The 2016 edition of SIAL Paris proved to be a success once again with some 7,000 companies from over 100 countries presenting their products to food professionals.
Over a period of five days between the 16 and 20 October, a staggering 155,766 visitors flocked to the 250,000-square-metre exhibition area that showcased the latest in food innovation, covering a total of 20 exhibition sectors and food channels.
Always on the lookout for the game changers in the food and beverage industry, the FoodBev team was of course present at the event – and after a full week of studying all the trends, here are our top picks from the show.
for artisan
The artisan food selection at the show presented the very best of small, local and artisan food producers across the world.
Ladolea sweet vinegar with bergamot from The Greek Gourmet Collection, French Figs, turmeric and vanilla vinegars from Frédéric Chaix and lime and rose balsamic vinegars from Il Borge Del Balsamico impressed not only with their gourmet flavour combinations but also their elegant packaging designs.
Mardow’s new Kalamata chutney and Karpea gourmet flavoured olive oils were absolutely superb and Prisca brought creative cuisine to condiments with their mustard with pineapple, honey with garlic and new caramelised onion and port wine condiment for cheese and foie gras. One of the biggest highlights in the premium olive oils was Bravoleum’s night harvest olive oil that comes in a glow-in-the dark bottle. SASSY cider in beverages, N Mamidakis’ ready-to-serve snail fillets, Espinaler’s almonds with truffle, and kale and arugula pesto from Stonewall Kitchen were among other outstanding delicacies.
for botanical
With Paris becoming one of the top urban rooftop beekeeping capitals of Europe, we weren’t surprised to see more of the same DIY spirit in Paris start-up Prèt á Pousser’s new launch of its LILO indoor garden kit, following the success of its phenomenal Go Grow Mushrooms. Just to name a few, Herbal Fix is an organic functional beverage that promises to fix more than your thirst with health and healing benefits, while P&T’s new organic herbal master blends include mixes of cedar, forest earth, fennel and ginger and come in absolutely fantastic, colourful packaging designs.
Herb pastes from Maison Rivière on the other hand offers convenience with a wide selection including basil, ginger, cilantro, lemongrass and umami. Finally, the Cocktail Mixology set from Toque comes in premium cases, perfect for a special gift, and the brand also offers a BotanicAPP to help mixologists unleash their creativity.
for convenience
Convenience was one of the biggest topics at SIAL Paris, with brands offering restaurant-quality, read-to-cook meals and ground-breaking new foodservice technologies – from MicVac’s improved packaging and food preparation line solutions to Agromonte’s Italian-style vegetable pátés and mousses, Terrines du Morvan’s Beuf beurguignon in a jar, Trufieres de Rabasse’s ready-to-cook omelette with selected mushrooms in an easy-pour pouch and Végétalien’s vegan quiche slices.
Nagantien’s colourful rice mixes are wonderful for those who want a little added colour and flavour to their sushi and rice dishes. Meia Duzra on the other hand showcased kiwi, chocolate and honey-flavoured jams offered in easy-to-use tubes.
Great Hearts of Africa was a standout with its brilliant range of ready-to-cook African condiments. Linwoods’ superfood blends, Arteta’s Day-Up drinkable fruit mousse, yogurt and cereals in a pouch and Papagrin’s raw seed and fruit bars offer grainy goodness for breakfast and on-the-go snacking. And, Geovita’s new ready-to-eat salads launched for the first time at SIAL Paris are not only healthy and tasty but also have a year long shelf life without the need for refrigeration or microwave, thanks to the special packaging and pasteurisation technology they use.
for diet
The controversial ‘bikini-ready body’ norms rightfully spark negative reactions in the public opinion, but healthy living has been decidedly the go-to trend for all consumer groups in the last few decades.
Naturally, food and beverage brands continue to address this health conscious movement, offering products that promote a balanced diet… and ‘zero’ was definitely the keyword from snacks to deserts and convenience food showcased at SIAL.
