visitors rated them highly. Two symposia held the day before the exhibition led the way: the Export Forum German Beverages provided an opportunity for German beverage manufacturers to share views with export specialists and obtain specific market analyses and insights. The European MicroBrew Symposium, organized by VLB (Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei), the Berlin-based teaching and training institute for brewing, is well established and was well received once again by the international craft brewers and brewpub operators.
Discussions at the BrauBeviale Forum ranged from open exchanges of opinion to highly contentious debate – not least in the two Hot Topics on Stage: the issue of “Tap Water vs. Mineral Water” and the pledge question got the participants fired up, and vigorous discussion continued outside the forum. The event was rounded out with presentations on further topics of interest to the sector and top-level award presentations.