A record attendance of more than 4000 (mainly) food manufacturers descended upon the biennial Foodtech Packtech and MHL Expo trade show last week in Auckland, with organisers claiming it a huge success.
More than 240 exhibitors were on display across 4 halls of the ASB showgrounds in Auckland – the largest contingent of exhibitors in more than a decade with the show collocating with their recently acquired Materials Handling and Logistics Expo.

More than 80 of the 240 exhibitors were displaying materials handling related product – so it really fulfilled the brief for trade attendees – helping complete the “Pasture (or seabed) to plate” story for Food Manufacturers visiting the show.

“Exhibitors have been completing post-show surveys saying the quality of visitor was spot on,” says Brent Spillane MD of the show. “We’ve had feedback that the sector was very buoyant with many outlaying large CapEx to buy plant, packaging, machinery, equipment and technology for their factories,” says Spillane.

The event attracted a strong contingent of international visitors too – with large groups of Chinese and Australian delegates. “We’re excited about the growing internationalisation of the event with ongoing dialogue with industry stakeholders around creating an international food week and conference attached to the show in years to come. When you get this many industry professionals attending the show – there’s a natural progression to create ancillary conferences.”

The event hosted three full days of seminars hosted by the NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and other relevant sector bodies. “We had a very high calibre of speakers covering issues ranging from Risk Management in Exports through to a new $15m MBIE funded Food Research fund – across the three days.”

Rebooking for FTPT and the MHL Expo have already been strong as exhibitors confirm their prime locations to return to in 2018. Next show dates are 18-20 September 2018
www.foodtechpacktech.co.nz      www.mhlexpo.co.nz