Just to name a few, Polish brand Melvit offers a hemp seeds as a healthy snack, while Chunho Foods adds a new diet snack targeting active woman to their functional health products. Diet-Food PL , on the other hand, offers a whole line of organic zero calorie snacks and sweeteners, which include a brand new Diet Pasta range that comes in a colourful and handsome packaging design. Finally, PolBioEco’s organic detox drink was also a standout among the diet products on offer at the show.
for environment
In line with the major focus on environment in the food and beverage industries at large, zero waste, sustainability, eco-packaging and fair trade were among top topics for many of companies exhibiting at this year’s event.
SIAL Paris hosted an important talk on the subject on the first day of the show, with the participation of speakers from the U.S. Sustainability Alliance, Interbev, Groupement des Mousquetaires and Max Havelaar foundation.
While Prèt á Pousser’ ready-to-grow kits and the Aquaponic systems solutions represents the homemade products movement that is born as a sustainable alternative to existing production methods, the industries also offered concrete sustainable development initiatives from Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme to Prima Donna Cheese’s sustainable farm, ecoAG’s commitment to organic produce, traceability and fair trade standards and Cedar Forest’s vertically integrated harvest and selling processes.
for function
Function was perhaps the hottest trend at the event with countless brands enhancing their lines with products addressing issues from hydration to diabetes, heart and intestinal health, sports, relaxation, senior nutrition, beauty and many more.
ActiLemon is a new and fun concept from Polenghi. The pure lemon juice coming from Sicily is offered in eight portions to be drunk in the morning with warm water and is claimed to have anti-ageing and detox benefits.
Morning Care is a hangover cure from the Korean brand Dong-a ST that helps protect the liver from the effects of alcohol consumption, while the Cannabis Energy drink harvests the goodness of hemp after separating the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the plant.
MG Puma, Rox Energy, Shaman and Dockers were other energy drinks that stood out in the category. Vitamin drinks, isotonic beverages and enriched waters also showed a strong presence from Vivid Drinks, to Veroni, TopShape and Diva’s. Chunha Foods, also from Korea, showcased new liquid supplements including garlic and red ginseng juice and a new Total Solution drink which targets menopause.
for gluten-free
Once a niche category, gluten-free options are rapidly expanding today and becoming more and more segmented.Orgran, D-lite and Pedoni stood out with their new vegetarian and g-free pasta ranges, while Rosies presented colourful breakfast cereals, porridge and flakes, as well as a small line for children in fun and engaging packaging designs for kids.
Chimay Selection showcased the latest addition to their range, the gluten-free ham and cheese pancakes, upping the ante in the g-free category one more notch, while Yep it yourself, the gluten-free rice flour crêpe mix was an interesting new addition to the free-from aisle!
Lee Kum Kee also addressed this emerging trend with their new gluten-free oyster and soy sauce selections. Pereg Natural’s Banan Flour stood out as a great g-free ingredient alternative. Eggekbusch’s kalamata flavoured chicken salami snack, Leader Nutrition’s organic raw chocolate, Bioglan’s raw bites, Nature Addicts’ fruit sticks and Crispy Natural’s artichoke chips were among some of the most outstanding gluten-free snacking options at the show.
for health
Health-savvy consumers are increasingly influential in redefining the food and beverage landscape in today’s market place and healthier sugar alternatives, organic and bio selections, herbal mixes, natural protein sources and the super-foods from yuzu to açaí, chia, hemp, quinoa, matcha, aloe vera, coconut and many others continue their steady ascend in a myriad of health and wellness products.
Totally Wild, Aloe 24/7 and Sappe were among some of the most outstanding aloe vera based drinks at the show with little bits of plant included in bottles, while Medetop, if Drinks, Purii by All Coco and Thai Coconut offered new mixes of dairy and soy free coconut drinks, great sources of electrolytes and anti-oxidants. Noosa offers a great range of açaí drinks, offered as a healthy snack, a natural boost and a rejuvenating juice.
