SIAL Paris 2018 providing innovative solutions to the food processing industry

SIAL Paris 2018

SIAL Paris 2018 took into stock the current situation of the global food processing industry and provided innovative solutions to the problems plaguing it.

SIAL (Salon International de l’alimentation) 2018 – the world’s largest international market place for food service professionals came to a close on October 25. The Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition venue played host to the exhibition for five days as the various members of the conference held discourses around the theme “Planet Food”.

An event of unprecedented proportions

More than 7,200 exhibitors attended the event with 87 pc of them coming from outside France. The event also featured an unprecedented number of brands and held a record attendance of 310,000 industry representatives with 73 pc of them being from outside France. Nicolas Trentesaux, the SIAL network director declared, “SIAL Paris offers a unique and comprehensive melting pot of experiences from across the entire food universe. For the sectors that already count today, along with those in their infancy, the young start-ups that will be making the news tomorrow in France, India, Canada, Brazil or elsewhere. There is a window of visibility for everyone”.

In the five-day event stretching from October 21 to 25, SIAL Paris saw 135 official international visits, 250 “events within the event”, 2,355 innovations submitted for the SIAL Innovation Awards and 15 Grand Prix award-winners. The exhibition also saw more than 400,000 products being promoted the likes of which include, the antibiotic free halal chicken by Brazilian conglomerate, JBS’s business unit – Seara for the Middle-East countries, non-genetically modified (non-GMO) rabbit cuts by French meat giants, Loeul and Piriot, France-based Odontella claimed a world first with Solmon, a vegan salmon alternative made from marine microalgae while Spain-based Elayo claimed to have created an entirely new flour using olive seeds.

Reflecting upon the Indian connexion

SIAL 2016 saw Indian tea, coffee and spices exporters registering a strong presence  under the aegis of the tea, coffee and spices boards. India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) had planned an extensive brand showcase for tea, coffee and spices sectors of India at the event as part of its Brand India Plantations campaign.

Food India by SIAL held in New Delhi from September 19-21, 2018 focused on bringing the various positive aspects of the Indian food processing industry to light. It was attended by the likes of global business goliaths including Amazon, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, YUM!, Subway and Burger King among others. The highlights of the event included the rise of India as an enormous market with there being 1.3 billion consumers and the fact that globally, India ranks second in terms of food production. It was also said that by 2020, India would have 900 million citizens with the average age being 29 years which would make for enormous employment opportunities. The major focus of the event was on government policies such as the sanction of 100 pc FDI in retail marketing, including via e-commerce, of food products that are produced and/or manufactured in India as well as the plans to open 42 food parks in the next few years. Attention was also brought on the fact that the food processing industry has grown by 7.1 pc in 2013–14 while the online food industry grew by 150 pc in 2016. The industry is expected to grow by 100 pc in the next five years.

The Indian presence

On the back of Food India and its impact on the food processing industry, the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) reported that 45 Indian companies had participated in SIAL Paris. Government officials including Meghalaya chief minister, Conrad K. Sangma and agricultural minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh along with a retinue were a part of the event . The TPCI had set up the India stall which was inaugurated by union minister for food processing, Harsimrat Kaur Badal in presence of Sangma and Lyngdoh.

“The world has realised the potential of India in food processing. However, it is important for us to learn from advanced nations and collaborate with industry for transfer of modern technology. We are looking forward to ensure that through value addition the immense potential of our agri-horti products can be positioned in major world markets,” Conrad K. Sangma said. Meghalaya is looking at options for technology, machinery to build an efficient supply chain as well on development of product, branding to establish its unique identity. Sangma has expressed confidence in the Prime Minister’s ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana’ and is of the opinion that the plan along with the ideas discussed in SIAL Paris would be fruitful for the state as well as the country as a whole.