Seafood Expo Global (April 23-25, 2023) set history-breaking records for attendance in Barcelona this past April. There were 2,078 exhibiting companies from 87 different countries, 68 national and regional pavilions, and more than 34,000 attending buyers and suppliers from the global seafood industry, which represented a 24 percent increase from 2022. The historic trade event was also fruitful for nine Northeast U.S. seafood suppliers. 

Food Export–Northeast hosted a pavilion for the19^th year, and nine Northeast U.S. seafood suppliers signed up to participate and were featured. In addition to exhibit space, the attending seafood companies had access to private meeting rooms and a lounge area for networking. Food Export’s In-Market Representatives sent out pre-show announcements to the seafood trade detailing the pavilion’s exhibitors and made personalized introductions during the show for buyers seeking to meet with specific exhibiting suppliers. The outcomes for the three-day event were significant: 

• 262 buyer-seller contacts made
• 22 new distributorship relationships established
• US$19.3 million in actual sales
• US$54.6 million in projected sales
• Four first-time sales to a market 

While in Barcelona, suppliers also had the support and expertise of a talented Food Export–Northeast team, which included European In-Market Representatives Felipe Macias and Alexander Wever; Colleen Coyne, Seafood Program Coordinator; and Rahdia Thornton, International Marketing Program Associate; along with Bonita Oehlke, Market Development Specialist from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. 

Beth and Bill Doyle (far right) owners of Plymouth Rock Oysters gather with the Food Export–Northeast Team, and Bonita Oehlke, Market Development Specialist from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (second from left). 

One attending supplier summed up the experience, “After a successful 36 years in the seafood business, followed by a three-year retirement, I have come back to the business. Food Export, for me, had always set the bar high when it came to [organizing] shows and services around the world and this year was no exception! The staff at Food Export is second to none. The level of professionalism on display at all times is nothing short of refreshing in today’s world. The Food Export team were seemingly at every corner of the American area. Constantly checking in or bringing potential customers interested in our products.”

Bonita Oehlke, Market Development Specialist from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (right), with Dan and Ben Falla (centered) of Bean Maine Lobster and Rahdia Thornton (left), International Marketing Program Associate, Food Export–Northeast. 

About Food Export USA–Northeast 

With its extensive programs and educational offerings, Food Export USA–Northeast (Food Export–Northeast) is recognized as the preeminent expert and cost-effective resource for northeast seafood and agricultural suppliers looking to sell their products overseas. Founded in 1973, Food Export–Northeast is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with its 10 member states’ agricultural promotion agencies from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, to facilitate trade between suppliers and worldwide importers and to promote the export of food, agricultural and seafood products from those states. The organization is funded through the Market Access Program (MAP), administered by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Learn more about us and what we do for the Northeast seafood industry here.  Contact us.