F&B industry gearing up for 29th edition of Aahar, commencing March 10

The 29th essay of Aahar – organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and slated to take place at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan between March 10 and 14, 2014 – would bring overseas and Indian buyers, importers, wholesalers and suppliers of food, hoteliers, overseas trade delegations, business houses and policy-makers together.

The event would be supported by the ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI), the Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Association of Resource Companies for Hospitality Industries (ARCHII), the Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Manufacturers’ Association and the All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA).

It would have two concurrent exhibitions – Food India (covering food and beverages, processed foods and food additives) and Hospitality India (covering hotel and restaurant equipment). Although the event is for trade visitors only, it would be open to the general public between 2pm and 6pm on the last day.

Over 700 exhibitors are likely to take part in this year’s exhibition, which exceeds the number of exhibitors at last year’s essay (676). The organisers have incorporated Hall Number 18 and some open space, making it larger than the previous edition, which covered a gross area of 41,666,84sq m.

Layout for Aahar 2014
Halls 15 and 18 (Upper and Lower) – Food, food ingredients and additives: Fruit and vegetables; dairy products; bakery and confectionery products; organic and health products; meat and poultry products; processed foods; non-alcoholic beverages; food ingredients; fine food; food preservatives, and chocolates

Hall 18 (Foyer) – Alcoholic beverages and cheese (new)
Halls 7D, 7E, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12A and 14 – Food and beverage equipment: Bakery and confectionery equipment; kitchen equipment; kitchen and food service; kitchenware equipment  (crockery/cutlery/chaffing dishes); food and beverage equipment; food processing, packaging equipment and machinery, and poultry, farm equipment and supplies

Halls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7A, B, C, F, G and H – Housekeeping: Building, construction and air-conditioning; laundry, interior and housekeeping; air and water (pollution control equipment and accessories); festival products; furniture and interior decoration; gardening and lighting; gifts and presentation; guest room products; health club, sport and fitness equipment; fabrics, textiles and made-ups; culinary show and open space for organic food

Various organisations would host seminars to discuss issues pertaining to the development of their particular sector, and companies would host culinary shows to showcase their products. Food festivals would be another highlight of the event.

Prominent among the seminars would be the ones on ‘The Environmental Concerns of the Hospitality Industry’ by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India; ‘Food Regulations in India’ by AIFPA, and the Indian Biscuits and Confectionary Congress 2014 on March 10, 11 and 12, 2014, respectively.

During the five-day event, ITPO expects several thousands of visitors from various parts of the world, including India, Australia, Canada, the United States, the Middle-East, Europe and South-East Asia to gather at Pragati Maidan. Last year, 24,016 visitors attended it, and this year, the expected footfall is about 25,000 visitors. The expectations were based on a steady growth in terms of participation and area of the event.

“The number of participating companies in 2010 was 460 (of which 25 were from overseas) and the area was 13,018sq m. In 2011, this increased to 514 participants and an areas of 15,800sq m. A total of 565 companies participated the following year. Of these, 72 were from overseas. It covered an area of 18,824sq m,” the organisers informed.

“Last year’s event was the largest in terms of area as well – it covered an area of 19,476sq m. This year, the area is expected to touch the 20,000sq m-mark,” they added.

About 363 of the 436 exhibitors at the 2013 edition 363 participants confirmed that they would participate this year.

Another highlight of this year’s event is the display windows, which have been arranged on both sides of the road leading to Gate Number 7, the primary entry point for the event. The display windows would help companies highlight the glimpses of their offerings to the visitors, encouraging them to reach out to their pavilion.

This year, ITPO has 60 display windows in place. To streamline the entry into the event, the organisers have also arranged online visitors’ registration forms, enabling trade visitors to register online.

Dedicated cabs have been arranged to take visitors around the Pragati Maidan. The organisers informed that 30 Innova cabs have been arranged for this purpose. The halls have been linked with each other with red carpets to give visitors a feel-good factor.

Overview of the Indian food processing sector
The food processing sector is one of the largest sectors in India in terms of production, growth, consumption and export. India’s food processing sector covers fruit and vegetables; spices; meat and poultry; milk and milk products, alcoholic beverages, fisheries, plantation, grain processing; confectionery, chocolates and cocoa products; soy-based products; mineral water, high-protein foods, etc.

