BrauBeviale 2019: "The Place To Be" for the international beverage industry

Great atmosphere at the Nuremberg Trade Fair Center: From November 12 to 14, 2019, the BrauBeviale once again served as the hub for the international beverage industry. Around 40,000 trade visitors (2018: 40,882), including about 18,000 from abroad, traveled to the most important international investment goods trade fair for the beverage industry this year. They gathered information from 1,088 exhibitors, 54 percent of whom are international, about the entire process chain of beverage production: high-quality raw materials, innovative technologies and components, efficient and sustainable packaging, as well as creative marketing ideas. This year, the main theme "Future viability of the beverage industry" accompanied the trade fair.

"BrauBeviale, as a barometer of the industry, defies the doomsayers," summarizes Andrea Kalrait, Head of BrauBeviale, with satisfaction. "Numerous new contacts, both nationally and internationally, business negotiations, and deals confirm: people always eat and drink." Exhibitors, visitors, and partners expressed their complete satisfaction; for them, the fair is indispensable and a fixed point in the year. Current topics as well as important future issues were discussed and advanced at the fair.

Both exhibitors and visitors once again showed a high level of internationality: 45 nations were represented among the exhibitors, led by companies from Germany (504), Italy, China, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Belgium. The approximately 40,000 trade visitors came from 138 countries, mainly from Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, and Poland, in addition to Germany.

Highly qualified, satisfied trade visitors

The exhibitors were very satisfied with the conversations at their booths. This is confirmed by the results of an independent institute's survey: around 90 percent of trade visitors are involved in their company's investment decisions. The trade visitors came from various sectors of the beverage industry: breweries, malteries, companies that produce or bottle waters, soft drinks, juices, and spirits, wine and sparkling wine cellars, dairies, as well as marketing, trade, and gastronomy. According to the survey, about 98 percent were satisfied with the fair's offerings. An impressive 97 percent of visitors plan to attend BrauBeviale again next year.

Again, top marks for the accompanying program

The future topics of the industry received great approval in the supporting program and were consistently well received by the trade fair guests. The event began the day before the fair with two symposia: at the Export Forum German Beverages, interested German beverage manufacturers exchanged ideas with export specialists and received specific market analyses and insights. Already established and again well received this year among international craft brewers and brewpub operators is the European MicroBrew Symposium organized by the Berlin-based Institute for Brewing (VLB).

Open exchanges of opinions, including highly controversial discussions, took place in the BrauBeviale Forum – not least during the two Hot Topics on Stage: the theme "Tap Water vs. Mineral Water" and the deposit problem heated the minds and were actively discussed beyond the forum. Presentations on other industry-relevant topics and high-quality award ceremonies completed the offering.

The diversity of the beverage world could be experienced by visitors in the Craft Drinks Area: at eight bars, independent tastings of beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks took place again this year. There was also great interest in the smoky cellar beer "Kaminfeuer," which was the winner of the second homebrewer competition organized by Maisel & Friends and BrauBeviale.

Following a successful start last year, micro and craft breweries as well as home and hobby brewers were again welcome at the "Industry's Stammtisch." They found numerous ideas and lively exchange in the brewing@home theme pavilion, including a dedicated area for brewing demonstrations and interesting impulse lectures at the Speakers' Corner.

European Beer Star 2019: Consumer’s Favorite

2,483 beers from 47 countries in 67 categories were entered into the European Beer Star 2019. An international jury of 145 members had two days to decide the winners in gold, silver, and bronze at one of the most important international beer competitions. But more than 5,000 visitors of BrauBeviale also took the opportunity on the first day of the fair to act as judges themselves: they selected the Consumers’ Favourite 2019 from the gold medal winners. The gold medal went to the Dark Wheat Bock "Augustus 8" from Riegele Brewery (Germany). Silver was awarded to Birra dell’Eremo for their Traditional Belgian-Style Lambic, Geuze, and Fruit Geuze "Selva Sour" (Italy). The third place was secured by the Belgian-Style Strong Blond Ale "Averbode Abdijbier" from Brouwerij L Huyghe (Belgium).

The list of all winners of the European Beer Star 2019, along with contact details of the breweries, photos, and graphics, can be found at www.european-beer-star.de
Don’t miss: BrauBeviale 2020: November 10-12, 2020.