According to CONFIDA, the Italian vending association and organiser of Venditalia, the previous exhibition took up 20,000 square metres of exhibition space, included 256 exhibitors and attracted some 10,000 visitors from around the world.

CONFIDA told VI that consumption from vending machines in Italy now totals six billion, from some 1,731,000 machines - that's one for every 35 inhabitants. The sector has a turnover of over two billion Euros and employs 30,000 people.

Previous Venditalia shows have each grown in style and impact, and there seems no reason to think that the 2008 show will be any different.

"Venditalia has become a reference point for world production of vending machines", claims Sergio Pieralisi, Venditalia President. "In fact, over the years it has managed to transform itself from a showroom for national products into a real meeting point between global supply and demand. The rate of growth of foreign operators is in fact increasing due to the fact that Italian industry has managed first to establish then defend world leadership in the production of machines with the introduction of the first espresso coffee machines".

http://www.venditalia.com/