Greek yogurt continues to rise as a natural protein source and offered with additional fortifications, as seen in Kri Kri’s high-protein Super Spoon grab-and go-yogurt snacks and Blissimo’s smoothies in eye-catching bottle designs. Syros’ cucumber sticks and edemame dip appetizers, Montosa’s avocado and mango dips, Dixie’s kale chips, N.A! fruits, nuts and rice bites, Papagrin grain bars, Tuckers’ and Carneado’s healthy crackers, Yiannis Nomikos’ artisan bread sticks and Pedon’s ready-to -eat grainy salad pots also impressed as great healthy snack options.
for innovations
SIAL Innovations section once again showcased a brilliant array of products and technologies that tap into the top consumer trends in the food and beverage industry.
Butter and olive oil proved to be an exceptionally experimental category that offered innovative pairings, such as Oro Bailen’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil Marmalade, Austrian Super Food’s organic pumpkin seed butter, Karpea’s smoked virgin olive oil, Groix et Nature’s Seaweed oil and Perseus’ Avacado Butter.
The ever expanding coconut category didn’t fail to come up with new ways of consuming this healthy fruit, as seen in Nuco’s coconut mayonnaise and organic coconut cider vinegar and Lotao’s new coconut jam. Free-from was the go-to research and development area for many brands. Petit Polenta’s sausage shaped cereal to slice and pan-fry for breakfast was one of those products to address the consumer demand for tasty vegetarian options. Morning Joe Spread’s coffee infused almond butter joined the polenta sausage as an impressive new breakfast delicacy. Global Export’s seaweed and vegetable tartar was a great new vegetarian treat, while Borde’s convenient mushroom stock, presented in an easy-pour pouch, offered a brilliant option that can replace the other meat-based broths in the chef’s ingredients shelf.
Fiordelisi’s thinly sliced dried zucchini vegetables Courgetti and Pastificio Menucci’s green pea penne and red lentil fusilli were brilliant new gluten-free pasta alternatives, while Viru’s quinoa-based deserts with fruits offered a guilt-free pleasure on-the-go. Finally, Cheesepop stood out as a unique snack, made from dried, popped cheese.
for juice
Juice and juice drink products at SIAL unmistakably reflected the overarching health and superfoods trends in the food and beverage industry. Not only that; juice brands also upped the ante with a premium touch and brilliant packaging designs.
Daregal and Ulti’s Pur Just collaboration was exceptional in their combination of fruit juice with Dearegal herbs to create a sophisticated taste that excites the senses.Blissimo not only impressed with their wide range of natural juices and smoothies but also with their eye-catching bottle designs, like Natura France’s organic refreshing range, Origin did. Capitalizing on the health aspect as well, Love Chia offers a fantastic range of superfood drinks.
Naturefrisk introduced their new Pink Grape flavour as the latest addition to their artisan juice drinks range. The cocktail flavoured premium juice drinks from Coctalis and Berry White organic sparkling juices were also among the adult drinks that stood out, as well as Coeur de Pom fizzy apple juices with their corked bottles resembling champagne. Fructal bio juices also stood out with their blue PET bottles that work as a protective barrier, preventing oxygen flow from reaching the drinks, keeping them fresh.
Coconut continues to grow with a great many new brands, from VaiVai to Blanc Coco and Purii. Finally, bfresh spitiko from Greece presents homemade juices in a brand new glass packaging concept.
for kids
Naturally nutritious products that don’t compromise the taste factor continue to drive the children’s product category, and SIAL Paris exhibitors demonstrated this perfectly.
Encouraging protein intake for kids, Pascual’s YogiKids yogurt pouches offer a brilliant snack for the lunch boxes, as does NutriGreen’s all natural juices. Aiming to develop children’s taste palette from an early age, Salvest presented their new risotto recipe at the show, which is only recently added to their baby food range. Caffeluxe’s exciting children’s drinks are offered in coffee capsules, so all members of the family can share the morning coffee ritual.An all times children’s favourite, of course the chocolate selection was abound in the event. TSC Foods’ milk bars were exceptional, as was Alain Batt’s giraffe shaped artisan chocolate.
for logistics
This year a number of companies attended the show to remind businesses of the importance of a trusted Logistics company.
