No fanfare, just opportunities at IPE 2006 - ATLANTA - Unlike most other industry trade shows, the 58th International Poultry Expo (IPE) at Atlanta, Georgia, did not start with the usual bang and fanfare associated with most exhibition openings. There were no ribbon-cutting ceremonies, no guests of honour, and certainly no welcome speeches.

But what it does offer are plenty of opportunities for the international poultry community to get to know one another. This year's expo showcases 830 exhibitors spanning 16 acres of ground at the Georgia World Congress Centre, featuring all segments of the industry from feed milling, hatchery and live production to marketing and processing.

Although the IPE has done away with an opening ceremony, it has included some first-times in its programme line-up, such as its International Reception, held at the end of the expo's first day.

Explained Sylvia Small, vice-president of communications programmes for the US Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY), "We want to recognise our international exhibitors and give them an opportunity to meet industry people all over the world. The expo is very large, so this is a good time to network."

About 50 honorary consuls stationed in Georgia, such as those from Brazil, Nigeria and Argentina, are expected to attend the International Reception, sponsored by the organiser USPOULTRY, food company Pilgrim's Pride, and the Georgia Department of Economic Development, among others.

According to the USPOULTRY, about 20 percent of the exhibitors hail from 95 countries.

Attendees--numbering about 18,000--are expected to visit the expo held from Jan 25 to 27 as did the year before, the USPOULTRY added, despite concerns of a global bird flu threat stalling participation.

Also of interest in the IPE is the Poultry Industry Museum booth, which features artefacts and photos of how the American poultry industry had evolved from 1850 to 1960. This is the second year the museum is being featured at IPE.

"It's really interesting to see how the industry has changed over the years and putting the museum in this expo will certainly drive more awareness of our industry's history, given our high traffic," Small explained.

The Crystal Egg Awards Marketing Competition, which recognises the marketing efforts of IPE exhibitors, is also in its fifth year. Companies honoured for their marketing campaigns at last year's IPE include Novus International for the Poster segment, and Lubing Systems for the Brochure/Flyer segment.

Four Chinese companies also exhibited at the IPE this year, namely Shanghai Sunwin Chemicals, Shandong NB Group, Guangzhou Tanke Industry and GuangZhou Wisdom Feed Technology. All four companies had participated in the expo in the hope of breaking into the international market, especially that in the US and South America.

While most of them expressed that they have met their targets of joining the expo for the first or second time, a couple of them pointed out that the IPE would have seen better participation from Chinese companies had it not taken place at the Lunar New Year period.

"It's a pity that the IPE is always held during the Lunar New Year, as many companies in China are not likely to attend during the time the Chinese traditionally spend time as a family," pointed out Tanke's general manager Guixiong Qiu, who added that he had wanted to bring more of his customers to the expo to survey the US market, but many rejected the offer, preferring to spend the time with families.

For eFeedLink, its presence as an exhibitor for the second consecutive year was marked by a new treat for participants and interested companies-- free consulting on the China market by its business development and China market research group.

Source: eFeedLink - 27th January 2006