Food & Beverage News: F&B Specials - 3rd Aahar Chennai to bring Indian f&b and hotel industry to a unique platform

The India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), nodal agency of the Government of India for promoting the country's external trade, has organised the third edition of Aahar Chennai - International Food Fair, a premier event for food, food processing, hotel & restaurant equipment and supplies at the Chennai Trade Centre (CTC) from August 27 to 29, 2009. Aahar - International Trade Fair series, started in Delhi in the year 1985, is one of the oldest food & beverage and hospitality related trade fairs in the country. The event will bring Indian and international experts to address the ongoing topics of food & beverage sector.

The three-day event will showcase an extensive range of processed food items, health foods, ice cream machines, new soft drinks, packaging, kitchen bowls & appliances, convenience foods, confectionery, poultry farm equipment and supplies and food equipment from small table tops to big space consuming kitchen equipment and machinery. One can come across small pickle bottles to the latest variety of liquor to big storage devices. The organisers said that this year's Aahar Chennai will offer a unique platform to promote diverse food processors and equipment in India and Asia, with the active participation from many domestic and international companies of the allied fields.

The event is organised with the support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (Mofpi), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), Association of Resource Companies for the Hospitality Industry (Archi), Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (Hotremai), All India Food Processors' Association (Aifpa), Confederation of Indian Food Trade & Industry (Cifti) - food wing of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), and the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA).

According to Naseem Ishaque, general manager, ITPO - New Delhi, the first edition was extremely successful in 2006 but in 2008 the blasts in Ahmedabad resulted in about ten booths' withdrawal from Malaysia, as travel advisories were not favourable. This year ITPO ensures a good visitor ship leaving no stone unturned. The third edition of Aahar Chennai 2009 will witness exclusive training programmes from Mofpi and Apeda for domestic entrepreneurs and progressive farmers.

With vital support from many nodal agencies - organisers also claims that the 3rd edition has become a "must participate" to those interested in the future of food processing industry in India and also an opportunity to mind exchange with the global leaders of food industry.

Further, organisers also said that Aahar Chennai 2009 will offer international stage for showcasing the developments and progress achieved in the processed food and hospitality sectors, through the ambit of display covering products, technologies and services, and the scope embodied by them for investment and tech up-gradation.

International visitors and delegates from the US, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Korea, Canada, Italy, Germany, UK, Spain and European Union are likely to visit the tradeshow.

"Presently, a small percentage of farm produce are processed into value-added products. India needs $28 billion investment to raise food processing levels by 8-10%. Rapid urbanisation, increased literacy, changing life-styles, more women in work force and rising per capita income, have led to rapid growth and new opportunities in food and beverages sector. Today, Indians spend about 50% of household expenditure on food items. New EXIM (export import) policy places greater thrust on agro-based industries. Fruit and vegetable products, fisheries and seafood, wine, beer & alcoholic beverages, processing machinery, packaging, total quality management system, animal products, meat and dairy, cereals, consumer foods/ready-to-eat foods, cold chain infrastructure, food parks are the areas for bilateral co-operation in investment, technology transfer, trade, particularly international trade with India as base," said the organisers.

Last year, the second edition of Aahar Chennai exhibition was segregated into four major pergolas - "Food Sector - Convention Centre & Banquet Hall," about 30 companies displayed their range of products and services, "Machinery Sector," at hall no 3 where over 35 national and international machinery and equipment providers exhibited their state-of-the-art technology, "Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion - Constituents," a dedicated pavilion to promote food & beverage industry of Kerala (12 exhibitors participated) and "Indian Federation of Culinary Association - Constituents," where IFCA organised culinary competitions and chefs show.

"As the country presents a mammoth marketplace where the people always look for healthier food items, the event will bring together manufacturers, processing specialists, service providers and other experts from India and abroad. Being one of the world's largest food producers, India has become the prime attraction for food producers across the globe," the organisers added.

Arun Rega Bakery - Coimbatore, Hygree Waterfal - Chennai, Technoheat Ovens & Furnaces Pvt Ltd - Bangalore, Natural Dehydrated Vegetables Pvt Ltd - Bhavnagar, Alliance Foods India Pvt. Ltd - Mumbai, Golden Sun Dairy - Chennai, American Soybean Association - Gurgaon, Fresh & Honest Café Limited (Lavazza), Naturo Foods & Fruits Products Pvt Ltd - Chitoor, Mangaiyar Food Products - Chennai and Excel Refrigeration Company - Bangalore are the leading food & beverage exhibitors of the event.

According to www.aaharchennai2009.com, official website of ITPO, last edition of Aahar Chennai registered over 85 exhibitors and this year organisers are expecting over 60 exhibitors from India, Malaysia, Spain and others. Many nodal agencies like Coconut Board of India, Coffee Board of India, Mofpi, Apeda, Mpeda, IFCA, Spices Board of India and Ministry of Agriculture - Department of Agriculture (Food Inspection Division) are likely to exhibit in the event.

Experts from government bodies like Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Apeda, Mofpi, Archi, Hotremai, Cifti, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) - Ministry of Commerce and professionals like foreign buyers, importers, wholesalers, policy makers, hoteliers, marketing are expected to participate in the event.