Alimentaria food trade show postponed once again, this time until April 2022

The Catalan capital's Alimentaria food trade show has been postponed once again and is set to be held next year from April 4 to 7 at the Fira Barcelona events venue.

This is the third time Barcelona's largest fair—attracting some 4,500 companies and 150,000 guests in 2018, more than the Mobile World Congress—has been delayed over health and safety concerns relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The organizers issued a statement on Friday in which they said they believed the situation in slightly over a year's time would be "more favorable" for the mass event that is usually held every two years, although they still plan to go ahead with the Gastronomic Forum Barcelona from October 18 to 20. 

"After evaluating the evolution of the pandemic, the international mobility restrictions, and consulting exhibitor companies, the trade fair institution has decided to boost this event in autumn and opt to hold a major Alimentaria & Hostelco from the 4th to the 7th of April 2022," the statement reads, explaining that the decision "comes after consultation and dialogue with the sector’s productive, associative and institutional network."

If all goes to plan, Alimentaria will take place at the same time as the Alimentaria FoodTech fair on food processing and preservation, which also coincides with the Sustainable Food Week celebrating Barcelona as the 2021 World Sustainable Food Capital.