Olive Oil Trade Shows: SIAL, Gulfood, WOOE, Anuga

In brief. Four trade shows structure the year of an olive oil exporter or importer: SIAL Paris, with the Tunisian CEPEX pavilion), Gulfood Dubai (March 2027, gateway to the Gulf), WOOE Madrid (March, 100% olive oil, bulk buyers) and Anuga Cologne (Oct. 2027, biennial). Each has a distinct role — generalist, regional, specialised — and requires months of preparation. The dates are time-sensitive and should be re-checked with the organisers.

Trade shows remain the place where real olive oil contracts are struck: you taste, you compare, you negotiate. But you still have to pick the right ones and prepare properly. Here are the reference trade shows, their role and their dated calendar — to be re-checked at the source before booking a stand or a ticket.

What are the major olive oil trade shows?

Three families of trade shows intersect: the food-industry generalists (SIAL, Anuga), the olive oil specialists (WOOE) and the regional ones (Gulfood for the Gulf). An exporter usually combines a generalist for visibility and a specialist for bulk buyers.

Trade show	Dates	Type	Main role
SIAL Paris	17-21 Oct. 2026	Generalist	The event of the year, Tunisian CEPEX pavilion
Gulfood Dubai	15-19 March 2027	Regional	Gateway to the Gulf / GAFTA
WOOE Madrid	March (annual)	Specialist	100% olive oil, bulk buyers
Anuga Cologne	9-13 Oct. 2027	Generalist	Biennial, highly international

Other events round out the calendar: PLMA Amsterdam (May 2027, private label), Foodex Japan (March 2027, via JETRO) and Fancy Food NY (summer 2027).

SIAL Paris: the event of the year

SIAL Paris) is the world's largest food-industry trade show. For a Tunisian exporter, it is the event: it hosts a Tunisian pavilion organised by CEPEX, which shares costs and provides collective visibility.

There you meet importers, distributors, packers and brand builders from every continent. It is the ideal show for a broad first contact before moving on to more targeted events.

Gulfood Dubai: the gateway to the Gulf

Gulfood) is the reference show for approaching the Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman). It is the stage for premium foodservice buyers and regional distributors.

Key trade point: access to this market goes through the Arab certificate of origin (GAFTA, 0% duty vs 5% GCC for non-members) and Arabic labelling compliant with SFDA/ESMA. Preparing these elements before the show lends credibility to the stand.

WOOE Madrid: the 100% olive oil show

The World Olive Oil Exhibition) is the only show entirely dedicated to olive oil. Its audience is ultra-targeted: bulk buyers, bottlers, packers and brand builders coming to source.

It is the most relevant show for a bulk exporter: here you talk price per tonne, incoterms, COA and volumes. Less general public, more contracts. First compare your price positioning on the origins comparison.

Anuga Cologne: the biennial alternation

Anuga) is the other major global generalist, biennial, alternating with SIAL. Highly international, it strongly reaches the Northern European markets — including Germany, Europe's #1 organic market.

For an exporter, Anuga and SIAL form a duo to alternate depending on the year: do not target both the same year, but keep a regular presence at at least one of the two.

How to make a trade show pay off?

• Prepare the technical file — COA per lot, samples, product sheets, price grid per incoterm.
• Target in advance — book appointments with priority importers before the show; don't wait for them to walk past the stand.
• Mobilise the subsidies — in Tunisia, FOPRODEX covers 35-40% of an individual participation and up to 80% in a collective one (cap 50,000 TND); Tasdir+ co-finances 50% of prospecting.
• Quote accurately and fast — a buyer met at a show expects a dated quotation within 24-48h. Prepare your delivered prices per port.

The mistake to avoid

Booking a stand without a compliance file ready. A serious buyer immediately asks for the COA, the status of the certifications (organic, IFS/BRC depending on the channel) and a dated quotation per incoterm. Arriving empty-handed at an expensive show turns an investment into a mere travel expense.

FAQ

What is the best trade show for exporting Tunisian olive oil?

SIAL Paris) is the event of the year, with a Tunisian CEPEX pavilion that shares costs. To specifically target bulk buyers, WOOE Madrid (100% olive oil) is the most relevant.

When do the major trade shows take place in 2026-2027?

SIAL Paris: 17-21 Oct. 2026; Gulfood Dubai: 15-19 March 2027; WOOE Madrid: March (annual); Anuga Cologne: 9-13 Oct. 2027. Always confirm with the organisers before booking.

Which show to choose for the Gulf market?

Gulfood Dubai) is the reference show for the Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar…). Prepare the GAFTA Arab certificate of origin (0%) and Arabic labelling compliant with SFDA/ESMA before going.

SIAL and Anuga, what's the difference?

Both are major global food-industry generalist shows, but biennial and alternating: SIAL is held in even years, Anuga in odd years. An exporter alternates by year rather than targeting both the same year.

Is there a show dedicated solely to olive oil?

Yes, WOOE Madrid) is 100% olive oil. Its audience of bulk buyers, bottlers and brand builders makes it the most targeted show for an exporter.

Are there subsidies to take part in a trade show?

Yes, on the Tunisian side. FOPRODEX covers 35-40% of an individual participation and up to 80% in a collective one (cap 50,000 TND); Tasdir+ co-finances 50% of prospecting (cap $50,000). To be confirmed with CEPEX.

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Preparing for a trade show and looking for a supplier at the source? Request a dated quote: quotation per format, category and incoterm within 24-48h. Track prices on the price observatory and compare origins on the comparison.

Article in English. 2026-2027 trade show dates are time-sensitive (July 2026) and to be verified with the organisers; no data fabricated, information taken from industry calendars. Indicative prices at the low end of the range.