Exclusive Inside Look: Highlights from Record-Breaking Interzoo 2024

Organized by WZF GmbH – Pet Industry Services, the event attracted approximately 37,000 trade visitors from 140 countries, marking a 32% increase compared to the previous event. Additionally, around 2,150 exhibitors from 68 countries showcased the latest innovations in products and services for dogs, cats, fish, small mammals, terrarium animals, and more.

Gordon Bonnet, Managing Director of WZF and ZZF (German Pet Trade & Industry Association and honorary sponsor), expressed his satisfaction with the results: "For many exhibitors and trade visitors, Interzoo is the highlight of the business year. We are delighted to have met and exceeded the high expectations of exhibitors. The continued high internationality of 85% of exhibitors and over 74% of visitors underscores Interzoo's status as the world's number one industry platform."

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Norbert Holthenrich, President of ZZF, also highlighted the event's success: "Interzoo 2024 was an enormous success for market participants in the international pet supplies industry. The exhibiting companies set new standards in terms of product quality and stand design, and we were pleased to see how many exhibitors placed the needs of animals at the center of their new products."

Innovation and Trends: The Heart of the Supporting Program

Interzoo 2024 not only stood out for the large number of participants but also for its focus on innovation and industry trends. "Both the German and the global pet market developed positively last year. Global growth of 6 per cent to more than 182 billion euros in sales last year is impressive proof of the economic strength of the pet industry. This market development was reflected in the form of innovative products at Interzoo 2024," says Dr Rowena Arzt, Head of Exhibition at Interzoo organizer WZF.

The solutions of the future were presented and discussed in 36 short presentations on the Fresh Ideas Stage. "The Fresh Ideas Area with its bar area and networking lounge, which was significantly larger than in 2022, was very popular on all days of the trade fair and is firmly established as an ideas hub for the pet industry," says a delighted Dr Arzt. Next to over 70 innovative companies and start-ups at the community stands "International Start-up Area" and "Young Innovators", the Fresh Ideas Stage was the venue for the second Interzoo Fresh Ideas Contest on Friday, 10 May, which awards prizes for the best innovative ideas. First place went to Petnow inc from South Korea, which has developed a facial recognition system for pets based on biometric data, second place to Pawr with a purely plant-based dry dog food and third place to Allkokos GmbH, a manufacturer of small mammal litter made from coconut flakes.

Exclusive Interview with Dr. Rowena Artz
 

In our exclusive interview with Dr. Rowena Artz, available as a video, she shared insights into the organization and success of the event. She highlighted the excellent teamwork and the record attendance and exhibitors achieved in 2024. Dr. Artz also discussed the conferences and the experts selected, including the fourth edition of a conference on sustainability, and other sessions on innovation and social media.

Comparing this edition to the previous one, she noted that Interzoo 2024 was the largest since its inception, with a notable increase in the number of exhibitors stands and participating countries. Looking ahead, Dr. Artz emphasized the commitment to continue growing and offering new opportunities for startups, with a particular focus on sustainability.

Future Prospects

Interzoo 2024 not only broke records but also set the stage for future developments. The next edition, scheduled for May 12 to 15, 2026, promises to remain a key event in the pet supplies industry.

For more details on the innovations and trends presented, visit the Interzoo Academy website HERE.

Source: All Pet Food.