For three full days, more than 3,000 professionals and other interested parties from the international beverage industry gathered online for the Launch Days of myBeviale.com, where they had the opportunity to learn from more than 330 companies offering around 770 products and solutions, interact with each other, and expand their knowledge. The supporting programme and exhibitor presentations at the BrauBeviale 2020 Special Edition, which could not be held at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg on November 10-12 as scheduled because of national and international developments relating to the coronavirus pandemic, were held online instead, using the new dialogue platform for the beverage industry. The result was a new digital dimension to expand the range of products and services offered by the Beviale Family, the global beverage industry network from the NürnbergMesse Group. Beverage professionals and industry insiders can meet at a virtual level at myBeviale.com throughout the year to network, interact and learn from each other. The next BrauBeviale will be held in Nuremberg in November 2022 as scheduled.

More than 90 “actions” with about 140 individual presentations and more than 150 different speakers were the focus of the Launch Days for myBeviale.com. “We’re very grateful that we can at least offer the industry a virtual platform for interacting and sharing knowledge in this difficult year,” says Andrea Kalrait, Executive Director BrauBeviale at NürnbergMesse. “Both experts and other interested parties were actively involved in the Launch Days, and we’ve received lots of positive feedback. It’s a very promising start for myBeviale.com,” she adds, clearly pleased with the response. The goal of the platform is to encourage and facilitate dialogue in the beverage industry throughout the year. Right from the beginning, the myBeviale.com community has a very international makeup, with registered participants from more than 30 countries, confirming the strong global position of BrauBeviale.

Center Stage, Exhibition Stage, Craft Beverages and brau@home Stage, Technology Stage, Special Interest Stage and Award Stage – there was a lot to choose from. The event began with a well attended industry discussion with prominent industry representatives on the current situation and the opportunities and challenges for the future of the beverage industry. The unanimous view was that nothing can replace meeting in person, shaking hands, or having a beer together at the bar. But in an age of social distancing, digital platforms provide genuine added value that exhibition companies can offer their customers as a way for experts to network. But apart from coronavirus, there are other subjects it is essential that the industry drive forward: sustainability, deposit systems, etc. But the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Division is optimistic that the industry will recover quickly after the pandemic. The crucial factor is that worldwide demand for hygienically packaged food and beverages that are safe for the consumer will rise still further. Stephan Barth, Managing Directorof BarthHaas, is confident: “The recovery effect will be sensational.”

Another highlight in the programme was the award ceremony for the European Beer Star, which has had its home at BrauBeviale since it was established in 2004: breweries and industry professionals from around the world joined in to see firsthand the winners of the gold, silver and bronze prizes being announced.

“The successful start to myBeviale.com showed that, as an exhibition company, we can network individuals, share knowledge and create experiences not only on-site but also online,” comments Dr. Michael Melcher, Executive Director Digital Products & Platforms at NürnbergMesse. “The world and society in general are changing. Our goal is to provide players in the sector with a platform where they can get answers to their specific questions, regardless of time or location, to help them remain viable for the future.” Kalrait adds: “A big thank-you to all participants and partners for the faith they have shown in helping us to lay the foundations and launch this new project together. We appreciate the major commitment they have shown in supporting us, and their readiness to join us on the path we have taken and to help to give it shape. The response from the sector confirms that we are meeting a need. I invite everyone to work with us to develop myBeviale.com together and ensure it best meets the needs of the industry.”