Firstly there was the iconic logo of Maersk Line, whose professional stand and welcoming staff ensured that clients old and new left educated and reminded of the quality of work Maersk are renowned for. When it came to national logistics in France, however, there was a new player in the game… a family-ran business by the name of Mutual Logistics. With transport, storage and co-packing facilities not only can they ensure product delivery, they can help with product sales by advising on your packaging and marketing campaigns!
for manufacturing
The manufacturing and processing sector is the backbone of all production and at SIAL, there was a wide range of companies showcasing their solutions for prospective businesses.
Green Bay Machinery made the journey from the US with their range of machinery for the cheese process and coatings sectors.
Hydrolock showcased a range of their sterilisers and continuous retorts that will ensure product quality throughout the packaging process for food, beverages and dairy.
Another standout company was Tomra who provide their food-based clients with full processing line solutions as well as specialist peeling, sorting and analysis technologies, all tailored to clients to deliver the smoothest processing operations.
for nutrition
SIAL Paris was a rage in terms of nutrition with a myriad of state-of-the-art products competing with each other to address all things healthy, from maintenance to diet, growth and well-being.
Vitamin waters continue to rise with innovative new solutions such as Cedevita, which is offered in a smart cap system that releases the vitamins and flavours before the drink is consumed, preserving the vitamin content as fresh as possible. Topshape also offers a vitamin water range that targets different benefits from Beauty to health and energy.
We are Vibration is an interesting new technology that is released under two brands, Le Café Hybrid coffee range and Viberant healthy sparkling beverages. The brands use an innovative new powder technology that was created in collaboration with Doehler, which allows the powdered drinks to be dissolved in cold water, cream, cheese, milk or yogurt perfectly.
Finally, Matilia introduced a brilliant mother care range for pregnancy complete with a new anti-nausea biscuits brand and a smoothie drink, like Vitamums from Modilca, which is a breastfeeding-compatible, refreshing drink rich in five vitamins for young mothers.
for on-the-go
Eating and drinking as they commute or running errands, transumers are always on the go and they continue to change the face of food, beverage and packaging industries and every year brands answer this growing demand with more convenient and healthier grab-and-go options.
Geovita’s new ready-to-eat salads launched for the first time at SIAL Paris are not only healthy and tasty but also have a year long shelf life without the need for refrigeration or microwave, thanks to the special packaging and pasteurisation technology they use.
Offering individually packaged artisan chocolate cookies, perfect to accompany your coffee to go, Les Affranchis is a quirky brand with their Gangster Gourmets branding.
Gusta Original, MG Puma, Rox Energy, Shaman and Dockers stood out as instant energy boosters, while premium smoothie and juices offered healthy nutrition options.
Linwoods’ superfood blends, Arteta’s Day-Up drinkable fruit mousse, yogurt and cereals in a pouch and Papagrin’s raw seed and fruit bars offer grainy goodness for breakfast and on-the-go snacking.
for packaging
Aside from taste, most believe that packaging is the most important part of a product. It’s how a brand communicates with its consumer and plays a huge part in the decision making process. While a great design helps a brand stand out on the store shelf, unlike 10 years ago, consumers are also looking for something else. With the focus on reducing our environmental impact, consumers are demanding more eco-friendly packaging that not only provides a function, but doesn’t leave a bad footprint on the earth.
At SIAL Paris there were some extremely innovative brands that not only mixed style and function, but also provided eco-friendly solutions.
Choco Roll is a chocolate spread offered in a roll-on bottle, which makes it super-easy to spread the chocolate on the bread or crackers. Magic Spoon tea packaging uniquely designed in the shape of a spoon to dip in the hot water and stir also offered great convenience. The spoon is made from corn starch, which is a healthy and natural, as well as being biodegradable
While Aloe Love opted for a baroques style on their PET bottles and Foodies of Italia adapted a 50s-style pin-up vibe on their newly re-designed beer bottles, P&T tea range and Kaya Tea chose refreshing, modern and colourful designs. Ice and Easy alcohol slushies stood out with their easy to serve pouches. Ferrigno, Conservas Portugal Norte and Briosa Conservas canned fish were offered in premium packaging with an artisan touch, as did Grand Mayan tequilas in their ceramic bottles. Crock Ton Bol cereal also impressed with their edible wafer bowl.
for quality and safety
When it comes to quality and safety there are always new and established technologies that you can rely on, offering ultimate protection in the work place!
