Gafa in future only once in two years – Spoga to remain annual event

Gafa’s specialist advisory committee, appearing on behalf of the interested business community, came to the unanimous decision with Koelnmesse that Gafa, the International Garden Trade Fair, will be held only every second year with effect from 2004. Spoga, which has until now always been staged in parallel to Gafa, is to continue as an annual event. The idea is to offer all interested Gafa suppliers of “lifestyle”-oriented products, ranging from ambience through to plants and on to ornamental water features, the opportunity to be present at a trade fair in Cologne under the modified title of “Spoga International Trade Fair for sports, camping and garden lifestyles”. There is to be no change to the September dates for Gafa and Spoga, or to the actual show days from Sunday to Tuesday. Both events will retain their trade fair character as well. It was in particular the exhibitors of technical products for the garden who reinforced the demand for a two-yearly fair cycle. They include manufacturers of motorised garden equipment for semi-professional to professional users, companies concentrating on irrigation technology, and suppliers from the market segment offering wood for the garden.