Exclusive interview – Anuga FoodTec: „Consumers ask for more natural food, clear and clean labeling, more transparency”
On the occasion of Anuga FoodTec, European Baker magazine obtained an exclusive interview with Dietmar Eiden, vice president of Trade Fair Management Koelnmesse GmbH, the organizer of the event. Among the topics discussed are sustainability and its impact in food production, energy saving and industry trends – as natural food, clear and clean labeling, transparency concerning corporate responsibility.
Regarding the conference program this year, what are some of the hot talking points in food technology? And what
industry directions can be inferred from them, on the long term?
The overarching theme of Anuga FoodTec 2015 was resource efficiency. The Conference on Resource Efficiency on the first day of Anuga FoodTec offered different approaches, presented by top speakers from leading companies as well as research institutes. I am sure that the overall topic will result in an ongoing discussion during the show and beyond. Concerning sustainable processing there was a special forum on Wednesday, focusing for ex. solutions for the post-harvest losses, especially in developing countries. We all have to realize that food production around the world requires different approaches according to country and standard.
What are the main challenges the food industry overall is aiming to overcome and which are some measures in this respect we can expect to see reflected at the fair?
Whereas in Western countries demographic changes result in smaller packages, more convenience food and diet driven recipes, developing countries have to face basic needs as hygienic standards, fresh from the field production and waste reduction. Overall the consumers ask for more natural food, for a clear and clean labelling, for more transparency concerning sustainability and corporate responsibility. This is a huge field of challenges as well as chances for the supplier industry. Anuga FoodTec brings the food and beverage industry together with innovative and capable suppliers of machinery, technology and material along the production chain.
Please comment on the evolution of the trade fair in comparison to that of the industry over the past years and forecasts that can be drawn from it.
As the only international trade fair, Anuga FoodTec offers a cross-process exhibition spectrum oriented to all branches of the food and beverage industries. Anuga FoodTec thus meets the requirements of manufacturers for integrated and flexibly applicable technology concepts across all levels of processing. This concept is very successful as can be derived from the growing numbers of exhibitors and visitors over the years.
You can read the complete interview with Dietmar Eiden in our next print issue European Baker (March/April).