Preparations for next year’s Anuga, which returns to Cologne from 9–13 October 2021, are in full swing. As the organisers they look to offer all trade fair participants an optimum event experience when the show returns next year, they have extended the show’s early bird campaign by one month – until 31st October 2020 – as well as announcing digital features. 

“In times when many market partners are encountering a certain insecurity it is important to allow our exhibitors the largest possible degree of planning security and flexibility for their trade fair participation,” explained Oliver Frese, Executive Director of Koelnmesse, the show’s organiser. “Anuga has stood for reliability for 100 years and this is to remain so in these turbulent times. Thus, it is extremely important for us to start with the concrete planning of Anuga 2021 so that we can regularly inform our customers about the developments of the coming event. This is the only way we can offer the customary reliability and security so that we can master the crisis together and really take off again next year,” he continued. 



The Anuga team is currently very positive about the next edition in the autumn of 2021. In the scope of the current early bird campaign, numerous international exhibitors from 60 countries have already registered. In order to additionally increase the range of Anuga, in terms of the visitors and reach as many relevant target groups as possible, there are going to be digital offers and new formats at the upcoming Anuga, in order to supplement and round off the physical trade fair.

#B-SAFE4business hygiene concept

In addition, to ensure more safety during the show, Koelnmesse has decided to plan all further trade fairs in the year 2021 in a ‘Corona-conform’ manner. Koelnmesse has developed a concept – under the hashtag #B-SAFE4business – that makes provisions for all measures relating to hygiene, medical care and organisation. Such measures are regularly evaluated together with the city, state and health authorities after taking the current Covid-19 situation into account and in the case of positive developments re-adapted. Cognitions and experiences gained from outbound fairs such as Thaifex Anuga Asia in September 2020 and May 2021, or Anufood China in April 2021 – which are all being accompanied by digital offers for the first time – will flow into the preparations of Anuga. 

F&B’s international business meeting point

In terms of visitors, the organisers of Anuga are also receiving a huge response – because for many buyers, the world's largest trade fair for food and beverages is the industry's international business meeting point. Wouter Lefevere, Managing Director of Category Management at ALDI Inkoop BV, confirmed this: “Anuga is the must-attend event of the year for every buyer in the retail trade. Alongside inspiration about new trends in the food section, Anuga also offers an efficient and effective platform for contacting new and existing suppliers from all over the globe in one single location. After all, nothing beats a face-to-face meeting.”

Kimberley Fenwick, Deputy Director of International Sourcing at Homeplus, expressed a similar view: “I can warmly recommend Anuga to anyone from the food industry. It is a comprehensive, well-organised trade fair, which offers plenty of opportunities in one location, where people from all over the world come together.”

Supporting stimulation of the export industry

Such a reception demonstrates Anuga’s significance in its capacity as the world's largest trade fair for food and beverages, enthused Stefanie Mauritz, yet the Director of Anuga went on to note that the organisers of the event were also aware of the many insecurities that exist right now, particularly in countries that are strongly affected by the recession. “This is why we would like to use Anuga, the worldwide business platform for food and beverages, to support our customers in setting the course, accompanying change and actively boosting the economy,” she said. “Feedback from the industry is confirming to us that the next edition in the coming year will be more important than ever in order to further stimulate the export business again. Also companies that were able to do good domestic business in spite of the crisis are already reporting an increased demand for export opportunities. As a reliable industry partner, we will pick up on precisely this and offer the best possible support in the form of our analogue and digital offer.” 

Anuga – the world’s largest trade fair for food and beverages – returns to Cologne from 9–13 October 2021. For more information on the upcoming event, visit: www.anuga.com