Viciunai latest big player to pull Brussels stand

Lithuania-based surimi and seafood processor Viciunai Group has pulled its stand from the Brussels seafood show, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to undercurrentnews.

Dirk Belmans, managing director of Viciunai’s Bruges, Belgium-based western Europe sales office, declined to comment.

The company usually has one of the largest and eye-catching stands at the show (see below from 2015).

Viciunai is the latest large company to pull its stand from the show after the March terrorist attacks in the Belgian capital, following Pacific Seafood Group, Norwegian pelagic processor Pelagia; Trident Seafoods, Leroy Seafood Group; SalMar and Cermaq, to name a few.

Others, such as Marine Harvest and Norway Seafoods, have issued statements confirming they will attend. Companies have been citing expected low buyer turnout as the reason for cancelling their booths.

Julien Mahieu, the category manager for seafood with Delhaize Belgium, gave a strong statement on why he will attend.

“Personally, I am waiting for this event all year long, and they would have to confine me to prevent me from going to Brussels show,” he said.

“Now I fully understand why some people or companies would be reluctant to be present,” said Mahieu.

“But, on a side note, I go to Brussels every day, and still plan to take flights from Brussels to meet suppliers and get first hand information from the field, as this is part of our job as buyers, especially in seafood. This is not recklessness, but dedication,” he said.