Anuga Select India and Anuga FoodTec India 2026 open in Mumbai, connecting Indian food industry with global markets and technologies

Anuga Select India 2026, co-located with Anuga FoodTec India 2026, opened at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, bringing together global food and beverage community under one roof. With participation from 43 countries, the three-day business platform brings together food and beverage manufacturers, global suppliers, importers, exporters, distributors, retailers, HoReCa professionals, technology providers and industry decision-makers from India and international markets.

Organised by Koelnmesse Pvt. Ltd., the co-located exhibitions, being held from September 29 to October 1, 2026, create an end-to-end platform spanning the food and beverage value chain, from food products, ingredients and beverages to processing, packaging, automation, digitalisation, intralogistics and allied technologies. The 19th edition of Anuga Select India and 20th edition of Anuga FoodTec India brought together over 1100 exhibitors, from 43 countries, with 45,000+ trade visitors expected to attend across the three days. The exhibition showcased the breadth of India’s evolving food and beverage ecosystem across categories including Agrifoods, Dairy, Drinks & Hot Beverages, Fine Foods, Food Service, Organic, and Sweets & Snacks, alongside advanced technologies and solutions spanning food processing, packaging, automation and related applications.

The event witnessed a grand inauguration, in the presence of Ms. Martina Englhardt-Kopf, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, Germany; Mr. Silvio Erkens, Minister for Food Security, Fisheries and Horticulture, Netherlands; Mr. Petros Sourmelis, Minister Counsellor and Head of the Trade and Economic Affairs Section, Delegation of the European Union to India ; Mr. Devesh Deval, I.A.S, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India alongside, Mr. Milind Dixit, Managing Director, India & SAARC Region, Koelnmesse Pvt Ltd. Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi inaugurated the Culinary Corner at Anuga Select India 2026, adding a vibrant culinary dimension to the three-day showcase. The 2026 edition also received support from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, reaffirming the exhibition’s relevance to India’s food processing and agri-export ecosystem.

Ms. Martina Englhardt-Kopf - Vice Minister, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Federal Republic of Germany, said, “ANUGA Select India provides an important platform for strengthening cooperation between India, Germany and Europe across food, agriculture and technology. At a time when geopolitical tensions, the pandemic and disruptions to global supply chains have highlighted the importance of resilience and food security, strong regional value chains must go hand in hand with stable, transparent and rules-based international trade. The conclusion of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement is therefore an economically significant milestone, creating a market of around two billion people and liberalising trade covering 99.3% of EU and 96.6% of India’s trade value.

Germany and India are also marking 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, underscoring a long-standing partnership. The new agreement creates opportunities for German processed and premium food products, while India stands to benefit from greater access for value-generating agricultural products such as fishery products, tea, coffee and spices. At the same time, innovation, sustainable processing and packaging and new technologies will be essential to building a forward-looking and resilient food sector. ANUGA Select India, with the participation of the EU as its first official partner region and Germany’s first participation through the Federal Ministry with 12 enterprises, provides a valuable platform to turn these opportunities into stronger business partnerships.”

Mr. Silvio Erkens, Minister for Food Security, Fisheries & Horticulture, Netherlands, said, “India and the Netherlands are strong and long-standing partners in agriculture and food, with significant opportunities to collaborate as feeding a growing global population with nutritious, high-quality food becomes more challenging. India is an agricultural powerhouse, while the Netherlands, with around 18 million inhabitants, is the world’s second-largest food exporter. Our cooperation spans decades through a joint agricultural working group and Indo-Dutch Centres of Excellence across India, further strengthened by the strategic partnership announced by the two Prime Ministers in May.

The sector stands at the crossroads of opportunity and responsibility, with climate change, geopolitical instability and energy shortages creating new challenges for food production, trade and processing. This makes international partnerships, innovation and business collaboration essential. ANUGA Select India and ANUGA FoodTec provide an important platform for Indian and Dutch companies to build partnerships and develop solutions for food safety, reducing food loss and waste and creating more resilient food systems.”

Mr. Petros Sourmelis, Minister Counsellor and Head of the Trade and Economic Affairs Section, Delegation of the European Union to India, said, “The recently concluded EU–India Free Trade Agreement will create new opportunities through improved market access and wider collaboration, with the agreement expected to be signed before the end of 2026 and enter into force around mid-2027. ANUGA Select India provides the right platform to turn this potential into practical partnerships across the food value chain. European food products are recognised for their safety, authenticity, quality and sustainability, backed by strong traceability and production standards. Together, the FTA and platforms such as ANUGA can help build stronger, diversified and resilient EU–India food value chains.”

Mr. Devesh Deval, I.A.S, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, said, “India’s food market is estimated at US$550–600 billion and has been growing at a healthy 6–7% CAGR, supported by economic growth and urbanisation. Food processing is strategically important as it creates greater value for farmers, attracts investment and is the second-highest employment creator in manufacturing, accounting for nearly 8% of gross value added in manufacturing. The government’s focus is to increase the level of processing across all 16 broad sub-sectors and ensure greater value reaches farmers. Cereals, meat, fruits and vegetables and dairy remain key segments, with India being the world’s second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables and the largest producer of milk. Fisheries, marine products and animal husbandry also receive dedicated policy attention, while healthier and plant-based foods are emerging areas of innovation.

