140,000 food and drink professionals from over 200 countries packed the halls of Kolnmesse’s extensive showgrounds in the German city of Cologne in early October, as Anuga once again proved itself to be the world’s stand-out event for the consumer goods industry.
Altogether, nearly 8,000 visitors set up stall across the numerous pavilions, which as usual were organised largely by broad product categories such as fine food, chilled, bakery, dairy, meat and drinks. Anuga’s particularly international character was underlined by the fact that 94% of exhibitors, and 80% of visitors, came from outside Germany, the latter a record for the event. Within Europe, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey saw large numbers of registrations, while beyond Europe, countries such as Brazil, China, Japan, South Korea and the USA were especially well represented.
Underlining the 2023 exhibition was the key theme of”Sustainable Growth”, encompassing a swathe of sustainability topics ranging from responsible use of resources, through to supply chain optimisation, the circular economy and “fair” production methods. Kolnmesse noted that companies are focusing on more efficient methods of production that require less energy and packaging, as well as more regionally-sourced ingredients, and that technology such as artificial intelligence and cellular agriculture are likely to play a pivotal role in future.
Alongside a diversified event and congress programme and the regular Anuga Innovation Show, 2023 saw the first edition of the Anuga HORIZON conference, featuring inspiring lectures and panel discussions on the latest trends and challenges impacting the industry. Meanwhile, a “weareAnuga” social media campaign was launched to promote exchange between people from different cultures, industries and areas of interest, not just in Cologne but also at satellite events worldwide.
Out on the show floor, product launches being advertised by exhibitors demonstrated plant-based products and alternative proteins continue to be a major innovation focus. Pulses and grains headlined many of these launches, with ingredients such as oats, coconut and chickpea-derived aquafaba all showing their hand. Elsewhere, alternatives to seafood were particularly prominent, with launches made from seaweed, wheat and pea protein among the examples of innovation on show. Fermenting and pickling also made a statement with novel concepts such as pickled soda.
Anuga returns to Cologne for its next edition in 2025.