Flat mood at the show

"A must-attend trade show," said the field service employee of one well-known pet food manufacturer. Another supplier took the opposite view and pulled no punches in describing the fair as a "catastrophe". At Saturday lunchtime in particular, with few visitors in attendance, a heated and occasionally vociferous debate was conducted among the exhibitors in hall 1-2 about the merits and drawbacks of the Kassel show. The majority of the suppliers were based here and felt the need to work off their frustration with the event. At least the atmosphere improved on the Sunday of the show. 
The staff on the stands of the two speciality cooperatives Sagaflor and Egesa-Zookauf had no time for such discussion of principles. They were kept relatively busy, which might explain why the visitor numbers at the fair were pretty good. According to the organisers, over 4 200 trade visitors turned up at the dual fair on the two days of the show - a figure that gives the lie to the negative impressions of many exhibitors. 

Some relatively new companies, which appreciate every opportunity to present themselves to pet product retailers, were satisfied with Zooevent. Established firms were less so. Some companies, like JBL, Hagen, Beaphar and Gimborn dispensed completely with a stand of their own. On the other hand, other firms such as Mars Petcare, Royal Canin, Nestlé Purina PetCare and Spectrum Brands, which were absent from Interzoo, were present in Kassel. 
The range on display was interesting and provided pet supplies retailers with fresh ideas and impetus. Although many companies concentrated on the products that they had introduced at Interzoo, others had new products that were only seen for the first time at Zooevent.

The big events stage of Zooma/Zookauf-Kooperation in halls 11/12 provided the entertainment, including the 5th Zookauf aquarium design championship powered by Sera. The winner was Birgitta Höltershinken (Zoo­paradies Seupel, Celle), who narrowly beat the previous year's champion, Doris Vollmer of Kreativ-Garten-Zoo Leutner in Bühl. Sagaflor also chose its first private label champion for the pet and garden categories. 
The 18th Garten- & Zooevent will take place on 23 and 24 September 2017, in an Interzoo-free year, which will probably…