Detectamet were at SIAL, presenting their full range of safety products for processing plants, all made using their unique detectable plastics, as well as their new ‘Guardian Award’ scheme for their customers.
Shoes for Crews reminded visitors of the importance of footwear at the workplace, whilst RPM Belgium Group also ensured safety in the workplace with their Flooring systems and solutions.
In the quality assurance side of things, Lebelchecks were there to advise companies planning on launching new products on how their LabelCheck software will ensure all legal legislations are met.
for research and development
With the demand for innovative products continue to grow, companies working in the development and research sector are becoming more and more important.
Covance the Food Solutions specialists were present at SIAL to remind clients of their exceptional laboratory work for companies around the world.
Innova Database also provided their expertise for companies looking into full market solutions. With their product, research, and marketing knowledge, clients will be provided with guidance through each step.
For specific product research, Extractis utilise over 25 years of experience to provide businesses with Innovative solutions using Plant biomass, whilst SteviaOne focuses on developing new Sweeteners through the use of the Stevia leaf.
for sports nutrition
Still one of the largest growing trends in the food and beverage Industry, SIAL once again hosted a range of companies all ensuring to deliver vital nutrition to athletes and the fitness community for optimal performance.
Acti-Snack showcased their range of energy on the go fruits and nuts snacks focused on performance and endurance.
Oshee revealed their range of isotonic sport drinks that are also drinks partners to some of Europe’s most well-known Football teams. FulFil brought their range of vitamin and protein bars under the ‘delicious but better for you’ motto to the show, whilst LifeFood introduced a wide range of vegan protein and health products, using hemp as their main source for protein.
BioTech USA, Max Sport’s protein pasta, Acushla Sport’s organic olive oil for athletes, and Theodor Rietmann’s protein muesli were also among the other fortified convenience food options with a focus on sports nutrition to stand out at the show.
for technology solutions
In addition to full manufacturing lines, SIAL Paris also showcased companies that were presenting specialist individual technologies that every production line!
ATS Tanner had a great stand with numerous working demos of their eco-friendly banding machines; their aim was to bring awareness to the benefits of banding bulk packaging solutions in particular.
CSB System AG brought their recently award-winning turnkey IT systems to SIAL, highlighting just how many solutions they could provide to businesses from management and planning right down to execution and production lines.
US-based Unitherm Food Systems were also in attendance, showcasing a couple of their processing solutions too, but it was just a tiny insight into the full range of solutions they offer which range from cooking and grilling all the way through to pasteurising and chilling, freezing products and systems.
for unique combinations
This year we’ve seen a huge increase in unique combinations in food and drinks. Every brand is in a race to discover the next best thing and provide their consumers with something original and exciting. While some brands have launched food and drink combinations which are just bizarre, we spotted some genius combinations at SIAL Paris.
Crispy Natural’s artichoke chips is one of them. Hitching onto the healthy veg trend, this snack mixes nutrition with snacking. As a vegetable, artichoke is said to lower bad cholesterol and lower blood sugar levels. In chip form, consumers can enjoy the vegetable’s benefits on the go.
Combining sweet and salty, Prodan Tartufi offered a sensual jam with truffles, while Leonardo’s Balsamic Pearls were an interesting ingredient to use in different food combinations.
Acorn Cookies from Oakmeal, Meia Duzra’s kiwi, chocolate and honey flavoured jams, Creative’s vinegar range with fresh fruits, like fig and cinnamon or lemon, honey and seeweeds, Chaloner’s raspberry vinegar, and Les Affranchis’ citrus, chocolate and caramel cookies were among other palette experiments to surface at the show.
for vegan and vegetarian
An A-Z review of SIAL on just Vegetarian & Vegan products would have been possible!
