More than 26,000 trade visitors attended Interzoo 2004, held May 13-16 at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg in Nuremberg, Germany-up approximately 15 percent from the previous show in 2002.

The show maintained its status as the world's biggest pet supplies trade fair, with 1,101 exhibitors from 48 nations-up from 1,015 exhibitors from 43 nations in 2002. In addition to Germany, leading exhibitors came from Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China and the United States.

Business appeared brisk for most of the 112 exhibiting American companies, many of which displayed their products and services in a specially organized American pavilion. Helped in part by a favorable euro-to-dollar exchange rate, several American exhibitors commented on the excellent traffic over the four-day event.

David Stern, vice president of marketing for Metro Air Force (Suffern, N.Y.), said his company had a phenomenal show. "Every two years, it gets better," Stern said. "As American manufacturers, our goods are very attractive to Europeans. We seem to be able to manufacture high-quality products here in the [United States] for less than some European countries. [European] buyers make [buying] decisions much more quickly than Americans."

The show's sponsors were equally pleased with its overall success.

"In view of the strained economic situation, the pet supplies buyers showed a high degree of motivation and willingness to invest. The sales transactions and the keen interest in innovations and new products were better than expected," said Klaus Oechsner, president of Zentralverband Zoologischer Fachbetriebe e.V.

Interzoo 2006 will be held May 11-14 at the same location in Nuremberg. For more information, visit www.zzf.de or www.interzoo.com.