InterZoo 2014 Inspired the International Pet Industry

The international share of the world’s leading exhibition has increased again: 82 per cent of the exhibitors came from abroad. Altogether 1,698 companies (+10 per cent) from 63 countries presented their products and services on a gross display area of 110,000 square metres. Besides Germany, the leading exhibiting nations were the People’s Republic of China, Italy, the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Spain.The visitors are also becoming increasingly international: Whereas 65 per cent of the trade visitors came from abroad in 2012, this year’s figure rose to 69 per cent. The countries with the largest shares of visitors were Germany with 11,643, Italy with 2,107, France with 1,316, Great Britain/Northern Ireland with 1,167, Spain with 1,163, Poland with 1,141, the Netherlands with 1,138 and the Russian Federation with 1,026 visitors.A total of 30,307 visitors came from Europe. Most of the specialists from outside Europe travelled from Asia (4,388), namely 3,336 from East Asia and 1,052 from the Middle East and Central Asia. Especially the number of visitors from North America increased this year, namely to 1,006 admissions. 1,875 market players came from the whole of America. Africa was represented by 440 visitors at Interzoo, Australia and Oceania by 357.

Exhibitors reached their target groups

Some 84 per cent of the exhibitors aimed to win new customers, 76 per cent wanted to provide information about their products in general, and 68 per cent information about their new products. 73 per cent of the companies intended to cultivate contact with their customers and 73 per cent wanted to cultivate their image.

94 per cent of the exhibitors reached their most important target groups and 95 per cent of them made new business connections. So it is not surprising that 88 per cent of the companies expect follow-up business from the contacts made.

High professional qualifications of visitors

87 per cent of the exhibitors rated the number of visitors on their stand positively and even more (88 per cent) praised the general level of attendance at Interzoo. 93 per cent were satisfied with the professional qualifications of the stand visitors. The high quality of the visitors is also confirmed by the results of the visitor survey: The largest groups of visitors at Interzoo 2014 included self-employed businessmen (52 per cent), managing directors (12 per cent), divisional and branch directors (9 per cent), departmental managers (9 per cent) and other employees (10 per cent). Almost all visitors (96 per cent) are involved in procurement decisions in their company. 70 per cent of the visitors were specialists from the trade and 12 per cent manufacturers.

Visitors very satisfied with products on display

According to the visitor survey, almost all exhibition visitors (97 per cent) were satisfied with the product spectrum at Interzoo 2014. 82 per cent of the experts said the exhibition had inspired them to use new products. The information and contact opportunities at the exhibition also lived up to the expectations of more than 97 per cent of the visitors.

55 per cent of the visitors had come to Interzoo with the aim of updating on new products, some 42 per cent had planned to cultivate business contacts and 37 per cent were looking for new business contacts. Around 36 per cent wanted to get a general overview of the market and 31 per cent were interested in exchanging views and information.

Interzoo is very important

More than 90 per cent of the exhibitors were satisfied to very satisfied with the organization and service at the trade fair. “The mood among the exhibitors was extremely optimistic,” says Hans-Jochen Büngener, Chairman of the Interzoo Exhibition Committee. At such a successful exhibition, it is not surprising that 89 per cent think exhibiting at Interzoo is important and by the end of this exhibition 89 per cent of the exhibiting companies had already firmly decided to be there again at the next Interzoo.” 97 per cent of the visitors said they would also attend Interzoo 2016.

Global pet market: 72 billion euros

Interzoo is also a business barometer for the international pet industry: Data from the market research institute Euromonitor shows that the global pet market grew to over 72 billion euros last year, of which the European pet industry turned over 27 billion euros. The North Americans and Canadians, for example, spent about 24 billion euros on their pets, the South Americans 9.8 billion and the Asians some 7.9 billion euros.

According to Norbert Holthenrich, President of the German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF), Interzoo 2014 was a major source of inspiration for the international pet industry: “Interzoo was the shop window for the latest and most innovative pet articles and I am convinced that many experts have returned to their home countries with ideas and examples of professional and species-appropriate pet care.”

As trade fair for pet supplies, Interzoo was open to trading companies that stock pets or pet supplies, manufacturers of pet food and accessories, veterinarians, official agencies and commercial users such as veterinary clinics, non-medical pet practitioners, boarding kennels and grooming salons.

The promoter of Interzoo is Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH (WZF), which has appointed NürnbergMesse GmbH to organize the exhibition. The German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF) is the honorary sponsor of the exhibition.

The next Interzoo takes place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from
26–29 May 2016.