Since the liberalisation of the Indian economy in August 1991, there have been project proposals in various segments of the food and agro-processing industry. Besides this, the government has also approved proposals for joint ventures; foreign collaborations, industrial licenses and 100 per cent export-oriented units envisaging investments. Out of this, foreign investment is over Rs 10,000 crores.

India’s processed food exports amounted to Rs 38,150.86 crore in 2012-13, which included the shares of products like mango pulp (Rs 608.56 crore); dried and preserved vegetables (Rs 637.96 crore); other processed fruit and vegetable (Rs 1,733.06 crore); pulses (Rs 1,285 crore); groundnuts (Rs 4,065.36 crore); guar gum (Rs 21,287.01 crore); jaggery and confectionery (Rs 917.60 crore); cocoa products (Rs 293.92 crore); cereal preparations (Rs 2,240.76 crore); alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (Rs 1,909.37 crore) and miscellaneous preparations (Rs 1,712.06 crore).

The Indian food processing industry is primarily export-oriented. India’s geographical situation gives it the unique advantage of connectivity to Europe, the Middle-East, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea. An example of India’s location advantage is the volume of trade in agricultural products and processed foods between India and the Middle-East.

Retail, one of the largest sectors in the global economy (at $7 trillion), is going through a transition phase in India.

One of the prime factors for the non-competitiveness of the food processing industry is because of the cost and quality of marketing channels.

Globally, more than 72 per cent of the food sales occur through super stores. India presents a huge opportunity, and is all set for a big retail revolution.

India is the least saturated of the global markets (with a small organised retail), and is also the least competitive of all global markets.

(Source: APEDA)

In a chat with FnB News, Dalel Singh, general manager, Functional Division: Fair Services –II, ITPO, discussed various topics related to Aahar.

Excerpts:

Tell us about Aahar 2014. What prominence does it have for the Indian food and hospitality sector?
Aahar, being the major food and hospitality event not only in India but globally as well, gives immense opportunity to the food and hospitality industries to get the largest footholds at one place. Aahar means business. We have participants who spent 75 per cent of their publicity budget on Aahar participation, and participants who started with a mere 9sqm space now asking for as much as 400sqm. There is a company from Germany, which is coming for the first time seeing the opportunity this event gives the participants. So, participating in this event is a must for food and hospitality companies to get opportunities to maximise their business.

What is the theme for Ahar for this year?

We do not have any theme as such but incorporated and expanded our focus towards creating a separate category for organic food. We got a very good response from exhibitors, as this is the segment which is catching the fancy of the public. About 30 exhibitors will showcase their products. From the year, we have also allocated space for wine and cheese. We expect at least 10 wine companies to participate this year. We are also in touch with the Karnataka Wine Board in this regard. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is also hosting a wine tasting session this time

How big the event is against previous year in terms of participation and space?

The space has got bigger this year. Definitely there are certain constraints like continuity of halls, but this year, we have included Hall Numbers 6 and 18, and some open space for large machinery, which can’t be incorporated inside the hall. This is our first experiment. Last year, we created the show windows along the main road towards Gate Number 7, as most of the visitors enter from this gate. There was a demand from the exhibitors for the show windows, so this year, 60 such windows have been approved. This windows will serve as ad space for the companies to let visitors know about their products and obtain some information about the seminars.

What shall be the highlight of the event?

The highlight is the opportunity this event provides for the business. This event gives opportunities to suppliers, buyers, opinion makers, and consultants. They come and meet and it is the most cost-effective way to meet the relevant people in the respective industry, which would otherwise take time. Such events are the best way for the companies to find new markets, new buyers, new suppliers, new machines and equipment and consultant services who can tell you that there is a better way to manage your business.

How successful is the event in promoting the Indian food and hospitality sectors worldwide?

We had participation from the Federation of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) last year. They had 450sqm space, and this year they have demanded 1,000sq m. They realise the impact of the participation in this event. Be it wine and liquor, food additives, beverages or ingredients, India has a huge opportunity, which could be tapped at such an event.

F&B industry gearing up for 29th edition of Aahar, commencing March 10