OUR STORY
1950: the revolution of the food industry
In the 1950s, Western Europe was emerging from the shortages caused by the Second World War. Thanks to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the main agricultural countries in the common market were soon able to recover their former production capacity.
Originally, the objective of the CAP was to achieve food self-sufficiency, but this objective was soon expanded to include a commercial dimension, making sales on domestic and international markets equally crucial. In some countries, the food industry became essential for the trade balance. In 1961, France created the SOPEXA (Société pour la Promotion et l'Expansion des Produits Agro-Alimentaires - Company for the promotion and expansion of food products), marking a growing awareness of the importance of promoting French products internationally.
An increase in imports met the needs of a booming food industry, a distribution sector in the throes of a revolution and a consumption trend turning increasingly towards out-of-home catering.
As the leading agricultural producer in the community, France could not remain on the sidelines and so the SIAL Paris trade show was launched, with Philippe Le Coq de Kerland as the first Managing Director.
1964: the foundations of SIAL Paris well defined from the start
International Food Week in 1964 saw the first edition of SIAL Paris. Hosted in the CNIT convention centre in Paris La Défense and spanning 13,000 sqm, it welcomed 602 exhibitors, including 340 from outside France, in 27 pavilions. This was still modest, but it defined and implemented the fundamental principles of the event: an international trade show open to foreign products, held every two years in Paris. A key event in the world food industry, attended by producers, importers, buyers and retailers to initiate and conclude business relations. Companies chose SIAL Paris to launch their new products and develop their business.
The CNIT hosted the first three editions of SIAL Paris until 1968, but with the rapid expansion of this two-yearly event, it was obliged to move to the Porte de Versailles exhibition grounds in 1970.
The larger space made it possible to organise other large trade shows at the same time as SIAL Paris that contributed to the development of the food industry:
- the GIA (Industrial Food Technology)
- the MATIC (Industry and trade of animal products)
- The packaging show – now ALL4PACK EMBALLAGE PARIS
1986: SIAL Paris grows rapidly
In 1986, SIAL Paris left Porte de Versailles, which had become too small, for Paris-Nord Villepinte, where it occupied five halls across 80,000 sqm. It was attended by 88,000 professionals who came to discover over 4,000 exhibitors and new products. The show's international reputation became well established. A new hall made it possible to double the surface area and create wider aisles, rest areas and more registration and information desks, making SIAL Paris even more convivial.
SIAL Paris was committed to supporting the growth of local and international food businesses.
SIAL Network, the global network of food industry trade shows was set up:
- The Cheese and Dairy trade show in 1985.
- SIAL China, launched in 1999 in Singapore and organised in Shanghai since 2000.
- In 2001, SIAL Canada was created, with yearly shows alternating between Montreal and Toronto.
- Djazagro, the trade show for agro-food production was launched in 2003.
- In 2009, SIAL Paris expanded its portfolio with Gourmet Selection, the trade show for fine food.
- The SIAL Interfood show was inaugurated in Jakarta in 2015 in the ASEAN region.
- In 2018, Food India inspired by SIAL, was renamed SIAL India in 2019, based in New Delhi.
- SIAL Shenzhen, a unique B2B trade show for the food and beverage industry in China, opens in 2021.
- Food & Drinks Malaysia, the food and beverage show for Malaysia and the region, joins the SIAL Network in 2022.
1996: SIAL Innovation is born
In 1994, SIAL Paris celebrated its 30th anniversary. After 15 editions and two success -inspired venue changes, the show had acquired a reputation and know-how that enabled it to overcome the sluggishness brought about by the recession in 1992.
In 1996, SIAL Paris, in collaboration with ProtéinesXTC, launched SIAL Innovation, the food innovation competition which became a major event for showcasing new products, offering unrivalled visibility and increased business opportunities.
Since then, there have been many success stories, including:
- Charal and its “hebdopack"® (1986) to preserve meat in aluminium packaging, which isolates the meat from the outside environment, protects it from light and enables it to keep for one week.
- In 1988, La Laiterie Triballat, historical exhibitor at SIAL, proposed the first range of soy-based fresh desserts with the Sojasun brand. This product was originally aimed at vegetarian consumers and later became the unrivalled leader on the French market, with exports to China.
