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

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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