I am once again delighted to be working with the organiser of the show, Koelnmesse, to create a unique pre-show guide for visitors planning their trip to Cologne for 27-30 March, which will be published in the next issue of FoodBev Media’s Food & Beverage International magazine.
This special pre-show guide contains a full list of exhibitors, a floor plan and a schedule highlighting the supporting events taking place during the show.
Working on this guide, which is designed to help visitors plan their trip to the show, I’m particularly impressed by the breadth of topics being covered in the programme of events. These range from a live, fully operational robotic factory that will truly provide that all-important ‘window on the future’ to in-depth discussions on the meat industry, on food safety, careers in the food industry, and sustainability among others.
And the stature of the exhibiting companies taking part this year is second to none. Tetra Pak will be there in force after missing the 2009 show, which is an encouragingly positive sign that the industry is finally recovering from that particularly difficult year and beginning to invest again.
According to the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), the blockage of investment that resulted from the global financial and economic crisis of 2009 had largely dissipated in 2010, allowing the industry to grow in 2011.
It recorded a rise of 13.5% in incoming orders for food processing & packaging machines in Germany during the first half of 2011, compared to the same period the previous year, and turnover for the industry sector increased by 17.1% during this time.
This positive industry activity is reflected in the growth of the Anuga FoodTec show this year, and will underpin developments during 2012.
I’m already receiving news from exhibitors of the exciting innovations they plan to unveil in Cologne that I will publish in a packed March issue of Food & Beverage International, which will also be available digitally here for you to click on and start planning your trip!
Claire Rowan is managing editor of Food & Beverage International magazine. Subscribe here.
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