Prodeca connects 100 importers from 23 countries with more than 90 Catalan companies at the second Catalan Food Business Forum

Ninety Catalan agri-food companies took part in the second Catalan Food Business Forum, held in Barcelona on 4 and 5 June, to connect with more than 100 international buyers and importers from 23 countries around the world. The event, organised by Prodeca, has consolidated itself as one of the most important strategic platforms for taking Catalan agri-food products to international markets.

Positive feedback from the sector and real business opportunities

With a wholly professional, results-oriented format, the Catalan Food Business Forum generated more than 3,000 B2B meetings over two days of intensive work. These short, pre-scheduled interviews allowed Catalan companies to make first commercial contact with international players interested in Catalan products.

The participating companies rated the event's format very highly, concentrating an intense agenda of high-level business contacts into just two days. This agile, results-focused approach let them make the most of their time and build connections with great business potential, especially in markets where they do not yet have an established presence.

For their part, the international importers highlighted the interest and quality of the Catalan offering, as well as the forum's good organisation. They appreciated the chance to see at first hand potential new suppliers and products adapted to their market. In many cases these players are key to introducing and consolidating new products in their home country, acting as advocates and a bridge to the rest of the local distribution chain.

Dèlia Perpiñà, director of Prodeca, rated this edition's results very positively and highlighted the satisfaction expressed by the participating companies. "This business meeting's format makes the most of everyone's time, putting Catalan companies in direct contact with international importers from strategic markets that are often hard to reach individually. Companies have told us the meetings were of great value and that they see real possibilities of building solid business relationships, especially in markets where they are not yet present", she explained. Perpiñà added that "at Prodeca we are very pleased to contribute effectively to the international expansion of Catalan agri-food companies, because that is undoubtedly our purpose and our reason for being".

The selection of international buyers included players from strategic markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, China and the United Arab Emirates, among others. The diversity of the importers' origins allowed Catalan companies to open new business opportunities in both mature and emerging markets, adapting their offering to international trends and demands.

On Wednesday 4 June the event received an institutional visit from the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig, who addressed the international importers to highlight the strategic weight of the Catalan agri-food sector, Catalonia's largest economic sector. The minister championed quality, innovation and sustainability as the distinguishing features of Catalan products and urged local companies to maintain and strengthen their internationalisation strategy as an essential route to growth and consolidation.

Strategic reflection and an international diagnosis of Catalan products

The meeting formed part of a key week organised by Prodeca to show the world the potential of the Catalan agri-food sector. Before the Catalan Food Business Forum the agency also held the Prodeca Forum, a space for strategic reflection and debate on the future of internationalisation, attended by more than 200 professionals from the Catalan agri-food sector, including representatives of companies, organisations and institutions, who helped enrich the debate and shared experiences on international outreach.

At the Prodeca Forum a pioneering report was presented on how Catalan agri-food products are perceived by importers and distributors in 14 priority markets. The mapping shows a highly positive view of the Catalan offering, especially on quality, taste and food safety, and points to the importance of strengthening international positioning with brand strategies and a stable presence in key channels.

With this double proposal, Prodeca reaffirms its commitment to the sector's international growth and provides the country's agri-food companies with tangible tools to consolidate their presence in overseas markets.