Protein is particularly relevant given India’s large vegetarian population and the need to meet growing protein requirements. At NIFTEM, Kundli, the Ministry is setting up a Centre of Excellence on pea protein in collaboration with the Canadian side to develop protein extracts and isolates from peas. Plant-based protein is expected to be an important area of growth. India’s strong agricultural base and startup ecosystem, with more than 200,000 startups, provide significant opportunities for food manufacturing, processing and innovation. With government programmes and incentives supporting startups, the focus is now on effective implementation and leveraging these strengths to build a stronger food processing ecosystem.”

Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Senior Consultant, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said, “India exported US$53 billion worth of agricultural and processed food products in 2025–26, placing the country among the top 10 exporters globally. Despite geopolitical challenges, exports continue to grow, with rice, meat, marine products, coffee and tea among the leading products, while processed food exports are steadily increasing. This growth reflects the development of infrastructure at both the macro and micro levels, supported by conducive government policies and strong performance by farmers. Today, value-added processed products account for nearly 30% of our total agricultural and processed food exports, and this share is rising. Over the next five years, our aim is to double exports while significantly increasing the share of value-added products, as greater processing within the country can drive employment, improve value realisation and strengthen the overall food processing ecosystem.”

The international scale of the 2026 edition is reflected in the participation of country pavilions, government bodies, trade organisations and companies from markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. The co-located events featured international participation from the European Union, China, Brazil, Germany, Thailand, South Korea, Belgium, the Philippines, Georgia, Turkey, Taiwan, Spain, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Poland and other markets, alongside major Indian institutions and industry bodies.

Strong International Presence and Global Pavilions

The international dimension of the exhibitions is further reinforced by the presence of the European Union as the Official Partner Region of Anuga Select India 2026, alongside international country pavilions and trade delegations. The participation of government agencies, export promotion organisations, trade associations and industry bodies provides a platform for businesses to explore new sourcing markets, strengthen export linkages and build international partnerships. The exhibitor and pavilion mix includes organisations such as Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI), Directorate of Food Processing, Government of Meghalaya, Spice Board of India, National Turmeric Board, Coffee Board of India, Coconut Development Board, Council of Indian Food Trade (CIFT), Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Plant Based Food Industry Association (PBFIA) and international trade organisations from participating countries.

Mr. Milind Dixit, Managing Director – India & SAARC Region, Koelnmesse Pvt. Ltd., said, “India’s food processing industry is entering an important phase of expansion, driven by rising domestic consumption, greater value addition, technology adoption and stronger integration with global markets. The sector has already reached around US$382 billion in FY2025 and is projected to approach US$689 billion by FY2034, while processed food now accounts for more than 20% of India’s agricultural exports.

Against this backdrop, the coming together of Anuga Select India and Anuga FoodTec India is particularly significant. With participation from 43 countries, the two exhibitions connect India’s food and beverage businesses with global buyers, suppliers, technology providers and trade partners across the entire value chain — from products and ingredients to processing, packaging, automation and allied technologies. The 20th edition of Anuga FoodTec India also marks two decades of connecting the Indian industry with global food technology, while Anuga Select India strengthens opportunities for international sourcing, market access and business partnerships. As India looks to expand its global footprint in processed foods, platforms such as these can play an important role in enabling technology exchange, investment, exports and long-term international collaboration.”

Knowledge Programme Highlights-Shaping the Future of F&B

The knowledge programme across the co-located exhibitions is addressing some of the most critical shifts shaping the global food and beverage industry. Day 1 discussions highlighted India’s evolving food safety and regulatory landscape, consumer trust in modern retail and quick commerce, clean-label innovation, smart and sustainable food manufacturing, AI and robotics, predictive food safety, digital traceability, sustainable factory design and next-generation packaging. The sessions also explored how technology is moving food manufacturing beyond compliance towards more intelligent, connected and resilient operations. Day 2 will broaden the conversation to the future of the food value chain, with sessions focusing on plant proteins and sustainable nutrition, functional ingredients, convenience foods and frozen products, India’s FTAs and global food trade, smart supply chains, AI-led inventory and warehouse automation, smart packaging, beverage manufacturing and the technology roadmap towards 2035. Together, the conference programmes provide a cross-sector perspective on how innovation, technology, changing consumer expectations, sustainability and international market access are reshaping the future of food and beverage businesses.

Industry Engagement and Key Exhibitors

Across the three days, the exhibitions will feature curated business matchmaking and networking opportunities, industry conferences, CEO roundtables, the Culinary Corner, Retail Walk and other knowledge- and experience-led programmes. These initiatives will bring buyers, manufacturers, exporters, technology providers and industry leaders together to explore new products, technologies, sourcing opportunities and business partnerships. Key exhibitors participated were Chitale, Dlecta, Ds Group (catch Masala), Farmton Foods Pvt. Ltd., European Union, German Ministry, Llayaji foods, Bectochem Loedige Process Technologies, Forbes Marshall, Parksons Packaging and more, to name a few.

With two established international trade platforms operating alongside each other, Anuga Select India and Anuga FoodTec India 2026 provide a single marketplace connecting & creating opportunities for Indian and international stakeholders across the food and beverage value chain.