"Another record-breaking year"

This year Global Pet Expo experienced the highest post-show numbers to date. In addition to a record-setting attendance, more than 3 000 new pet product launches, 1 051 exhibitors and 3 113 booths sold were announced by Andrew Darmohraj, executive vice-president and COO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Presented by APPA and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), the show opened its doors to more than 311 300 net square feet (over 28 000 m2) of exhibit space, making it the biggest Global Pet Expo in its eleven years. Total show attendance came to nearly 15 500 people.

"Having experienced another record-breaking year, we recognise that it is thanks to the growing support and consistent commitment of our exhibitors and attendees, which allow us to see such incredible gains," said Darmohraj. "Global Pet Expo attracts the best the pet industry has to offer, which certainly motivates us to provide the best trade show possible to meet their needs."
On a truly global front, 20 per cent of exhibitors were international, accounting for 213 of the 1 051 exhibitors. An impressive 29 per cent of buyers were from outside of the US, coming from 82 countries - a clear indication that Global Pet Expo offers a key trading opportunity for companies from around the world. 
The show was also a media event, as shown by the high number of over 230 members of the press in Orlando. Global Pet Expo exhibitors and attendees took to Twitter with roughly 4 000 tweets sent using the official show hashtag, #GlobalPetExpo, generating more than 18.9 mio impressions and reaching more than 6.2 mio people. Online interaction caused #GlobalPetExpo to be a "trending topic" during the event: the ultimate triumph for a dedicated Twitter user.  

This year's Global Pet Expo also featured more new product launches than any other show in the industry with nearly 1 000 entries in the New Products Showcase alone. From ice cream mix, herbal tea and automated ball launchers for dogs as well as modern cat-scratching furniture, organic human-grade treats and food, sling-shot fetch toys and small animal play houses with accessories, every pet product imaginable was on…