Over 140,000 trade visitors are expected to attend this year’s Anuga in Cologne, from October 4 to 8. Around 94% of them come from outside Germany. Around 400 exhibitors will join Anuga Bread & Bakery, one of the exhibition’s 10 specialty shows. Last time, over 55,000 visitors attended the bakery installation.

This year, Korea is Anuga’s partner country, with over 100 exhibitors showcasing a variety of national products, with the motto ‘Glafor meets trends’.

Anuga Bread & Bakery

Product categories and consumer trends this year, according to the show’s knowledge partner, Innova Market Insights, will include:

• Top category for bread and bakery products: A healthy heart is very important to the generation of baby boomers. This is also reflected on the innovation front, where bakery product launches with a claim to promote a healthy heart have experienced a CAGR of 17% over the last five years.
• Consumer influence: Bread and bakery products are the main categories that consumers look for worldwide when selecting healthier alternatives. More than every fifth consumer opts for healthier alternatives when purchasing savoury snacks. New launches of savoury biscuits and crackers with an active claim to be healthy increased last year (2022 vs. 2023) by an impressive 52%.
• Popular health and selection claim: In the year 2023, the health claim ‘Omega 3’ was the leading health claim for bakery product launches. Immunity-promoting claims in new bakery product launches have also recorded strong growth with a CAGR of 21% over the past five years.

In total, around 8,000 exhibitors from 110 countries will fill the exhibition space spanning around 290,000 sqm. The countries with the highest number of exhibitors are Italy, Spain, China, Germany, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and the USA.
“Anuga is far more than just a trade fair – it is a marketplace, a source of inspiration and a pacesetter for the global food industry. The leading minds of the industry meet up to present innovations and discuss tomorrow’s trends in Cologne. As such, the future of food becomes visible here – and at the same time negotiable,” said Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. 
The hall structure has been revised for Anuga 2025 to create a better overview and greater proximity between related segments, the organizers highlight. Segments that are closely related in terms of content are being bundled closer together. The newly created Anuga Alternatives will be located in Hall 1, with direct access to the biggest section of the trade fair, Anuga Fine Food, which traditionally extends over several halls.

Exhibition and congress highlights:

• The Halal Forum, in cooperation with the Islamic Chamber for Halal Services, titled: ‘Halal Food: A Global Gateway to Growth’
• The Anuga Horizon Stage hosts panel discussions, best practices on artificial intelligence, the circular economy and sustainability
• The International Frozen Food Conference (with IFFN and GCCA), as well as celebrations for 70 years of frozen food in Germany
• Professional Food Service Forum DEHOGA with impulses for the out-of-home market

Korea: Anuga’s 2025 partner country

Products showcased will include:

• Traditional cuisine with fermented specialities like kimchi, soy sauces or gochujang that have long since been setting global food trends. 
• Modern food tech solutions from the section of alternative proteins, smart farming and digital supply chains. 
• A strong export industry that makes Korea a driving force of the global food industry. 

Beyond this, the partner country program also encompasses cultural events, cooking shows and tastings that turn visiting the fair into a special experience for the trade audience. “With Korea as our partner country, we have won over a food nation that connects tradition and high tech like no other. This presence will not only offer the entire industry enjoyment, but also inspiration,” explained Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. 

The Anuga network is also growing worldwide: with nine satellite events in countries including Brazil, China, India, Japan, Thailand and, most recently, Italy and Spain, Anuga’s portfolio comprises around 16,000 exhibitors and 400,000 trade visitors. 

Photos: Koelnmesse