A press conference for Anuga was held in Tokyo, during the Wine & Gourmet Japan on April 23, 2009. The invited China media were 21Food.com and other four newspapers: China Food Newspaper, China Food Industry, China Food Quality News, China Business. The international media was given a preview of what to expect at Anuga 2009. Wine & Gourmet Japan was co-hosted by Koelnmesse and Japan Food Journal. Koelnmesse GmbH organizes both fairs.
Anuga 2009 Japan Press Conference site
(L-R): Professor Matthias Horst, director general of BVE (Federation of German Food and Drink Industry), Peter Grothues, Koelnmesse food business unit's VP, and Masayoshi Konno, President of Japan Food Journal.
Peter Grothues answers questions from international press
Press conference started at 11:00. Professor Matthias Horst, director general of BVE (Federation of German Food and Drink Industry), Peter Grothues, Koelnmesse food business unit's VP, and Masayoshi Konno, President of Japan Food Journal, attended this fair to meet press.
According to its food business unit's vice president Peter Grothues, there is already a strong demand for participation at Anuga, five months before the event begins, despite the "formidable challenges" faced by the food industry. He revealed that up to 95 percent of the show space has already been sold by then.
Grothues continued that he prefers to adopt the "glass half full" view, as the fair expects to welcome about 6,000 suppliers from 100 countries and 160,000 trade visitors from 150 nations. "We shouldn't stay at home and lament that times are bad. Come to Anuga where the world meets. All distribution channels can be found here. To stay in the market, you have to be in the market and participate in the market," Grothues enthused.
"F&B is an aggressive business. If you want to have a future in this business, you need to go to places where decision makers are," he added.
Anuga, "where the world meets", covers an exhibition space of 300,000 sq m, larger than 40 football pitches put together. More than 80 percent of the exhibitors traditionally come from outside Germany. In addition to the turnout from European food-producing nations, Anuga has been increasingly popular with participants from Asia, Grothues reported in a presentation.
Asian Representation in Anuga
The Chinese have so far been relatively more supportive of the event than other Asian countries. A total of 492 exhibitors and 598 trade visitors from China came to Anuga in 2007. Comparatively, Anuga 2001 welcomed 120 exhibitors and 278 buyers.
Forty-seven Singaporean exhibitors, along with 129 buyers were seen at Anuga 2007, up from 34 companies and 90 trade visitors in 2001.
From Japan, 31 exhibitors will be seen in Anuga and 702 Japanese trade visitors have registered to attend, as of April 2009. These are encouraging numbers especially when compared to the eight exhibitors and 417 buyers recorded in 2001.
Trends and Key Segments Abound in Anuga
Speaking on trends and key segments, Grothues said that the foodservice and catering market has grown to be equally important as retail markets. "In Europe, the foodservice and catering segment accounts for about 30-40 percent of the entire food and drink industry. In the US, this figure is as high as 50 percent. Therefore suppliers who supply to the 'menu side' are needed."
In addition, eight up and coming sectors in the food industry are identified and will be highlighted at Anuga 2009:
Organic products
Gourmet products and regional specialities
Health and functional food
Own brand (private labels)
Kosher products
Halal products
Finger food
Vegetarian products
On why health and functional food has grown so popular, Grothues explained that a think-tank partnership with the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE) eight to nine years ago revealed that people have begun to look at wellness food. This was a micro-trend that sprang from the mega-trend of organic or natural food demanded by people who wanted to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Private Label Growth
Professor Matthias Horst (Executive Director, BVE), who presented an overview on the German food and drink industry, was also there to address the growing market for private labels. Said Horst: "In Germany, the top five retailers have a combined market share of about 84-85 percent. One reason for their success is the introduction of private labels, which have been quite well received by consumers. Private labeling is quite a successful tool for these retailers to promote their brand names."
Horst said in addition that private labels are not just for the basic, price competitive products. "There are good opportunities for this kind of offering in the sector. There is also a tendency to private labels to be in the premium segment, especially in the UK and this is growing too in Germany."
First Global Halal Conference in Anuga
The Global Halal Conference will debut this year at Anuga. "Some say there are up to two billion Muslims worldwide, which is equal to one-third of the world's population. Demand for Halal food is growing steadily and this presents great opportunities for Asian suppliers," Grothues said.
"In Germany now, there is a growing common sense for Halal food; there is a slightly better understanding. There are more manufacturers in Germany producing Halal food now," Grothues explained.
Other supporting programs lined up include:
Anuga Executive Summit
German Traders' Night
Golden Ice Crystal 2009
Adult Nutrition congress
Drinks Trend Forum
Anuga Wine Special
Trade Innovation Forum
Visions of Cooking
Creative Kitchen
Catering Marketplace
Partner Country Turkey
A three Michelin star chef will be flown in and stationed in the Turkey pavilion, which will cover 2,000 sq m in area. About 150 Turkish enterprises are expected to exhibit here. Seminars on Turkish cuisines and its food industry will also be given. "Turkish food is not all about kebabs, which is not Turkish by the way. Turkish food is actually the basis for the entire oriental kitchen. It combines to best of the Oriental, mixed with the Mediterranean," Grothues said.
Chinese journalists took photo with Peter Grothues and Professor Matthias Horst
(L-R): 21Food.com journalist, China Food Industry Director Li, Anuga Beijing office project manager, Professor Matthias Horst, director general of BVE (Federation of German Food and Drink Industry), China Business journalist, Peter Grothues, Koelnmesse food business unit's VP, China Food Newspaper Director Zhang, China Food Quality News Director Wang.
Visiting Wine & Gourmet Japan 2009
After the press conference, we visited this show. A total of 56 exhibitors showcased their best at Wine & Gourmet Japan (WGJ) from April 22 to 24 2009 at Tokyo Big Sight. Held in conjunction with FABEX, Dessert, Sweet & Drink Festival and Japan Meat Industry Festival, WGJ attracted 60,867 trade buyers and industry professionals. This number is 10 percent higher than the previous year's, signifying a successful partnership between German trade fairs organizer Koelnmesse and the Japan Food Journal. Koelnmesse is organizer of WGJ while Japan Food Journal is the organizer of FABEX and Dessert, Sweet & Drink Festival.
"For the first specialized wine and gourmet trade fair in Japan, we have a good number of exhibitors. Out of the 56 exhibitors and brands, more than 60 percent are from outside Japan, covering Australia, Chile, Spain, Taiwan and the US. Response from the visitors was positive. We are confident that Wine & Gourmet Japan has reaped success for our exhibitors," said organizer Michael Dreyer, Asia Pacific Vice President of Koelnmesse.
"Tokyo Big Sight" expo center scene
Assemble cate in expo
Assemble cate in expo
After visiting this trade show, 21Food.com journalist took along with Chinese Food Suppliers Directory to look for suitable Japanese exhibitors, distributors or importers, introducing to them Chinese food enterprises and foods. For example, there is one Japan fruit company the displayed various canned fruits, through communicating, it is known that their imported fruits are mainly from Thailand, Malaysia, and Shandong of China, including fresh, frozen, and canned fruits. He was very glad to receive our Chinese Food Suppliers Directory, expressing that he had never got one similar directory about Chinese food companies before.
Hand with Chinese Food Suppliers Directory
Three-day trip came to end, we are expecting Anuga 2009 bring to us brand new feelings and experience.
