1976 - 2026

Alimentaria: 50 Years Feeding the Future

In 1976, an event was born with the ambition to drive forward the most important industry of all: the one that feeds the world. Join us on this journey through five decades of innovation.

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50th anniversary

Alimentaria through the years

A meeting point that welcomed its first exhibitors and visitors in 1976 and that today brings together the entire value chain of the food industry.
By driving the industry’s evolution and transformation and reflecting its progress, Alimentaria has established itself as one of the leading international references in the sector.

1970's

The Birth of Alimentaria

MILESTONES

1976: The International Alimentaria Trade Fair is launched, responding to the needs of the sector.
The first professional trade fair in Spain focused exclusively on the food industry.
A response to change: the emergence of multinationals, the transformation of small retail, and new consumer trends.

BARCELONA OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND MARKETS
Barcelona’s food system was centered around municipal markets and neighborhood shops, with fresh, local products, daily shopping habits, and close relationships between vendors and residents, in a context where cooking at home was the norm and eating out was only occasional.

1980's

Professionalisation and Specialisation

MILESTONES

1980: Alimentaria becomes the world’s third-largest trade fair in the sector.
1982: An edition shaped by Spain’s entry into the EEC and the professionalisation of the industry.
1984: The launch of Tecnoalimentaria, the technology-focused trade fair.
1988: Alimentaria brings together 13 sector-specific exhibitions and consolidates its position as a “fair of fairs”.

BARCELONA MODERNIZES
Barcelona began a food system transformation with the expansion of supermarkets, the modernization of municipal markets, and a more diverse restaurant scene, driven by rising living standards and a city that was becoming more open and strategically positioned.

1990's

Internationalisation

MILESTONES

1990: Alimentaria positions itself as a “global food marketplace”. Creation of the EDAs, international B2B meetings.
1992: Intervin expands to Estació de França due to lack of space.
1992: Signing of the Barcelona Declaration on food rights.
1994: First International Mediterranean Food Week, with initiatives to promote the Mediterranean diet and position Barcelona as a leading reference.
1998: Launch of Innoval, dedicated to innovation.
1998: First international edition: Alimentaria Mexico.

OLYMPIC BARCELONA
In the 1990s, Barcelona experienced a turning point with the Olympic Games, modernized its markets, strengthened infrastructures such as Mercabarna, and saw out-of-home consumption grow, with landmarks such as Via Veneto, Neichel, and El Bulli helping drive a gastronomy scene with international projection.

2000's

Innovation and Gastronomy

MILESTONES

2000: Innoval is consolidated as a showcase for new products, featuring 350 launches.
2002: Alimentaria + BTA reach 160,000 visitors, 15% of whom are international.
2004: Alimentaria moves to the Gran Via venue, with an exhibition area of 105,000 m² and a total of 4,200 exhibiting companies.
2006: Alimentaria once again confirms its status as a “fair of fairs”, hosting 15 exhibitions, including new launches such as Vegefruit and the consolidation of areas like Organic Food and Restaurama.
2008: Innoval presents the Shop of the Future, a space offering a glimpse into what supermarkets of the future might look like.

THE GASTRONOMIC REVOLUTION
In the 2000s, Barcelona established itself as a gastronomic destination with a diverse and creative offering, modernized its markets by integrating dining spaces, professionalized the sector, and at the same time increased its dependence on global chains and concern about the impact of the food system.

2010's

Brand and Specialisation

MILESTONES

2010: First edition held entirely at Gran Via, known as the “festival of brands”.
2014: International record: 140,000 visitors and 42,000 buyers from 141 countries.
2014: The Alimentaria Experience is consolidated, featuring Michelin-starred chefs.
2016: 40th anniversary: 4,000 exhibitors and visitors from 157 countries.
2016: Strong focus on innovation with Multiple Foods and Alimentaria Hub.
2018: Alimentaria + Hostelco bring together 4,500 exhibitors. Innoval showcases more than 300 new products and healthy/vegan trends.

TOWARDS A HEALTHIER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE MODEL
Barcelona moved towards a more sustainable and conscious approach to food, with greater consumption of local and healthy products, more digital and efficient markets, and a renewed restaurant scene shaped by street food and foodie culture.