Interzoo 2024: History in the making

What does Interzoo represent for the global pet care market?

Interzoo is the world´s leading trade fair for pet supplies. It serves as compass and lighthouse for the worldwide pet care sector. As a meeting place and source of inspiration for the pet industry, Interzoo is showcasing and addressing the developments and trends of tomorrow. The high internationality among both, visitors and exhibitors, facilitates companies to build and develop their international supply chains and global networks. This way, Interzoo serves as the flagship event for the international pet supplies industry.
 

How has Interzoo developed from the first edition until today?

Interzoo's success story began in 1950 at the annual association meeting of the Zentralverband Zoologischer Fachbetriebe Deutschlands e.V. (ZZF, German Pet Trade and Industry Association). Until 1959, the so-called "Zoo Fair" was a purely national event, but it was so well received that the exhibition opened-up for companies from abroad by 1959. In the following years, the trade fair expanded more and more – starting from 15 exhibitors and 100 trade visitors in 1953 to more than two hundred exhibitors in the 1970s. In 1968 the trade fair was finally named 'Interzoo'. In response to the immensely increased demand for exhibition space, Interzoo moved to Nuremberg in 1988 and is organized in partnership with NürnbergMesse. Since then, exhibitor and visitor numbers reached new dimensions, culminating in an exhibitor record of more than 2,100 exhibitors for Interzoo 2024.
 

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What are the most striking facts and figures in terms of exhibitors, countries represented and expected visitors?

- Over 2,100 companies from 69 countries will showcase their products and solutions in 14 exhibition halls that cover a display area of more than 140,000 square metres. The strong international presence at Interzoo with about 86% of the exhibitors being from abroad, ensures an unrivalled overview of the global market.

A very notable increase in registrations for stand space can be registered from countries such as Italy (+31%), Poland (+27%) and Turkey (+26%). Among the exhibiting countries with the largest exhibition size are Germany, China, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and the USA. On the visitor side, we are aiming for 40,000 trade visitors – this would be another record.

Petfood continues to be a strong product segment at Interzoo. The segment of petfood technology in particular sees a steady increase to now about 200 exhibitors. Compared to Interzoo 2022 this means the number of petfood technology exhibitors has increased by 46 percent and compared to 2018 the number has even doubled!

What are the most important events of the supporting programme for petfood professionals?

- This year´s Interzoo supporting programme offers a rich portfolio of sessions, special shows and demonstrations. Starting with Petfood Forum Europe on Monday, 6 May 2024, we will kick-off a week covering key topics of the global pet supplies industry. Petfood Forum Europe one day prior to Interzoo provides an additional forum for the important topic of pet food ingredients, packaging and processing technologies. It is therefore the perfect prelude to an exceptional Interzoo 2024 where the petfood segment again plays a crucial role.

During 7-10 May, we will organize six Interzoo Academy Sessions: The Interzoo Sustainability Session with results from the new Interzoo Sustainability Study, one session on social media marketing within the pet industry and four sessions on different geographic markets: Europe, Brazil, South-East Asia and the USA.

On top of that, the Fresh Ideas Area in Hall 3 will be a further highlight of the trade fair. Here, start-ups and innovative companies present their business ideas int the segments petfood, accessories, technology and sustainability. More product highlights can be seen in the Product Showcase, located at Entrance Mitte, offering an initial overview on the diverse product world for pets. And finally, the Interzoo Party on Thursday, 9 May, will be a prime opportunity for networking within a unique Bavarian atmosphere.

What will be the most important innovations and trends in the pet supply industry?

- We see several trends within the pet industry such as sustainability or new pet-tech to improve the health of pets. We worked together with the exhibitors to reflect those trends in the programme of the Fresh Ideas Stage. For sure, the Fresh Ideas Contest on Friday, 10 May, will show some of these ideas.

Since the previous success of special formats such as the Product Showcase and the innovative idea presentation platform, the Fresh Ideas Stage, what will be new this year?

- Interzoo 2024 builds on those successful formats and expands them. This year, hall 3 will be the centre of the start-up activities: More than 70 start-ups will showcase their innovative solutions for the pet industry on an area of more than 700 square metres. Also, we have enlarged the Fresh Ideas Area and added a networking area, making it a centrepiece and a highlight of Interzoo 2024. In addition to the more than 30 speaker slots on the stage, the networking lounge will be home to Meet & Greet formats, for instance with petfluencers.

The Interzoo App has new, additional functions. It is thus an indispensable tool before, during and after the trade fair and offers a ticket wallet, a trade fair planner, in-depth hall plans and a networking feature.

Source: Interzoo.