Newsletter April/May

More than 1,400 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and a new record gross display area of some 89,000 square metres once again make the 30th Interzoo the biggest international marketplace for the global pet supplies trade. The exhibition promoter Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH (WZF) expects more than 34,000 trade visitors from more than 100 countries at the anniversary exhibition.

For Klaus Oechsner, President of the German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF), the honorary sponsor of Interzoo, the growing worldwide interest in the exhibition indicates the business optimism in the industry: “The pet as man’s partner and the demand for species-appropriate quality products in the food and accessories segments are gaining importance. More and more medical articles for pet care, technical improvements and healthy food are coming onto the market and support the living together of pets and humans.” He finds it particularly encouraging that five per cent more German exhibitors are expected than at the last Interzoo. “As the world exhibition for the pet industry is more or less on their doorstep, Interzoo is a great opportunity for the German pet supplies trade to get a survey of trends and new products.”

The 30th Interzoo has a roaring party in store for the industry when the anniversary party for visitors and exhibitors takes place on the first floor of CCN Ost in the exhibition centre on Saturday, 24 May, starting at 6 p.m. Sydney hall is the place for eating and dancing to international live music from the “Nightshift” band, whereas the atmosphere in the “Vasco da Gama” restaurant and the gallery is quieter. To mark the anniversary exhibition, delicacies will be offered from some of the exhibiting nations at Interzoo and guests can choose from international buffets and naturally enjoy typically German-Bavarian food as well.

The German state of Bavaria, which has hosted Interzoo for many years, will also be represented in the show acts: Here the “Traunwalchener Goaßlschnalzer” unmistakably show what seasoned Bavarian men can do with beer mugs, spoons, whips or cow bells. The Bavarian group with its glass fibre whips of about 1.50 metres long has even been Bavarian champion in rhythmic group “Goaßlschnalzen” (whip cracking) 13 times.

Anyone not so keen on Bavarian traditions can let off steam at the shooting range or at the ball-in-a-bucket and ring-the-bell games in the gallery. Party guests who prefer a cosy chat and chilling out to candlelight jazz meet in the Mercator Lounge or on the lounge terrace, where live music from the “The Shortcuts” band creates that exciting romantic bar feeling on a hopefully warm May evening.

Entrance tickets for the Interzoo Party are available from all information counters in the exhibition centre and at the ticket desk in CCN Ost from 5.30 p.m. on the evening. Admission costs 40 euros (incl. buffet, draught beer, wine and soft drinks).

Two- and four-legged friends can be looked after free at Interzoo if required. Visitors who can’t find a babysitter at home can put their children in the care of the free exhibition kindergarten (between hall 4 and 5, near the east (Ost) entrance). Trained kindergarten teachers supervise playing and reading activities for children of 3 years plus during the opening times of the exhibition. Soft drinks and snacks are provided.

Our dear four-legged friends should also be spared the tiring walk through loud, overcrowded exhibition halls. Expert attendants look after your four-legged friends in the dog care centre (between the east entrance and hall 7A).

Interzoo visitors can use the Business Lounge during the exhibition to attend to business matters, cultivate contacts or simply relax in pleasant surroundings. The Business Lounge is located in the service area between hall 4 and 5. Qualified, multilingual hostesses serve free non-alcoholic drinks, hot drinks and biscuits. Various international daily papers are provided for information on the latest market and worldwide activities. A typing, fax and copying service plus PC and Internet service are available for business purposes.

The honorary sponsor of Interzoo is the German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF). At the ZZF Information Centre on stand 4-324 in hall 4, experts are available to answer questions on species-appropriate pet keeping and the German pet supplies market. Traders can also obtain information here about the services offered by the trade association, special insurance offers and skeleton agreements for members. ZZF also presents its new manual on training in the pet supplies trade, which is published in time for Interzoo. This textbook is the first basic and continuation training system developed specifically for the pet supplies trade in Germany.

The ZZF Group on “Grooming in Pet Salons” invites visitors to stand 4-329 in hall 4 for talks on grooming dogs and cats. It provides information on the work of the group, membership of ZZF and the examination as “ZZF-qualified pet care assistant”. Experts also demonstrate how to trim schnauzers, poodles, mix yorkies, beaver yorkies, border terriers and cocker spaniels. On Saturday, 24 May, the group organizes two seminars on trimming and cutting with Berno Bekebrede. The seminars in German take place from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2.30 – 4.30 p.m. More information about the seminars, start times and fees is available at www.fachgruppe-heimtierpflege.de.

Interzoo is a trade fair for pet supplies, not for trading in live animals. If an exhibitor wishes to present pets, he must register the presentation before the exhibition and keep the animals in Germany in accordance with the directives and provisions applicable under the German Animal Protection Act. Examples of presentations not allowed are ornamental fish in column and wall-picture aquariums or reptiles in micro-terrariums.

...this international exhibition is also an outstanding presentation platform. I am really looking forward to many good talks with our customers and can’t wait to hear their feedback on the many innovations we have thought up this year.

Hartmut Englisch Managing Partner Bunny Tierernährung GmbH

Publisher  Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH Postfach 61 64 65051 Wiesbaden, Germany Tel +49 (0) 6 11.44 75 53-0 Fax +49 (0) 6 11.44 75 53-33 Managing Director: Herbert Bollhöfer Commercial register no.: Wiesbaden p. 23138

Project management and editing 
griffith pr, Bad Homburg
Tel +49 (0) 6 172.139 28 48
Fax +49 (0) 6 172.13 73 31

 
Design 
NürnbergMesse GmbH 
Messezentrum 
90471 Nürnberg