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Anuga Select India and Anuga FoodTec India reinforce growing Indian salience on global stage
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Thursday, 05 November, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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Marking a landmark milestone for the global food and beverage ecosystem, Anuga Select India 2026 and the 20th edition of Anuga FoodTec India 2026 concluded successfully at the Bombay Exhibition Centre.
Organized by Koelnmesse, the co-located mega-trade fairs brought together over 1,100 exhibitors from 43 countries and attracted 53,000+ trade visitors, creating a powerful platform for business engagement, sourcing, technology exchange, and international partnerships across food products, ingredients, processing, packaging, automation, digitalisation, and allied technologies.
Supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, and featuring the European Union (EU) as the Official Partner Region, the three-day event served as an international bridge connecting Indian enterprises with global markets, buyers, and technology pioneers.
The event witnessed a grand inauguration in the presence of key national and international dignitaries, including Martina Englhardt-Kopf, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, Germany; Silvio Erkens, Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture, Netherlands. Petros Sourmelis, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade & Economic Affairs Section, Delegation of the European Union to India; Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India; and Milind Dixit, Managing Director - India & SAARC Region, Koelnmesse Pvt Ltd.
Adding a vibrant culinary dimension to the three-day showcase, celebrity Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi formally inaugurated the Culinary Corner at Anuga Select India 2026, setting the stage for live culinary demonstrations, product showcases, and tasting sessions.
The successful co-location created a comprehensive platform connecting the entire food value chain - from food products, ingredients, and sourcing to processing, packaging, automation, and manufacturing technologies. By bringing these complementary sectors together, the exhibitions enabled industry professionals to discover innovations, explore business opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and engage with developments shaping the future of the global food industry.
For Anuga Select India, the 2026 edition marked a significant milestone, further strengthening its position as one of India's leading international food and beverage trade exhibitions. With the participation of over 16 country pavilions and the European Union joining as the Official Partner Region for the first time at an Indian exhibition, the event underscored its growing international significance and India's increasing importance in the global food trade landscape.
The presence of international senior government representatives, diplomats and key industry stakeholders further elevated the exhibition's global profile, fostering diplomatic engagement, strengthening bilateral trade relationships, and creating new opportunities for business collaboration. The edition reinforced Anuga Select India's role as a strategic meeting point for Indian and international food businesses to connect, explore new markets, showcase innovation, and build lasting partnerships.
Global scale & strategic bilateral partnerships
With international participation spanning 43 countries and regions including the EU, China, Brazil, Germany, Thailand, South Korea, Belgium, Turkey, Japan, and Vietnam; the platform highlighted India’s emerging dominance in global food processing. Discussions centred on India’s US$550–600 billion food market (growing at 6-7 per cent CAGR) and the historic milestone of the newly concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Martina Englhardt-Kopf, noted "The conclusion of the India - EU Free Trade Agreement is an economically significant milestone, creating a market of around two billion people and liberalising trade covering 99.3 per cent of EU and 96.6 per cent of India’s trade value. Celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, the new agreement creates immense opportunities for German premium foods while granting India greater access for value-generating products like tea, coffee, spices, and fisheries."
Silvio Erkensadded "India is an agricultural powerhouse, while the Netherlands is the world’s second-largest food exporter. Climate change and supply chain disruptions make international partnerships essential. ANUGA provides a vital platform to develop joint solutions for food safety, waste reduction, and resilient systems."
Petros Sourmelis stated "With the FTA expected to enter into force around mid-2027, European food products recognised for safety, authenticity, and sustainability - can partner with platforms like ANUGA to build diversified, resilient food value chains."
Policy push: Driving value addition, plant proteins, and startups
Central to this year’s agenda was strengthening farmer value realisation, job creation, and boosting processed food exports beyond current levels.
Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, MoFPI, emphasized that food processing accounts for nearly eight per cent of GVA in manufacturing and is its second-highest job creator. He highlighted new initiatives, including a Centre of Excellence on Pea Protein at NIFTEM, Kundli, set up in collaboration with Canada to pioneer plant-based protein isolates.
Outlining APEDA’s strategic vision, Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Senior Consultant, APEDA, noted that India exported US$53 billion worth of agricultural and processed food products in 2025–26, placing the country among the top 10 exporters globally. Despite geopolitical challenges, key drivers such as rice, meat, marine products, coffee, tea, and processed foods continue to see steady growth - reflected in macro and micro infrastructure development, supportive government policies, and farmer performance. With value-added processed products currently accounting for nearly 30 per cent of total agricultural exports, APEDA aims to double total exports over the next five years while substantially increasing the share of processed goods to boost domestic employment and value realization.
Driving industry dialogue and celebrating culinary excellence
Beyond the exhibition floors, a diverse programme of conferences, interactive features, and industry engagements added depth to the visitor experience and reinforced the exhibitions' commitment to knowledge-sharing and innovation.
The Retail Walk was particularly well received by international exhibitors, offering valuable insights into India's evolving retail landscape, consumer preferences, and modern trade opportunities. It provided a unique platform for global brands to understand the Indian marketplace, explore potential retail partnerships, and identify opportunities to expand their presence in one of the world's most dynamic food and beverage markets.
The conference programme, featuring industry experts and thought leaders, provided a platform to discuss emerging trends, market opportunities, evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and the future direction of the food and beverage sector. With more than 150 speakers and chefs contributing to the wider programme, the exhibitions encouraged meaningful dialogue and the exchange of industry insights.
The Culinary Corner emerged as a vibrant celebration of culinary excellence, creativity, and innovation, bringing the art of food to life through spectacular live demonstrations and engaging experiences led by some of India's most celebrated culinary talents, including Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, Chef Ajay Chopra, Chef Sudhir Pai, Chef Guntas Sethi, and many other renowned chefs. Blending culinary artistry with emerging food trends and evolving consumer preferences, the platform captivated audiences, inspired new ideas, and showcased the limitless possibilities of food innovation. It was more than a culinary showcase - it was a celebration of the people, passion, and creativity shaping the future of gastronomy and the food industry.
Celebrating food Innovation
The Innovative Trends Zone, powered by Innova Market Insights, brought the future of food and beverage innovation to life, showcasing 10 products representing Innova’s Top 10 F&B Trends for 2026. By translating emerging consumer trends into tangible product innovations, the zone offered visitors valuable insights into evolving preferences, breakthrough concepts, and emerging market opportunities, highlighting how brands are innovating to stay ahead in a rapidly transforming food and beverage landscape.
The Innovative Product Awards, in partnership with Innova Market Insights, celebrated creativity, ingenuity, and breakthrough food innovation, recognizing products that push boundaries and respond to evolving consumer demands. Coffee Nxt (India) emerged as the Winner for its ready-to-spray cold brew, followed by Boba Empire (Taiwan) as First Runner-up for its innovative popping boba range, and Regulus Agro Organic (India) as Second Runner-up for its Moth Protein Bhujiya. The awards spotlighted emerging trends and pioneering concepts, reinforcing Anuga Select India's commitment to showcasing innovation and nurturing the next generation of food industry leaders.
Anuga Select India and Anuga FoodTec India 2026 mark more than a successful edition - they represent a bold step towards the future of the global food ecosystem. By connecting international markets, accelerating innovation, advancing food technologies, and fostering strategic partnerships, the exhibitions are helping shape a more connected, competitive, and future-ready industry, with India playing an increasingly influential role on the global stage.
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