MARCA by BolognaFiere

What MARCA by BolognaFiere does

MARCA by BolognaFiere & ADM is an international trade fair dedicated exclusively to Private Label (Marca del Distributore / MDD) products, organized by BolognaFiere S.p.A. in collaboration with ADM (Associazione della Distribuzione Moderna). First held in 2004, the event is the only Italian trade fair for Distributor's Brand products, ranks as the second-largest Private Label fair in Europe, and is among the leading events worldwide. It runs biennially in Bologna, with the 23rd edition scheduled for January 13-14, 2027. Producers, co-packers, and retailers across Food, Non-Food, and Fresh categories meet for product innovation showcases, B2B networking, and contract discussions, supplemented by the International Buyers Program with online matchmaking for pre-scheduled meetings, a searchable exhibitor catalog, Marca Fresh/Marca Tech/Marca Talks sub-programs, and the MARCA Awards competition.

The underlying technology stack centers on a trade-fair exhibition platform with an online B2B meeting scheduling system and a filterable exhibitor directory covering Food, Personal Care, Household, Pet, Packaging, and Services sectors. The platform is hosted on BolognaFiere's digital infrastructure with separate exhibitor and visitor login portals. Complementary digital touchpoints include a content/news hub, press area with photo and video galleries, newsletter subscriptions, and integration with media partners such as PL Magazine (for the MARCA Awards) and industry outlets like RAI, Distribuzione Moderna, and GDOWeek.

MARCA generates revenue primarily through exhibitor booth fees, visitor registration, and associated trade show services, with sponsorship and awards-program monetization as secondary streams. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled via direct sales (Italian Sales Manager and Sales Account teams) rather than self-serve. The customer base is dual-sided: producers and co-packers on the supply side (Food Products, Beverages, Grocery, Frozen, Fresh, Dairy, Bakery, Personal Care, Home Care, Pet Care, Packaging), and retail chains on the demand side (Auchan, Carrefour, Conad, Coop, Crai, Despar, Selex, Unes, Vègè, S&C Consorzio Distribuzione Italia, Consorzio Coralis, MD, Migross, Pam Panorama, Risparmio Casa, and others). International distribution is extended through Marca China (Guangzhou) and Marca Poland (Poznań), and the event is supported by Italian institutional partnerships with ICE, Camera di Commercio di Bologna, Regione Emilia Romagna, and Unioni Alimentari.

Name

MARCA by BolognaFiere

Legal name

Fiere Internazionali di Bologna - BolognaFiere S.p.A.

Website

https://marcabybolognafiere.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MARCA by BolognaFiere & ADM is the only Italian international trade fair dedicated to Private Label products, held biennially in Bologna, connecting producers and co-packers with major retail chains across Food, Non-Food, and Fresh categories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Fair & Exhibition Services

NAICS

Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244), Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (424)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale/B2B Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic & Natural Private Label & Brand Distribution (Wholesale) (AFAIAJAL), Bulk / Private Label Alcohol Production & Brands (CRADAIAJ), Private Label & Contract Cheese Manufacturing (AFAHABAJ), Private Label Beverage Manufacturing (Retail/Brand-Owned Formulations) (AFAFAIAL), Private Label & Contract Bakery Wholesale (AFAIAFAK)

Keywords

• Private label trade fair
• B2B exhibition services
• Modern distribution events
• Retail brand networking
• Buyer exhibitor matchmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Exhibition and Trade Show Revenue: Revenue generated from exhibitor booth fees, visitor registration fees, and associated trade show services. The event serves as the primary platform connecting Private Label manufacturers with retailers and distributors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MARCA by BolognaFiere is the leading Italian B2B trade fair dedicated to Distributor's Brand (Private Label) products, organized by BolognaFiere S.p.A. in collaboration with ADM (Associazione Distribuzione Moderna). It connects retailers, distributors, and manufacturers of private-label goods through an annual exhibition, awards program, and satellite events in foreign markets. The fair is the only one of its kind in Italy and the second-largest in Europe for Private Label products.

Product overview

Marca by BolognaFiere & ADM is a trade fair/exhibition platform organized by BolognaFiere in collaboration with ADM (Associazione della Distribuzione Moderna). The core product is the annual international trade show dedicated to Private Label (Marca del Distributore/MDD), where producers, co-packers, and retailers meet for innovation, private label business, and networking across Food, Non-Food, and Fresh products. The platform is structured around the main trade show event (Marca by BolognaFiere & ADM), supported by complementary programs including the International Buyers Program for facilitating B2B meetings, an Exhibitor Directory/Catalogue for discovering participants, Marca Awards (Best Innovation Product and Best Copacker Profile) for recognizing excellence, the MARCA Trend Area for showcasing new products, and educational programs including Marca Fresh Events, Marca Talks, and Institutional Conferences. The platform also extends internationally through Marca China and Marca Poland events. The 2026 edition features over 300 products in the MARCA Trend Area and spans multiple exhibition halls with a comprehensive exhibitor base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MARCA AWARDS: Competition organized by Marca by BolognaFiere & ADM in collaboration with PL Magazine by Edizioni DM, awarding Best Innovation Product and Best Copacker Profile
• MARCA Trend
• International Buyers Program
• Marca Fresh
• Marca Tech
• Marca Talks

