Europe's largest food expo to feature "10 shows in one"

As if there aren't enough domestic trade shows in the coming months, it's also an Anuga year. Anuga, one of the world's largest trade shows for the food and beverage industry, will take place October 11-15 in Cologne, Germany.

More than 6,000 international exhibitors and 165,000 trade visitors are expected to attend this year's show featuring the latest in catering products and specialties as well as convenience, organic, fresh, functional, kosher and finger foods.

For the first time at Anuga, the exhibit floor will be organized into 10 separate "trade shows" with each focusing on a different industry sector to make it easier for visitors to find products relevant to their business.

"Anuga is the only event in the world that completely covers the entire food and beverage industry," said Liese Tamburrino, president and managing director of Koelnmesse, Inc., the North American subsidiary of Koelnmesse, which organizes the trade show. "Given this, Anuga is a must-attend for U.S. companies looking to gain a competitive edge in this global industry."

The more than 3 million sq. ft. exhibit floor will be organized into the following 10 areas:

• Anuga Fine Food: General provisions and delicatessen products

• Anuga Gourmet: Specialties

• Anuga Chilled Food: Fresh conveniences with fruit, vegetables and fish

• Anuga Meat: Meat, sausage, game and poultry

• Anuga Frozen Food: Frozen food and ice cream products

• Anuga Dairy: Milk and dairy products

• Anuga Bread and Bakery: Bread, baked goods and hot drinks

• Anuga Drinks: Drinks

• Anuga CateringTec: Technology for catering of all kinds

• Anuga RetailTec: Technology and services for the retail trade

With convenience as a global consumer trend, Anuga 2003 for the first time is putting a special focus on the "fresh foods - convenience" sector, which will be part of Anuga Chilled Food. The ready-to-eat refrigerated meals and pre-packaged salads experienced double-digit growth in 2001.

In addition to the exhibits, Anuga is the unrivaled worldwide forum for innovation and information. A series of programs will be held during Anuga to address the latest food industry issues and trends including quality, safety and convenience.

And don't mind the setting. Cologne, situated along the Rhine River near the Belgian and Dutch borders, is described as one of the most fun-loving cities in Europe. Famous attractions include Kvlner Dom cathedral, a masterpiece of gothic cathedral architecture that was declared a world heritage site in 1996.

Much of the activity centers around pubs, where people gather to drink Kolsch, the local beer, which is served in small glasses. For art lovers the museum complex is located next to the cathedral. It contains the Ludwig Museum, which features modern and contemporary art, with a good selection of pop art and the Wallraf Richartz Museum which houses mainly Dutch and German old masters.

For U.S. dairy processors, visiting Anuga's dairy show may be a great way to train for Worldwide Food Expo which begins just a couple weeks later.

For more information about Anuga 2003, visit www.anuga.com. or call Koelnmesse, Inc. at 773/326-9920.