The event showcased vegetarian or vegan versions of any consumable you could imagine there. Linck Sarl for instance were promoting their Fit Food, VeggiTude and VeggiFood brands, whilst Vegini were also present promoting their vegan pulled chunks range.
Nature & Moi’s stand promoted a range of Vegan cheeses, and Pedon caught the eye showcasing their Pasta and More (vegan pasta) and The Timesavers (vegan snacks on the go) brands. SIAL Paris once again proved that the vegan consumer market is here to stay, with more companies around the world actively producing meat and dairy free products!
for wine products
Wine is making a comeback. 2015 was the year of the craft beer and 2017 is looking to be the year of wine. But, not just any wine. Lots of brands are exploring new ways to incorporate the alcohol into their products. Likewise some brands are looking to latch onto the rise of craft beer in an attempt to make wine cool again. We spotted some great companies who are doing such that – successfully.
Wine Bites from Cacao di Vine is an artisan chocolate range that is offered in cork packaging as a tribute to the iconic wine bottles. Winebeer, a new alcoholic drink made from sparkling wine and beer with natural ingredients, stood out as a more casual and lighter alternative to wine without the bloating feel the beer can cause.
Cedro offered single serve white wine in small beer bottles with an easy to open cap. Rosemount Estate’s new meal-matcher wine range was absolutely fantastic! The chalkboard-style typeface on the packaging shows pairings for each of the four wines, the cabernet merlot with pasta, shiraz with steak, sauvignon blanc with seafood and chardonnay with chicken.
for X-factor stands
This year there were some fantastic, original stands from exhibitors all attempting to reveal their personalities to passers-by and catch their attention. Vehicles were a popular choice with Paris Cola, Agromonte and BOS revisiting nostalgia, choosing to re-brand classical cars with their trademark colours and Logo.
There was also a hint of tranquility amongst the crowds at Amor Benamor’s stand, in what felt appeared to be a secret garden surrounded by a translucent gold curtain and gold product podiums.
We must also take a moment to congratulate the various National Pavilions on the whole for some fantastic looking regional décor that perfectly represented their regions and heritage!
for young adults
Millennials are a tricky demographic to get right. They are usually not loyal to one particular brand and are quick to change allegiances. They want brands to reach out to them, rather than the other way around. Most importantly they want to see a brand’s personality and feel part of their ethos.
Their temperamental attitude makes them a risky investment. However, as millennials are a huge market, for the brands that get it right, they stand to gain a social-savvy influential demographic. Power – indeed.
24 Ice is a brand that achieves just that with their vodka lollies! The on-the-go alcoholic treats are offered in a festival-ready colour palette, and a full-on flavour range, covering all time cocktail favourites.
Smiley also picks the attention of twenty-somethings with their 360° company, literally involved in every way from clothes lines to music and charity, and now the brand is presenting a re-vamped range of healthy fruit juices, of course, all adorned with the iconic smiley faces!
Pura Vida also pleased with their gluten and GMO-free iCone and iCupone ice cream range, offered in a super-hip packaging design.
for zen products
In a direct response to energy drinks, a few years ago calming drinks became a thing. Said to be filled with ‘relaxing’ properties, these beverages claimed to calm you down and help you sleep. While the drinks have never taken off, their popularity has steadily increased and there is still room in the market to grow. There were several interesting brands at SIAL Paris who’ve latched onto this market, hoping to fulfil a consumer demand.
Miel et Miels Natural honey with matcha tea picked attention as a soothing a detox tea, while Thes de Cannon offered organic holistic tea blends.
2B relaxation introduced a new addition to their range, which is targeting yoga enthusiasts as well as being recommended for children with hyperactivity.
Finally, Good Night Drink is a premium herbal non-alcoholic relaxation drink that relieves stress and naturally aids a better and deeper sleep experience.
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