How the global seafood industry is responding to changing consumer demands. Highlights from Seafood Expo Global & Seafood Processing Global, Barcelona, Spain
The dynamics and complexities of the international seafood industry are fascinating, often underappreciated by final consumers during their grocery shop. However, the global retail market is estimated by Statista at ~USD$671.45bn for this year and a healthy CAGR of 6.35% with the outlook until 2030. Average spend per person $85.60 and consumption ~4.7kg for 2025. Volume is expected to increase 3.1% in 2026, so the outlook is positive, and surely contributed to the energy during this year’s show. Four halls all dedicated to one product category at any event is impressive, and seafood and seafood processing in our opinion really showcased their capability strongly.
With this year’s event in Europe and the growing client interest in our services across Seafood and the value chain, and excellent reason to explore a new tradeshow.
The key highlights included: –
- The size of the major international food groups bringing complex supply chains together to deliver fish to end users, reflected by larger exhibitor stands than other multi food trade shows, understandably.
- The strong presence of the international pavilions as international marketing organisations brought together the trusted national brand with exciting fish producers driving innovation, premium products through provenance or process to inspire buyers
- Strength of brands in this category across chilled and frozen, and some eye-catching designs
- The opportunity for premiumisation across for example, salmon, tuna, caviar and prawns
- The importance of sustainability to the category and the role it plays for many of the suppliers in the sourcing strategies and industry leading applications such as Gimar and their program bringing salmon skin into clothing and shoe manufacturing
- The level of value adds moving into the category as buyers look to link convenience growth with seafood solutions across ready to eat and quick to cook
- The focus on value through the value chain, minimising waste with stocks, premium pet foods, yield enhancement through technology solutions such as SuperGround
- The level of innovation demonstrated through the global excellence awards highlighting the capability and approach to new product development many of the manufacturers have invested in
- The importance of adjacent categories including seaweed snacking, plant-based seafood alternatives, soy sauces and condiments, with multiple exhibitors showcasing innovation in products or packaging.
Education and inspiring were common themes across the chef lead cooking demonstrations with the versatility of Pacific oysters demonstrated through the Mexican style fried oyster taco by Wusata.
- The high level of contract manufacturing available and the depth of innovation capabilities looking to meet the changing focus of the buyers and end consumers covering on trend flavours, coating systems, meal solutions, entertainment food and products designed for air frying
In summary the Seafood industry is changing at pace, building capability to challenge categories and food groups traditional owned by poultry or pork, these opportunities will unlock value for the industry, deliver new products in formats that consumers have confidence in cooking and drive consumption levels, which should benefit the wider seafood category and commercial outlook.
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