ITAC PROFESSIONAL will have a prominent place at ANUGA 2019, the world’s most important food convention, which will be held in Cologne (Germany) from the 5th to the 9th of October. The event, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary, is an important meeting point for professionals in the sector, who will have the opportunity to get to know the latest worldwide food and beverage trends at the fair.
For ITAC PROFESSIONAL’s brand, IMPORTACO, it is a unique opportunity to present its latest natural and processed products in the different areas that make up the ANUGA Fair (“Anuga Fine Food”, “Anuga Frozen Food”, “Anuga Meat”, “Anuga Chilled & Fresh Food ”, “Anuga Dairy”, “Anuga Bread ”, “Bakery”, “Hot Beverages”, “Anuga Drinks”, “Anuga Organic”, “Anuga Food Service”, and “Anuga RetailTec”), areas that represent and satisfy the demands of the increasingly localized and specific markets.
As a company, taking part in ANUGA also allows us to get to know first-hand the technological innovations in a sector in which ITAC PROFESSIONAL is an important nuts supplier. Our goal is to improve our professional services (Retail, Food Service and Industry), to provide specific solutions for each of the market segments of the food industry, and to contribute to establishing communication channels between retailers and food specialists.
Food trends 2019: What can we find at ANUGA?
This year more than 7,400 exhibitors from 100 countries will take part in the ANUGA Fair. We expect the attendance to exceed the 165,000 visitors in 2018, who are mostly professionals from the “outdoor” commercial and consumer market (supermarkets, industry, restaurants, bars, etc.).
A commitment to sustainability: free from, organic and superfood products
As in the last event, the main new developments that will appear at ANUGA will be related to free-from food. These products don’t contain allergens and other substances that may be harmful, or that may cause food intolerances. Last year, 23% of the items presented at ANUGA were in this category, with 58% of them being gluten-free products, and also a good representation of products which were free from dairy, lactose, eggs, sugar, salt, additives, fat, and palm oil.
A fair dedicated to the latest food trends has to include organic or biological food, which currently represent just over 10% of new food and beverage launches every year. Eco-friendly or organic food production constitutes a sustainable management model and its objective is to procure the EU standards for products obtained from natural substances and processes (you can see some of our eco-friendly products in this link).
The growth of organic products is steady and unstoppable (more than 15% per year, especially in snacks) and is mostly carried out through European suppliers, and this encourages an attractive import and export market.
The so-called “superfoods” will also have a prominent role at ANUGA 2019, as has been the case in recent years. These products stand out for being rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and are considered especially beneficial to our health.
Almost all “superfoods” can be eaten either in their natural form, or toasted and roasted, and have an increasingly important role in healthy eating standards, as well as in vegan and vegetarian diets, since many of them are of plant origin, such as certain seeds (chia, flax or sesame) and cereals (quinoa). Their professional and industrial culinary use is widespread, due to their enormous potential in bread and pastry toppings, ready-meals and ready-to-eat salads, chocolate production, as a component in dietary foods, or in the production of nut spreads and pastries (peanut, almond, etc.) made with seeds.
A final mention also for ready-meals, and products that consumers eat “on the go”, which highlight important market drivers such as high protein content or protein sources and high fibre products and sources of fibre.
Diversity and local production go hand in hand
There is increasing awareness about food origin, and about 10% of consumers want their fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and eggs to be of local origin.
Regarding diversity, and thanks to its format of “10 unique fairs under one roof“, ANUGA always highlights a large amount of the latest few trends, as well as products for vegetarian, vegan and coeliac diets, in addition to food intolerances.
ANUGA will focus on halal-certified foods in its 2019 edition, food that meets the strict conditions of the Islamic diet. The annual growth of these products is steady (around 10% each year) with Asia, Africa and the Middle East being the most important markets.
The demand for kosher food, which is adapted to Jewish dietary standards, is also growing considerably. These products are very healthy and, in 2018, about 33% of them were gluten-free, 25% transgenic free and 22% additive and preservative free.
In addition to being the largest food exhibition in the world, the ANUGA fair program includes activities and meetings that will allow attendees to familiarize themselves with, and discuss, the relevant issues regarding the current state of the sector and its future. One of the most important issues will be how to find good-quality and safe solutions to satisfy increasingly informed customers who are more and more committed to their health. This is one of our biggest challenges as suppliers.
Importaco at the Anuga fair
Importaco will be taking part in the Fair by showing its specialist knowledge of two essential products for the food industry: almonds and peanuts.
Regarding almonds, it is a specialist supplier throughout the entire supply chain, from the fields to the dinner table, ensuring quality and traceability in a framework of sustainability. To achieve this, it boasts a specialized “peanut-free” factory with the most advanced quality-control accreditations, such as BRC, IFS, Kosher, Halal, Organics, and many more.
As expert peanuts suppliers, we also have accredited factories for production and processing, both in its natural form, along with the different industrialized products it develops, especially peanut paste.
To respond to the different uses and applications of the food industry, it offers a wide range of manufactured products using:
If you would like to know more about our products, we invite you to download our complete catalogue.