2004: a record edition focused on innovation and international diversity
In 2004, SIAL Paris drew in over 135,000 visitors, of which 52% from outside France, and 5,259 exhibiting companies from 99 countries, establishing its role as a catalyst for innovation in the global food industry. The event saw an impressive number of participants, illustrating its growing importance. The highlights of this edition included an increase in visitors from emerging markets, such as China, India and Brazil, demonstrating global interest in new food trends.
Exhibitors expressed their satisfaction with the quality of the contacts made, highlighting business opportunities and the discovery of innovative products. The Trends & Innovations space, now SIAL Innovation, spotlighted products such as semi-skimmed milk in barrels from the Belgian company Inex, and organic salads by Mont Blanc Bio, illustrating SIAL's commitment to promote innovation.
The show also received wide media coverage, attracting the attention of the international media and boosting exhibitors' visibility. A number of official delegations visited, emphasising the importance of the event for food industry professionals. SIAL Paris 2004 was a key event that contributed to shaping the future of food on a global scale.
2014: 50 years of innovation
In 2014, SIAL Paris celebrated its 50th anniversary. For the occasion, the show launched SIAL Off, highlighting 50 exceptional, innovative and original Parisian venues. SIAL Off is a guide to good restaurants and atypical venues in Paris and proposes the best gourmet and festive addresses in the capital.
6,000 exhibitors from all over the world also benefited from this special edition to present the products of the future, food trends and innovations for our kitchens. This edition can be summed up by originality, flavours and convenience. All sectors (dairy, seafood, fresh and dry products, grocery products, etc.) demonstrated ingenuity in terms of innovative flavours, textures, packaging or the make-it-yourself cooking trend.
Kits to grow mushrooms at home, seaweed spaghetti sold in seawater, and a spirulina regenerating drink, all attracted the attention of visitors. In the Catering category, the French company, New Food Packings, was awarded for its TWISTS product, an improved pasta box.
As a future food trend spotter, SIAL has attracted professionals from the food industry, food distribution and catering for over 50 years, eager to discover or launch new formulae, equipment or services.
2024: 60 years of food inspiration
Over the space of 60 years, SIAL Paris has become the flagship meeting for the entire food industry. All over the world, at the heart of the issues and challenges that shape our humanity, professionals dream up and construct our food destiny. Every two years, SIAL Paris brings them together for five days of discoveries, discussions and meetings.
Edition after edition, SIAL Paris teams are dedicated to making this event more than just a trade show. It was a network before the time of social networks, a space for sharing and inspiring to help companies imagine and accomplish the future of their business.
On the strength of these 60 years and increased global presence with 11 shows worldwide, the SIAL brand has become an essential hub for global food supply and demand, with a focus on innovation.
Our raison d'être has become stronger over these six decades: stimulate reflection, build bridges, inspire and bring about meetings and moments of sharing between all professionals in the sector, so that together we can rise to the challenges of our sector!
Reliver the 60 years of SIAL Paris!
In 2024, the biennial event was bigger than ever, with 11 halls for 10 food industry sectors.
Over 7,500 exhibitors had reserved their stand, and for the first time in its history, SIAL Paris was sold out 5 months before it opened. They eagerly awaited the 285,000 professionals expected from 205 countries to show them over 400,000 products and innovations.
For this special edition, SIAL Paris proposed an explosion of innovations for the entire food industry with:
- SIAL Insights: presentation of the three trends that confirm the central place of food in our lives through a white paper co-created with our partners ProtéinesXTC, Circana, and Kantar.
- SIAL Taste: let yourself be surprised by the innovative flavour of selected products at SIAL Innovation and have fun in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
- SIAL Off: a guide to good restaurants and unique venues in Paris.
- SIAL Summits: a unique format that goes beyond inspiration and revolutionises the experience of traditional conferences around the crucial issues and innovative perspectives that are shaping our industry.
- SIAL for Change: celebration of the commitment of food companies to a more sustainable future.
- SIAL Jobs: connecting companies and talents to facilitate recruitment, a major challenge for the agri-food industry.
INSPIRING FOOD BUSINESS WORLDWIDE
- Food & Drinks Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
- SIAL Canada - Montreal
- SIAL Canada - Toronto
- SIAL Paris - Paris
- SIAL in China - Shanghai
- SIAL in China - Shenzhen
- SIAL in India - New Delhi
- SIAL Interfood - Jakarta
- TuttoPizza - Shanghai
- TuttoPizza - Napoli
- Gourmet Selection - Paris
- Cheese & Dairy products show - Paris
- Djazagro - Algiers