Anuga has presented its new trade show, Anuga Alternatives, focusing on various products from plant-based protein, insect protein, algae protein, mushroom-based protein, and cell-cultivated meat segments.
With over 1,400 companies worldwide, including at least 70 in Germany, that offer plant-based alternatives to animal-based products, the new trade show has reflected the growing interest and increased variety within the industry.
"Alternative proteins are not a short-lived trend, but indeed the future of food. A healthy and sustainable supply of proteins will become essential for the food requirements of an ever-increasing number of consumers,” said Jan Philipp Hartmann, Director of Anuga.
“The market for alternative proteins is being pushed not only by consumer demand but also by trailblazing technological innovations. The progress made in processing plant-based protein sources and finding new protein sources is of central importance here. At the coming edition of Anuga, especially within the scope of Anuga Alternatives, we will examine these developments in detail.”
In light of the high global interest in sustainable food solutions, Anuga will also offer an extensive programme comprising webinars, workshops, and speaker events that focus on alternative proteins. It will also examine the latest research results and technological breakthroughs.
Anuga Alternatives also focuses on the social aspects of food production, including themes like ethical procurement, the preservation of biodiversity, and the socio-economic effects of switching to plant-based diets.
According to Innova Market Insights, the market for plant-based meat substitute products in Germany has recorded significant growth in turnover and product launches. Between 2022 and 2023, the market value increased by 7.8 percent, from USD 639 million in 2022 to USD 689 million in 2023.
In April 2024, 27 percent more meat substitute products were introduced onto the market than in the same period of the previous year, representing a peak in innovation.
"The figures impressively underline how the increasing consumer orientation towards plant-based products is sustainably changing the food market and opening up new growth potential,” said Bastian Mingers, Vice President of Food Trade Fairs, Koelnmesse GmbH.
Anuga Alternatives goes hand in hand with a relaunch of the hitherto segment Anuga Out of Home. The manufacturers will no longer be bundled under their own segment but instead integrated into the trade shows that match their respective offers to enable more efficient matchmaking.
