"More opportunities than ever"

The 2016 show covered more than 320 000 net square feet (nearly 29 000 m2) of exhibit space with 6 170 buyers, more than 3 000 new pet product launches, 1 087 exhibitors and 3 218 booths sold. Overall attendance totalled 15 478. As the first pet products trade show of 2017, the Global Pet Expo will take place on 22-24 March at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando/Florida. The show will be presented by the American Pet Product Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA). The Global Pet Expo is open to exhibiting manufacturers, qualified buyers and media from around the world.

On a truly global front, 21 per cent of exhibitors in 2016 were international. An impressive 24 per cent of buyers were from outside of the US, coming from 76 countries and continuing to position Global Pet Expo as a key trading opportunity for companies from around the world. 
According to the organisers, the 2017 show has some new options for international exhibitors. In 2017, the Global Pet Expo will introduce country-specific pavilions. This new model will replace the International Pavilion, where a number of countries exhibited in one space. Pavilions from Great Britain, Canada, China and Italy will feature, with the overall area occupied projected to be 25 per cent larger than the 2016 pavilion. This addition further reinforces the Global Pet Expo's continued commitment to being the premier annual trading and networking venue for the pet industry worldwide, say the organisers.
Show officials also expect more than 100 additional international exhibitors to have a presence in the special sections and on the general show floor, where they will be featuring products that address international trends and global business strategies.

"The ongoing growth the Global Pet Expo is experiencing further solidifies the significance of this show globally," said Andrew Darmohraj, executive vice-president & COO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA). "The show's strong international attendance has played an important role in its recognition, in the trade show industry and beyond, as the largest annual pet products trade show." In 2016, the New Products Showcase was bigger than ever, showcasing more than 1 000 of the industry's…