Diversified, the producer of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America (SENA/SPNA), has reported that an estimated 20,000 seafood industry professionals from around the world convened for the 43rd edition of the seafood trade show in Boston on March 16-18.
The event spanned 249,665 net square feet of exhibit space with 1,215 companies from 51 countries promoting their products and services. SPNA showcased market-leading processing and packaging equipment companies, along with logistics services and other service providers. SENA featured seafood companies offering a variety of frozen, fresh, canned, value-added, processed and packaged seafood products.
Seafood buyers from across the North American market from restaurants, supermarkets, e-commerce, warehouse clubs, catering firms, hotels/airlines/cruises, distribution and more were present to discover the latest products offerings and build strategic relationships. High-volume seafood buyers included Aldi, Amazon Fresh, Costco, Disney, Kroger, Wakefern, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Publix, Sam’s Club, Shamrock Foods, Sodexo, Sysco, US Foods and more.
“This year’s event growth was evident on-site with lots of energy and engagement in both the exhibit hall and the conference area,” said Seafood at Diversified Vice President Wynter Courmont. “Seafood companies, processing equipment, packaging and services companies and buyers all welcomed the opportunity to meet face to face and learn about new products and innovations, achieve their business goals and discuss their unique challenges and opportunities for growth.”
“Having a presence at this event helps us reinforce and establish our brand in the marketplace and connect us with both prospective customers and suppliers,” said Daryl Gormley, chief executive officer of Rancho Cucamonga, California-headquartered Aquamar. “To replicate this, I would have to be traveling with my team all over North America and Central America and instead, we have an opportunity over a few days to have a ton of concentrated interactions that create potential value for us.”
Beyond the show floor, a robust conference program offered attendees educational sessions from top industry leaders around topics such as seafood consumption and consumer trends, policy trends and regulatory issues, AI, labor rights, marine plastics and more. Highlights from the conference program included panels that discussed data around why consumers are shopping for seafood, what their preferences are, how behaviors have changed and trends towards eating and dining out. Another panel between seafood entrepreneurs discussed the economic advantages of diversifying seafood product offerings and having a diverse workforce.
Next year’s event will run from March 15-17 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Meanwhile, Diversified’s next Seafood Expo event will be Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global, set to take place at Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via, in Barcelona Spain, May 6-8, 2025.
