Barcelona food and drinks fair Alimentaria postponed until September over coronavirus

The Alimentaria food and drinks trade show has been postponed due to continuing uncertainty as to how the coronavirus outbreak will develop.

The fair, which bills itself as the 'International Food, Drinks and Food Service Trade Show', will be rescheduled for September 14 - 17. It was originally to take place the week beginning April 20. 

It is the second largest trade show in Barcelona in terms of economic impact, after the Mobile World Congress, which was canceled last month. 

The decision also affects Hostelco, a hotel and restaurant trade show, which was being held jointly with Alimentaria.

The postponement was made on Thursday, for commercial reasons and to guarantee the success of the fair. Organisers feared travel issues related to the global spread of Covid-19 could have prevented the fair being celebrated to its full potential.

The two shows are some of the largest international platforms for the food, gastronomy and hotel equipment industry, with more than 4,500 exhibiting companies from 70 different countries. In addition, they attract around 150,000 visitors, 30% of whom are international, coming from more than 150 states around the world.