Pet products beneath the Eiffel Tower

The last Expozoo in 2013 was seriously affected by the big recession in southern Europe that hit many sectors of the economy hard. That fair was nonetheless able to demonstrate that, as has often been the case, the pet supplies sector knew how to fend off this kind of negative economic trend. This boded well, therefore, for the latest edition of the trade show in 2015 in the exhibition halls of the Porte de Versailles in Paris. However, this year's fair was only able to sustain in part the favourable impression of two years ago during its staging from 7 to 9 June. To take the negative aspects first, the number of exhibitors declined somewhat compared with the last fair in 2013, falling from 160 companies then to 124 exhibitors this time around. It is true that the figure was higher than in 2011, when the exhibitors numbered 110, but it was significantly lower than at the last show. Nevertheless, the drop in exhibitor numbers did not result in a smaller proportion of international exhibitors at Expozoo; of the 124 present, 74 exhibitors were from France and 50 companies came from within and outside Europe, according to the catalogue. The United States was represented by four companies. Of the European states present, Italy (ten exhibitors), the United Kingdom (nine exhibitors) and Germany and Belgium (six exhibitors each) were the most strongly represented.

The international spread of the exhibiting firms could not mask the fact that major French companies such as Zolux and even Royal Canin did not appear at the show, however. Their absence was commented upon by some visitors, who were otherwise generally positive in their comments about the fair. The show was top-heavy with companies from the dog and cat segments, but small animals were also well represented, more so than products for birds or the aquatics segment. 

A brief anecdote serves to illustrate the mixed impressions of the show: on entering the Porte de Versailles show grounds from the north, the only indication that a pet supplies show was taking place was a small red poster on a site fence. Surely France's leading pet product fair deserves more than this...