Emerald Acquires Atlantic Bakery Expo, dmg events Expands Footprint In Africa

September 1, 2020

Two leading event producers have been busy expanding their show portfolios with the acquisitions of trade shows in successful and new markets. Here are the details:

Emerald Expositions

Emerald has acquired the largest bakery trade show and conference in the Eastern U.S., Atlantic Bakery Expo, from the New York State Association of Manufacturing Retail Bakers and the New Jersey Bakers Board of Trade. As part of the agreement, both associations will continue to sponsor and support the event. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The show’s acquisition enables Emerald to broaden its commercial portfolio of leading pizza and bakery events and media properties, including International Pizza Expo (Las Vegas), International Artisan Bakery Expo (Las Vegas), Pizza & Pasta Northeast (Atlantic City) and Pizza Today magazine.  

Set for Oct. 3-4, 2021, at Atlantic City Convention Center, the event will be rebranded as Artisan Bakery Expo East. It will co-locate with Pizza & Pasta Northeast, the largest annual trade show for East Coast independent pizzeria owners. Held in tandem, the two shows are expected to create a strong combined event experience aimed at delivering new business and learning opportunities for both the bakery and pizza communities.

“We have already seen the synergy in bringing the pizzeria and bakery markets together,” said Jessica Blue, executive vice president of Emerald Connect Group, which oversees 13 events for a range of industries including food. “Bringing Atlantic Bakery Expo into Emerald complements our existing collocation of International Pizza Expo and International Artisan Bakery Expo in Las Vegas and will expand our product and service offering as well as our reach.”

Focused seminars, demonstrations and competitions, along with a trade show of bakery and pizza exhibitors, will now be available in one location, providing a synergistic experience for the collective industries. 

“We believe the Atlantic Bakery Expo will become the leading event for our industry,” said Nick Stork, president of the New York State Association of Manufacturing Retail Bakers. “The new ideas, new concepts and energies of our new management team will create a valuable showcase for all facets of the baking and pastry arts industry.” 

dmg events

Addisbuild

International events organizer dmg events has acquired Addisbuild, the longest-running building and construction exhibition in Ethiopia. Purchased from Istanbul, Turkey-based event organizer Expotim Uluslararasi Fuar Organisation A.S., the show’s 11th edition is set to take place Oct. 14 –16, 2021 in Addis Ababa under its new name: Addisbuild by The Big 5 Construct Ethiopia.

The new branding will align the show with the company’s broader Big 5 portfolio of specialized events for global construction businesses venturing into emerging markets including the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, according to dmg officials.

According to company President Matt Denton, after successfully adapting The Big 5 brand in Kenya and Nigeria, acquiring the show in Ethiopia – one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa – was a natural next step.

“Africa is an important growth market for us,” Denton said. “This latest acquisition joins a portfolio of 20 shows we run throughout Africa, supported and organized by our offices in Dubai, Egypt and South Africa. Our growing presence gives us greater access to the continent’s regional markets and a better understanding of how best to service them.”

As with other Big 5 events around the globe, Addisbuild’s content will be steered by an executive committee comprising the country’s leading developers, architects and contractors. Event attendees will have access to a comprehensive program of free-to-attend CPD certified workshops and an exclusive business matching-making event.

“Having worked with dmg events for such a long time, we are delighted that the acquisition has been completed with an organization we know and trust,” said Çağatay Erşahin, general manager of Expotim Uluslararasi Fuar Organisation A.S. “The Big 5 brand comes with a strong international network that will help to position the event we’ve spent a decade growing, for its next phase of growth.”

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.