One of the most important dates in the global food industry calendar starts today: Alimentaria + Hostelco 2026, the benchmark international trade fair for food, beverages and food service. And Raiz Andina will be there.
From 23 to 26 March, the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue hosts the show's 50th anniversary edition, with more than 3,300 companies from 70 countries spread across 100,000 m² of exhibition space. For Raiz Andina, a Milan-based company specialising in the direct trade of high-quality walnuts from Argentina and Chile, this event is a strategic opportunity to consolidate commercial relationships with European distributors, importers and industrial buyers.
Why Alimentaria 2026 matters for the tree nut sector
Since its first edition in 1976, Alimentaria has been the reference meeting point for food industry professionals in Europe. Its 2024 edition drew more than 100,000 trade visitors from over 120 countries, consolidating its position as a platform for business, innovation and internationalisation.
The 2026 edition —marking its 50th anniversary— promises to break records with a clear focus on internationality, sustainable innovation and the HORECA channel. Among the areas most relevant to the tree nut sector:
- Snacks, Biscuits & Confectionery: a dedicated area for snack and industrial bakery ingredients.
- Bakery & Pastry: doubling in size this edition, with particular relevance for industrial walnut buyers.
- Fine Foods: focused on premium ingredients and value-added products.
- Innoval: a showcase of more than 300 innovative products setting the sector's direction.
Raiz Andina: direct trade with the Andean origin
Raiz Andina was founded around a differentiated proposition in the European tree nut market: a direct connection between growers in the Andean regions of Argentina and Chile and European wholesale buyers, removing intermediaries and offering complete traceability from the orchard to the container.
Our product portfolio focuses on premium walnut varieties with strong commercial recognition in Europe:
- Chandler: the most sought-after variety worldwide for its shelling yield and light kernel colour.
- Serr: valued for its early maturation and balanced organoleptic profile.
- Howard: appreciated for its low rancidity rate and excellent stability in storage.
Operations are handled at container scale (FCL/LCL), under the standard Incoterms of international trade (FOB, CIF, CFR), with complete documentation for import into the European Union.
The advantage of South American counter-seasonality
One of Raiz Andina's strongest commercial arguments is a harvest calendar that complements the northern hemisphere. While California and southern Europe harvest between September and November, Argentina and Chile produce between February and April.
This allows European importers to:
- Access new-crop walnuts in the first half of the year.
- Diversify their suppliers and reduce dependence on a single origin.
- Cover industrial demand during the months when North American product has already been absorbed by the market.
A meeting designed for B2B business
Our participation in Alimentaria 2026 is aimed exclusively at establishing and strengthening commercial relationships with:
- Wholesale importers and distributors of tree nuts in Spain, Italy and the rest of Europe.
- Processing industries: industrial bakeries, snack manufacturers, pastry and confectionery producers.
- HORECA channel buyers requiring regular supply at scale.
- Trading companies specialising in agri-food commodities.
If your company operates in any of these segments and you are in Barcelona this week, we are available for meetings. You can reach us through raizandina.com to arrange one.
Alimentaria 2026: key event details
| Event details | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Alimentaria + Hostelco 2026 |
| Dates | 23 – 26 March 2026 |
| Venue | Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, Av. Joan Carles I, 64 |
| Opening hours | Mon–Wed: 09:30–18:30 / Thu: 09:30–17:00 |
| Exhibitors | 3,300+ companies from 70 countries |
| Floor space | 100,000 m² across 7 halls |
| Official website | alimentaria.com |
Connect with Raiz Andina in Barcelona
This week we are in Barcelona to talk about walnuts, international logistics and the real conditions of the Andean market. If you are an importer, distributor or industrial buyer and want to explore a direct supply relationship with Argentine or Chilean origin, now is the moment.
Would you like to meet us at Alimentaria?
Write to us through raizandina.com or contact us directly. We are here to build long-term commercial relationships.
Raiz Andina is a B2B trading company specialising in the export of premium walnuts (Chandler, Serr, Howard) from Argentina and Chile to European and Gulf markets. We are based in Milan and work at container scale with complete documentation for import into the EU.
