A week of F&B innovation and a journey into the future of food at Thaifex

CP Food's stand at Thaifex-Anuga Asia 2022

From May 24-28, top players that have ushered in advancements in a range of categories will showcase their unique approaches to designing and producing products which meet consumer needs as the sector moves forward into an era of new opportunities and boundless growth through innovation.

The 2022 restart brings a total of 1,603 exhibitors to IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, more than double when compared to the last event in 2020. The 881 international exhibitors this year clearly highlight that Thailand is open and it also reinforces the role that THAIFEX-Anuga Asia plays in accelerating the industry’s recovery from the pandemic.

Of those exhibitors from 36 countries, the largest group comes from South Korea this year, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey, and Italy. Exhibitors from markets such as China that have not been able to join the event physically have taken advantage of the opportunity to assume a presence with remote booths to join virtually.

As industry players race to jumpstart growth and capture opportunities, it becomes increasingly important to position themselves on the leading frontier of food. THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2022 provides such a platform by connecting operators throughout the value chain to facilitate the exchange of ideas and immediate trading.

Mathias Kuepper, managing director at Koelnmesse stated, “The F&B industry has been heavily disrupted due to global events. Both businesses and consumers are plagued by high food costs, food shortages, food wastage, and supply chain issues. THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2022 is a platform that can help to alleviate these challenges and drive value in the F&B industry, allowing businesses to collaborate and cross-innovate quickly and easily. This leads to an increase in diversification, new growth opportunities, new innovations, optimised operations, and value creation for stakeholders.”

Future Food Experience+ (FFE+) aims to close the gaps in the F&B industry by bringing actionable insights to the community. This series of talks cover a wide range of topics, including FoodTech, Foodservice, Plant-based, and sustainability.

The stage will gather key industry experts, regional and global thought leaders, and professionals to exchange ideas and forge new links. It is a platform to drive mindset shifts, letting players get ahead of the curve to achieve their business goals.

It also gives exhibitors the chance to showcase their latest technologies, products, and services on the FFE+ stage, providing entrepreneurs with a prominent platform from which they can capture the interest of an engaged, keen, and relevant industry audience.

Tuesday, May 24 (Day One of FFE+) featured a packed roster of programmes for the opening day of the tradeshow. In the morning session, Innova Market Insights – the official knowledge partner for THAIFEX-Anuga Asia – offered an amalgamation of industry trends and insights that are propelling business growth, with perceptions on the packaging, technology, and flavour drivers.

Visitors learned from Innova Market Insights experts and saw first-hand the products which are already driving these trends. Innova's Top Ten Trends for 2022 Livestream kicked off the event, connecting new ideas, innovations, and technologies that are shaping the future of F&B.

THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2022 welcomes visitors to join event days throughout the week and provides a chance to discover the special shows every day including Empowering the restaurant and foodservice industry toward digital, Driving the future of food analysis with AI/ML, Plant-based – the future of food, and Sustainability in food – how it can help your bottom line.

Day Two (May 25) was set into motion with the welcome speech and opening ceremony by H.E. Jurin Laksanavisit, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, and joined by representatives of the Department of International Trade Promotion, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and managing director of Koelnmesse, Mathias Kuepper.