Anja Cord
Westfalenhallen GmbH / Foto: Anja Cord
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, InterTabac once again was established as the international forum of the industry, with 12,500 trade visitors and the highest percentage (45%) of foreign visitors to the show and a 4% increase from the previous year.
Overseas trade visitors came from all over the world: US, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, France, UK, Italy, Austria, Poland, and the Benelux countries.
"InterTabac is today the world’s flagship trade fair of the industry and confirmed that again in 2018," said Sabine Loos, c.e.o. of Westfalenhallen Dortmund GmbH.
InterTabac 2018 also achieved other new milestones as it took over more halls, including the arena, of the Westfallenhalle exhibition center. The fourth installment of InterSupply, the trade fair for the production of tobacco goods and e-cigarettes, was held in Hall3B.
A total of 625 exhibitors from 54 countries showcased their products and services at this year’s InterTabac, a 12% increase from 2017.
A visitor survey conducted by an independent exhibition market research institute found that 91%per cent of the trade visitors stated that their visit to InterTabac was worthwhile. The visitors were also satisfied with the presence of market leaders at InterTabac and gave that a ‘good’ rating. The percentage of visitors who rated InterTabac even better than the year before increased.
The largest visitor groups in 2018 again came from the retail sector, followed by the wholesale sector and the industrial sector. The largest professional groups were again entrepreneurs, managing directors and departmental managers. Nine out of ten are involved in purchase decisions at their companies in an advisory, co-deciding, or decision-making capacity.
The range of products and services at InterTabac was rated as ‘good’ by the visitors. Product preferences were also reflected by InterTabac’s extended range in the halls covering the Next Generation Products (NGP). In 2018, visitors were mainly interested in cigarillos/cigars/cigarettes e-cigarettes/e-shishas, liquids, smoking accessories and cigarette paper, NGP, and fine-cut tobacco.
The survey revealed that 54% of InterTabac visitors wanted to also visit InterSupply. This is an increase of 6% from 2017.
InterSupply 2018 featured 114 exhibitors from 35 countries. Visitors to the trade fair in Hall 3B were primarily interested in raw tobacco, flavors and additives, packaging materials. and machines for the production of e-cigarettes and tobacco goods.
The percentage of trade visitors who regarded this year’s InterSupply as being even better than last year’s increased, just like the rating for InterTabac – a clear sign of a positive trend for the young, promising trade fair.
Next year, InterTabac and InterSupply will take place during 20-22 September 2019. 91% of the trade visitors already stated that they would come again next year.