Review of Anuga 2017, General Food and Beverage Exhibition in Cologne, Germany

The 34th Anuga (General Food and Beverage Exhibition), was impressive and a record setter. More than 7,400 companies from 107 countries presented products from all over the world and all categories over the course of five days. Around 165,000 trade visitors from 198 countries took advantage of this unique offer for sourcing, information and ordering at top level. Participating companies have gone through CBI’s and IPD’s expert coaching programmes to expand their business and export to suppliers worldwide.

ANUGA is the world’s largest food and beverage trade show. The world’s leading food fair for the retail trade and the food service and catering market ANUGA sets it’s focus on the trends of tomorrow by uniting 10 trade fairs under one roof. The trade fair offers an outstanding platform for the exchange of innovations and informations and also the opportunity.

This biennial fair is the world’s largest food exposition for the retail trade and the food service and catering markets. It is a central business and communications platform for all players involved in the development, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale of food and beverage. It’s where new products make their debut to complement today’s and tomorrow’s trends.

Exhibited type of Products include: Fine Food; Drinks; Chilled & Fresh Food; Meat; Frozen Food; Dairy; Bread & Bakery, Hot Beverages; Organic; Food Service; Culinary Concepts.

The Anuga taste Innovation Show competition is part of the exposition. Nearly 900 companies placed more than 2,300 products in the new products database on the Anuga web site for consideration for the taste recognition.

Protein meat products, vegetarian/vegan products, complete meals, snacks or beverages, the array of products that contain an extra portion of protein was impressive. There were numerous milk-coffee drinks enhanced with high-quality protein, some marketed as refuel and energize shots. Vegetarian burgers made of white champignons (75%) and free of artificial ingredients and soy came in natural, black pepper, five spices and smoky barbecue flavors.

In food preparation and packaging, Anuga exhibitors showed new versions, clever packaging sizes and fresh formats. Frozen breakfast bowls consist of fruit, yogurt and cereal. These single-serve bowls may be defrosted in the microwave or at room temperature. One dairy processor offered grill-ready burgers made completely from cheese. And ethnic vegan frozen meals came in varieties such as cocktail samosa (Indian pastries with a spicy potato and pea filling) and onion pakora (spicy onions coated with chickpea flour and fried crispy).

Individual grilled chicken breast filets were packaged like a refrigerated nutritional bar. Single units for the convenience channel may be merchandised in display boxes, while five single units come perforated together for supermarkets. Rich in protein, low in saturated fats, salt and calories, the packet is perfect for on-the-go dining. Simply tear it open and take a bite.

Fruits and vegetables took on new forms. Jackfruit, which is becoming increasingly popular, however, because of its immense size, is challenging for consumers to work with. It was showcased in convenient, ready-to-use formats. For example, jackfruit with mango or tomato sauce comes in cans and refrigerated vacuum packs. There were colorful, flavorful flatbreads based on vegetables. Varieties included cauliflower, pumpkin, beet, root vegetables and cabbage. Chilled soups in combinations such as tomato, peach and apricot may be found in grab-and-go bottles.

Chia, aronia, acai, but also ginger, green tea, citrus fruits and guarana — were strongly represented at Anuga and rounded off many products in terms of taste and ingredients. In this way, many classics are being redefined. For example, jellies, jams and varied bread spreads now include hydrated chia seeds. A ready-to-drink power beverage is based on green tea, ginger, mint and lime.

History of Anuga
The General Food and Beverage Exhibition, or Anuga for short, is the world’s largest trade fair for the food industry and the food industry. It takes place every two years in Cologne and brings together ten trade fairs for different food categories. The organizer is Koelnmesse.

Anuga claims to be the central trading place for manufacturers, importers and wholesalers as well as decision-makers in the food industry; it is a trade fair without public days.

As the leading international trade fair, Anuga wants to bring together all the important suppliers and buyers for retail and gastronomy and the out-of-home market as well as online trade and offer a representative breadth and depth of the global food industry, divided into ten trade fairs under one roof. This structure is intended to sharpen the profile of each trade fair and at the same time lead to synergies.

The ten trade fairs are:
Anuga Fine Food: Delicatessen, gourmet and staple foods
Anuga Drinks: drinks
Anuga Chilled & Fresh Food: Fresh convenience products, fresh delicatessen, fish, fruit and vegetables
Anuga Meat: meat, sausage, game and poultry
Anuga Frozen Food: Frozen food and ice cream products
Anuga Dairy: milk and dairy products
Anuga Bread & Bakery Bread, baked goods, spreads
Anuga Organic: organic products
Anuga Hot Beverages: tea, coffee and cocoa
Anuga Culinary Concepts: Culinary, technology and equipment for the catering / out-of-home market

In 2003, the Anuga concept “10 trade fairs under one roof” was implemented for the first time in the new exhibition center.

In 2005, the number of exhibitors increased by five percent compared to the previous event. 6607 suppliers from 95 countries, 83 percent of them from abroad, and around 163,000 trade visitors from 175 countries were at Anuga.

In 2009 around 153,500 trade visitors came from over 180 countries, 61 percent of them from abroad. The number of exhibitors with 6522 suppliers from 97 countries remained unchanged. Trend topics were convenience, well food and “free-from” products, as well as “halal food”. The industry also made a name for itself with the topics of corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

In 2011, 6,743 exhibitors from 97 countries and 154,516 trade visitors from 185 countries were at Anuga from October 8th to 12th. The final of the Chef of the Year competition has been held at the trade fair every two years since 2011. The finalists will be determined through preliminary decisions that will be held in different cities in German-speaking countries.

At the 32nd Anuga in 2013, 6627 exhibitors presented their products and applications on 152,000 square meters of net exhibition space. 154,642 visitors came over the five days of the fair, 101,809 of them from abroad.

The 33rd Anuga took place from October 10th to 14th, 2015 and set new records. 7,063 exhibitors from 108 countries (foreign share 89%) presented their innovations to around 160,000 trade visitors from 192 countries (foreign share 68%) on 284,000 square meters of gross exhibition space.

The 34th Anuga from October 7th to 11th 2017 set a new record with more than 7,400 exhibiting companies from 107 countries, around 165,000 trade visitors from 198 countries took advantage of this offer.