A recordsetting year

Presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), Global Pet Expo experienced an impressive spike in domestic buyers at 4 679, an 8.4 per cent increase over last year, with a total of 6 170 buyers in attendance. Global Pet Expo also boasted more than 3 000 new pet product launches, 1 087 exhibitors and 3 218 booths sold - the highest post-show numbers to date. Total show attendance came to 15 478 people. The show featured more than 320 000 net square feet (approx. 28 800 m2) of exhibit space (nearly 10 000 feet larger than 2015), to accommodate the growing numbers of booths and attendees.

"For the exhibitors, this is their opportunity to debut the hottest, newest products at the industry's first show of the year, which is why we consistently enjoy increased buyer attendance each year," stresses Andrew Darmohraj, executive vice-president and COO. "It is incredibly rewarding to experience continued growth and recognition for the show that has become THE must-attend industry event of the year."In fact, Global Pet Expo was recently recognised by the magazine Trade Show Executive (TSE) as one of the 50 fastest-growing shows by total attendance, net square feet of exhibit space, and by number of exhibiting companies. 
On a truly global front, 21 per cent of exhibitors were international, making up 233 of the 1 087 exhibitors. 24 per cent of buyers were from outside of the USA, coming from 76 countries - another clear indication that Global Pet Expo has once again proved itself as a key trading opportunity for companies from around the world. 

The show featured more new product launches than any other show in the industry, and had 950 entries in the 30 000 square-foot (approx. 2 700 m2) New Products Showcase alone. Now in its sixth year, the New Products Showcase Awards Presentation also proved successful. The "Best in Show" ceremony took place on the show floor, where awards were handed out to best in show, second and third place winners across nine categories. Ware Manufacturing took home the top prize in the cat category with its new Bark-N-Cats Now Cats Are Really Barking Up the Right Tree toy. Moody Pet, Inc. took home top dog category award with its new Humunga Bling toy. With more entrants than ever, buyers narrowed down top picks to determine the winners.