Every two years Interzoo gathers the global pet industry in Nuremberg, strictly as a trade-only event for the specialist channel. For a first appearance of your own, that speaks in favour of a manageable entry with a clear selection. How much impact a compact stand delivers is decided long before the build begins.
A world-leading fair that runs on the specialist trade
Interzoo takes place every two years in May at the NürnbergMesse exhibition centre. The next date falls in May 2028, followed by 2030 and 2032. For the 2026 edition the organisers reported around 2,400 exhibitors from roughly 70 countries across about 150,000 square metres in 15 halls; the previous edition drew some 39,000 trade visitors from more than 130 countries. The fair is staged by WZF on behalf of the German pet trade association ZZF.
The portfolio covers the full breadth of pet supplies: aquatics, terraristics, articles for dogs, cats, small mammals, rodents and ornamental birds, garden ponds, angling and equestrian sport, pet food technology, shop fitting, packaging and specialist literature.
One characteristic shapes stand planning above all: Interzoo is a fair for supplies. Exhibitors who wish to present live animals register the presentation with the organiser in advance and follow the German animal welfare rules that apply. For the vast majority of exhibitors that means the product, its packaging and its shelf presence carry the stand on their own.
Segment first, square metres second
Fifteen halls sort the industry by product group. Buyers plan their route along those segments, usually with an appointment list in hand and a tight schedule. For a first-time exhibitor, landing in the right hall therefore counts for more than any extra square metre.
Ask the organiser early about segment allocation, neighbouring exhibitors and the position relative to the main aisles. A spot near a busy axis does more for a small footprint than a larger plot in a quiet corner. A corner stand with two open sides doubles visibility while the area stays the same.
Technical requirements belong in that same early round. Aquatics needs water and drainage, pet food technology needs substantial power supply, shop fitting needs room at delivery. Exhibitors order these services directly from the organiser, each within the deadlines set in the service portal.
Four things that belong on a starter stand
A compact footprint carries four elements comfortably, and the order matters.
First, one product story instead of a full assortment. A single line, shown completely and explained cleanly, stays in mind; a cross-section of everything disappears among 2,400 exhibitors. Second, a table with two to four seats, because in the pet trade orders happen sitting down. Third, lockable storage: sample cartons, catalogues, price lists and personal belongings need a fixed home, otherwise the material piles up visibly behind the counter. Fourth, good light on the goods, since packaging gains a great deal from directed lighting.
The counter takes on two roles at once: reception and order desk. A system stand built from aluminium frames maps that programme neatly onto a small area and extends later, because the frames follow a fixed grid. For a first appearance the rental route keeps the investment predictable; we describe the differences under rent an exhibition stand and the underlying items under exhibition stand cost.
Your packaging is the exhibit
In the pet trade, packaging does the selling. It sits on a shelf, competes with its neighbours and has to work from about one and a half metres away. A good Interzoo stand recreates exactly that situation.
So build a shelf the way the store does: same shelf heights, same eye line, real retail packaging. Buyers see immediately how your product will look in their shop, and the conversation about facings, outer cartons and display units follows naturally. An additional wall with enlarged imagery shows the material and the details that stay small on the shelf.
Prices and terms belong in the folder while the wall stays reserved for the goods. Tastings and demonstrations come with a hygiene concept and a fixed place for leftovers and returns.
Record contacts on a consent basis: a business card or a form with a clear note on how you will use the data, plus two keywords on what was discussed. After four show days that note is worth its weight in gold, because names fade faster than assortment requests.
The second appearance begins with the first
A two-year cycle changes how you look at a premiere. What you build in 2028 forms the basis for 2030: buyers remember the hall and the position, and a recognisable stand shortens every reunion by several minutes of explanation.
A modular core makes that growth easy. The same frames carry a larger area next time, while graphics and assortment are refreshed. Upcoming editions and further industry dates are listed in our trade fair calendar.
If you are preparing your first Interzoo appearance, we are happy to look at segment, floor area and core modules together before the registration goes out.