Vinitaly 2017. The facts and figures
The 51st edition of Vinitaly 2017 closed with a turnover of 128,000 participants from 142 countries. 48,000 of these were foreign visitors, of which 30,200 buyers with an increase of 8% compared to 2016. Just to complete the figures, there were 4270 exhibiting wineries from 30 nations, 4% more than 2016. Lastly, Vinitaly and the City, the other side of the fair with extra events in the town centre of Verona and Bardolino, recorded over 35,000 wine lovers.
All the figures for Vinitaly 2017
“The figures for this edition,” said the general director of Veronafiere, Giovanni Mantovani, “bear witness to the growth of Vinitaly’s B2B role on an international level, with more and more qualified buyers from all over the world. Just look at the top ten foreign operators, which show an increase from nearly every country: United States (+6%), Germany (+3%), United Kingdom (+4%), China (+12%), France and Canada (stable), Russia (+42%), Japan (+2%), northern European countries (+2%), Holland and Belgium (+6%). We can also add Brazil’s good performance to this list (+29%), without forgetting the debut of Panama and Senegal at Vinitaly. As for Italy, we have seen a consolidation of arrivals from every region in the country.”
Incoming (and welcome) visitors from Asia
Also this year, Veronafiere has invested significant resources in order to increase the flow of incoming visitors from abroad, focussing mainly on the strategic markets for Italy, such as the United States (also our first market this year) and China, though Italy is only in sixth place among its importing countries, which is considered interesting precisely for this reason because of its development potential. Some producers have found an increase in the presence of Asia and from countries that, until recently, they had never met at the fair, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Maldives. Others, though having their days marked mainly by fixed appointments, still managed to fit in new occasions for B2B meetings and in some cases even made agreements directly at the fair. The VIP Lounge was considered interesting for new commercial developments, where exhibitors and buyers can meet in a reserved environment, far from the frenetic rhythm of the regional halls.
Mind the traffic
Naturally there were the usual logistical problems, especially outside the fair, due to the thousands of people streaming towards the various halls each morning. For example, an importer from Eastern Europe, who was already in Trento for work, took four hours just to get to the entrance of the fair, due to traffic congestion.
1919 and other Chinese giants at the fair
From the East, 1919, the Chinese colossus of online and offline distribution of wines and spirits, took part. The founder, Robert Yang, has formed an agreement with Via-Vinitaly International Academy and has promised to increase Italian sales in China by 2020, to reach over 2 million bottles, for a turnover of at least 68 million euros. But that’s not all, also Alibaba, Cofco, Winehoo and Suning were present. In the four days of the fair, there was a wide range of meetings, as well as B2B, there were almost 400 conferences, seminars, educational meetings on the world of wine and 250 tastings.
But Veronafiere is already looking to the future and has started working on the next edition, number 52. Vinitaly 2018 will be held from 15th to 18th April 2018.
Photo: Ennevi
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