Products and services

• MARCA Trade Fair The flagship annual B2B exhibition held at BolognaFiere, bringing together retailers, distributors, and producers of private-label products across grocery, non-food, fresh produce, and frozen categories. Co-organized with ADM (Associazione Distribuzione Moderna).
• MARCA International Buyers Program A targeted business-matching program that hosts qualified international buyers at MARCA, arranging pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with exhibiting manufacturers of private-label products.
• MARCA Awards A competition and recognition program for the best Private Label products across food, non-food, fresh produce, and frozen categories, judged by a panel of retailers and industry experts.
• MARCA China A satellite B2B trade fair held in China dedicated to private-label products, extending the MARCA brand to the Asian retail and distribution market.
• MARCA Poland A satellite B2B trade fair held in Poland dedicated to private-label products, extending the MARCA brand to the Central and Eastern European retail and distribution market.
• MARCA Fresh A dedicated B2B event focused on the fresh-produce segment of private-label products, connecting fruit and vegetable producers with retailers and distributors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 564 international B2B meetings facilitated at 2015 edition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ADM (Associazione della Distribuzione Moderna)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADM is the co-organizer of the MARCA trade fair, representing Italian modern distribution chains. The partnership establishes the event as the official marketplace for ADM member retailers, providing strategic direction through the Technical Scientific Committee and dedicated exhibition space.
• PL Magazine by Edizioni DMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with PL Magazine for the organization of MARCA Awards competition, combining industry expertise and media reach to recognize and promote Private Label innovation and excellence.
• BolognaFierecoreOthersBolognaFiere is the parent exhibition organizer and primary venue provider. The trade fair operates under the BolognaFiere brand and utilizes their exhibition infrastructure, online platforms, and international network.
• ICE - Agenzia per la promozione all'esterominorGTM or Marketing PartnerICE (Italian Trade Agency) partnership providing international promotion support and facilitating international buyer engagement at the MARCA trade fair.
• Camera di Commercio di BolognaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial patronage from Bologna Chamber of Commerce supporting the trade fair's regional business development initiatives.
• Regione Emilia RomagnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional government patronage providing institutional support for the trade fair's operations in the Emilia-Romagna region.
• Unioni AlimentariminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with food industry unions supporting the trade fair's positioning in the Italian food manufacturing sector.
• Technical Scientific Committee (Comitato Tecnico Scientifico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory body comprising major retail chains (Auchan, Carrefour, Conad, Coop, Crai, Despar, etc.) that participate with exhibition space and provide strategic direction for the trade fair content and format.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Anuga: Anuga is the leading biennial food and beverage trade fair held in Cologne, Germany. It attracts a comparable exhibitor and trade visitor base to MARCA across food categories, with a much broader (non-Private Label) focus.
• SIAL Paris: SIAL is one of the world's largest food industry trade fairs, held biennially in Paris and with satellite editions worldwide. While not exclusively Private Label, it competes for the same food manufacturer/retailer audience and international buyer attention that MARCA targets.
• ISM (International Sweets & Confectionery): ISM is the leading global trade fair for sweets and snacks held in Cologne, attended by many of the same retailers and Private Label confectionery manufacturers that participate at MARCA, but on a confectionery-only scope.

Direct peers

• PLMA (Private Label Manufacturers Association): PLMA is the leading global trade association for the private label industry and runs the largest international Private Label trade show (US-based, plus international editions). It is the most direct competitor to MARCA, serving the same manufacturers and retailers with the same Private Label focus.

Regional players

• TuttoFood: TuttoFood is Milan's biennial B2B trade fair dedicated to the food & beverage industry, organized by Fiera Milano. It draws many of the same Italian and international food producers and buyers that MARCA serves, but on a broader (not Private Label-exclusive) remit.
• Cibus: Cibus is the biennial international food exhibition held in Parma, Italy, focused on Italian F&B production. It overlaps MARCA's exhibitor and buyer pool in Italy, even though it is broader than Private Label.

Emerging players

• ProPak MEA: ProPak MEA is a major regional trade fair for packaging and processing industries serving the Middle East and Africa. It intersects MARCA's packaging exhibitor segment and the broader Private Label supply chain rather than competing head-on for retailers.
• BIOFACH: BIOFACH is the leading global organic food trade fair held in Nuremberg. It intersects MARCA's premium and sustainability-focused Private Label categories (e.g., Organic & Natural) and attracts a subset of the same buyers chasing differentiated store-brand SKUs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marca-by-bolognafiere

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MARCA by BolognaFiere