15.000 professional visitors +++ Convincing premiere of the new trade fair +++ Concept of synergy proved successful +++ Unprecedented high quality at international competitions +++ New exhibition centre impresses exhibitors and professional visitors

Exhibitors and professional visitors from all over Austria and the neighbouring countries were enthusiastic about the extraordinary double premiere of the new trade fair diegenuss which took place in the recently finished New Exhibition Centre.

On five days 15,000 visitors informed themselves about the offer currently available for the bakery, confectionery and butcher trade as well as the catering trade. 330 companies and their partners presented the latest innovations and trends for the food industry on a total exhibition space of 25,000 m². In addition to the latest developments in raw materials and food technology the trade visitors of diegenuss also appreciated the opportunity to learn about recent trends in the catering trade, such as slow food, molecular gastronomy and regional delicacies. The overwhelming visitor frequency during the BÖG cooking show with Johann Lafer on Monday, 17 September exceeded all expectations.

Dir. Mag. Robert Schneider, general manager of Messe Wels, is pleased about the outstanding response of visitors and exhibitors: “The new exhibition hall enabled us to raise the new trade fair to an extraordinarily high level of quality. The brilliant premiere of the fair ensures a successful path towards the future of the specialist food fair at the trade location Wels. We are already working on a further development of the fair concept for 2009.“

Convincing response of the exhibitors
The exhibitors of diegenuss confirm that they have established and maintained contact with regular and new customers. The new trade fair offered a platform for high-quality sales conversations. A remarkably large number of deals were concluded right at the fair. The majority of the exhibiting companies promised to take part in diegenuss 2009.

Dir. Heinrich Worenz, president of the community of interests IGEBA – Interessengemeinschaft Backen, is enthusiastic about the success of the new fair concept diegenuss: “Already at the start of the fair it was noticeable that the attendance of trade visitors was increased in comparison to 2005. The professional visitors embraced the conversion of the trade faire concept from ÖBA & ÖKONDA to diegenuss and the variety of accompanying events which also met with the approval of the IGEBA members.” Moreover Worenz appreciates the increased internationality of the new fair concept: “Not only was the quantity, but also the quality of the foreign trade visitors increased.” In this context Worenz also congratulated on the implementation of the advertising and PR concept of Messe Wels and underlines that this year’s advertising activities have exceeded those of the past 10 years.

“The visitor frequency was absolutely satisfactory. Surprisingly the trade fair diegenuss was this year attended by an increasing number of professional visitors from the Bavarian area. “Positive follow-up business after the fair will definitely arise from the numerous customer contacts” Hans Doppelbauer, sales manager of the company Werner & Pfleiderer confidently concludes and already looks forward to a successful continuation of diegenuss 2009.

Dr. Reinhold Hubacek, general manager of Backaldrin, considers the fair to have been a great success: “The trade fair diegenuss has been successful right from the beginning. The visitors felt at ease and the resume about diegenuss 2007 can only signify a definite participation in 2009!

Christian Poiger, sales manager of Komplet Mantler, is full of praise for the new event centre: “The new exhibition centre signifies an enrichment for all exhibiting companies. The pillar-free hall with a surface of 14,000 m² ensures a better customer flow and an optimal visitor frequency in all exhibition spaces.“ According to Poiger the cooperation with Messe Wels works extraordinarily well and is not comparable to other fair organisers.

Area manager Andreas Raab, Aichinger Ladenbau, is completely satisfied with the success of the fair: “We have succeeded in concluding deals with existing and new customers from the bakery and confectionery trade. Moreover we are pleased about the fact the even the butchers informed themselves about store constructions at our stand.”

“Even though diegenuss is still in its infancy, we were pleasantly surprised. Our exceptations were already exceeded on the second day of the fair. The central location and the metropolitan area are ideal for us“ Karl Felbermayr, general manager of Felbermayr Objekt- und Hotelausstattung, is enthusiastic. “I am deeply convinced that the trade fair diegenuss has potential for the future because we know from our experience that regional trade fairs continuously tend to get better. We will certainly take part as an exhibitor in 2009.”

Christian Anner, general manager of Moderne Gartechnik Anner GmbH: “We enjoyed the participation of the trade fair diegenuss because the concept and the cooperation with Messe Wels, the association of Upper Austrian Cooks and the exhibition cooks worked out. The high-quality presentations of first-rate cooks at the diegenuss cuisine provided the trade visitors with qualitative information as well as a lasting and memorable experience. We are interested in getting in contact with the trade visitors of the region. diegenuss has proven successful as a platform for the exchange of experiences and transfer of know-how and for the presentation of the latest catering technology.”

Alfred Cervinka, general manager of the specialist for butchering technology ALCE: “We have maintained good and qualitative conversations with our main customers, the slaughterhouses. Moreover a variety of direct marketers visited our stand at the fair. The issues hygiene and saws ranked among the most frequently demanded ones. The post-processing after the fair will reveal the final result of the fair.“

Dkfm. Reinhard Burg, general manager of the company Laska, was completely satisfied as the largest individual exhibitor of the butchering sector: “In view of the number and quality of customer contacts we can give a positive summary. In particular the industry’s propensity to invest is currently astoundingly high“ concludes Dkfm. Burg.

Dir. Peter Musel, Wigof, refers to the wide range of goods which he was able to present to his more than 20 suppliers: “We have held many good conversations and noticed that the visitors were highly interested in the recently launched products. The convenience sector was particularly embraced. This means that we will offer an interesting assortment on which the specialized butchers should increasingly focus in the future.“