FRANKFURT | IFFA will focus on issues crucial to the future of the meat and protein industry this May.
Under the motto ‘Rethinking Meat and Proteins’, this international trade fair will present a comprehensive overview of the value chain from processing and packaging to innovative ingredients and the latest point-of-sale trends.
The key issues for 2025 will include maximum performance, value creation through data, sustainability in practice and new product worlds.
As the industry's most important showcase, IFFA – Technology for Meat and Alternative Proteins will bring together market participants worldwide and cover the entire production process from the 3rd to the 8th of May 2025.
Messe Frankfurt has expected around 1,000 exhibitors to showcase their latest technologies, machinery, and solutions. In addition to numerous companies from all over Europe, there will also be large contingents from the USA, Brazil and China.
IFFA has been the leading trade fair for its sector and has been distinguished by an extraordinarily high degree of internationality. The new IFFA Worlds include thematically structured segments that have combined the numerous product groups and provide orientation within the overall trade-fair spectrum, with the worlds of processing, packaging, ingredients, new proteins, and skills and sales.
“Trade fairs bring industries together, and IFFA 2025 will provide convincing evidence. The response from exhibitors has been impressive and we are looking forward to seeing numerous innovations for the meat and protein industry,” said Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Messe Frankfurt.
“Thus, companies will be showing solutions for farms of every size, all sources of protein and every region of the world. Moreover, IFFA is a great opportunity for face-to-face discussions, networking and acquiring new knowledge. In a nutshell, it is the industry event of the year.”
Global trade in meat-processing machinery has been growing steadily for years, reaching a new record of almost € 2.7 billion in 2023. The VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (NuV) has expected global demand for safe and high-performance machines to continue undiminished in 2024, a promising perspective for a successful IFFA 2025.
“IFFA is the world's most important trade fair for manufacturers of process and packaging technology for meat and alternative proteins,” said Richard Clemens, CEO of VDMA NuV.
“It is clearly aligned with the demands of an ever-changing and growing market and gives experts from all over the world a chance to see the complete range of innovative technologies for implementing a multitude of product ideas. IFFA offers clear orientation, addresses all industry-specific subjects and thereby shapes the future for businesses.”
IFFA is also an important meeting place for the butchers' trade. It has allowed companies to discover the latest developments and make informed investment plans. The shortage of skilled labour has driven many companies to focus more on automated solutions.
Herbert Dohrmann, President of the German Butchers' Association, also emphasised that IFFA was a key butchers' trade event.
“Given the challenges posed by aspects of sustainability, changing eating habits, a shortage of skilled labour and technological developments, it is essential that we invest in our butchers and sales outlets if we are to ensure a positive future,” said Dohrmann.
“At the world's leading trade fair for the meat industry, we not only find solutions to current challenges but also inspiration for innovative approaches to production and sales. The trade fair is a place for exchanging ideas and information, networking and sharing experiences with colleagues.”
The exhibition and the accompanying programme of specialist events will focus on ‘Maximum performance’, ‘Creating value from data’, ‘Sustainability in practice’, and ‘Boundless product diversity’. This would mean boosting efficiency and automating processes, using data as a factor for success, and addressing sustainability, new nutritional trends, and greater product variety.
In addition to the innovations showcased by exhibitors, IFFA will offer a complementary programme of specialist events illuminating the top subjects from all sides. To this end, Messe Frankfurt has been working closely with its partners: the VDMA, the German Butchers’ Association, and, in the field of new proteins, Balpro, Proveg, and the Good Food Institute Europe.
At the IFFA Kitchen, visitors can participate in an inspiring discussion programme, live demonstrations, and demonstration cooking. The IFFA Factory will present exemplary solutions to the shortage of skilled labour on the production side.
Additionally, curated IFFA Discovery Tours will help visitors explore and categorise the numerous innovations that exhibitors bring to the trade fair.
Other highlights in the programme of events will include the quality competitions organised by the German Butchers' Association, which present traditional craftsmanship at its best, the gala to select the ‘Butcher of the Year 2025’ and the presentation of the ‘New Meat Award’ by the Deutscher Fachverlag publishing house.
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