Nicolas Trentesaux Director, SIAL Network

Biz@India

September-October 2016

NICOLAS TRENTESAUX Director, SIAL Network

India’s participation at SIAL 2016, a global network of shows dedicated to the food industry in Paris, France,is all set to provide the Indian food and beverage industry with new opportunities for growth and expansion. The business fraternity of France and neighbouring European countries are invited to explore the vast opportunities that India offers, says Nicolas Trentesaux, Director, SIAL Network.

What are the main highlights/ features planned for SIAL 2016?

From October 16-20, 2016 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, SIAL Paris will showcase the food of today and invent the food of tomorrow. We have many new events and highlights planned for this year. As innovation is the DNA of SIAL Paris, it will continue to promote emerging food sectors by offering designated display areas. This year, for the first time, there will be a ‘Gluten Free Zone’, epitomising the way in which food markets are adapting to new needs, as consumers change their habits and expectations. We will also bring beverages to light through a new feature called ‘Inspire Drink’, focused on cocktails, mixology, tea and coffee with chefs and barmen. There will also be an ‘Organic Products Sector’ to cater to the increasing demand in this area. Thanks to MMM, the agency which organises the SIAL store tours, both visitors and exhibitors can make the most of their participation to SIAL PARIS 2016 by visiting six to eight innovative points of sales among the most dynamic French banners and discover what is new in customer services, dramatisation, product range, layout, new technologies. Lastly, SIAL Innovation, our flagship event for identifying the new trends in food and beverage will also be partnering with Summer Fancy Food USA and will be showcasing 28 outstanding products from the Specialty Food Association’s 2016 Sofi Awards. This will be in addition to the many nominees and winners of the SIAL Innovation 2016 competition, who will be revealed during the exhibition. Paris will truly be the capital of food for five days!

How will SIAL play an important role in helping the participants in meeting industry challenges and opportunities?

Indian retailers will be able to find new products from over 100 different countries, discover new consumer trends, thanks to our unique content provided by TNS and XTC and discuss with their peers how to differentiate their product offerings to access new markets and increase their market shares. SIAL Paris is a unique platform for stakeholders to test new markets, launch new products and meet today’s main players to discuss the challenges of the future. It’s also a sort of laboratory: R&D departments from around the world frequently finalise their products in time to test them in SIAL Paris’ alley ways.

The world’s largest food innovation exhibition, Salon International de l’Alimentation (SIAL), will be held from 16 to 20 October this year in Paris.

What are the current trends in food and beverage processing internationally? How are they being played out in India?

The effort of all major international retailers in recent years has been to establish customer loyalty, experience and preference. The variety and showcasing of the product offering, along with the price positioning, create a distinctive differentiation from the consumers’ standpoint. SIAL has been focoussing on providing solutions to international retailers in terms of variety of products, product novelty as well as product experience. Processed food and beverage products are increasingly catering to a demand for healthful, traceable, sustainable and organic produce. Convenience and ease of use is also an underlying trend, especially in developing markets like India, where this is probably the most relevant theme in the mass market, along with a demand for gourmet ingredients in select locations. SIAL is the undisputable marketplace for new food and beverage products with over 400,000 products presented and all the innovations and global trends.

Tell us about the conferences, seminars and workshops to be held at the event?

During the show, SIAL TV broadcasts 68 programmes including 48 round tables and interviews, five daily news updates and eight ‘innovation breaks’. A particularly dense programme, with reports, debates and analyses focusing on the entire world’s agribusiness sector! And SIAL TV can be watched on YouTube after the exhibition closes.The In-Food Centre, located in the In-Food sector (hall 6), will provide a programme of conferences and business meetings on semi-processed food products, ingredients, food processing and equipment.

Where does India stand in terms of food and beverage supply chain compared to other countries participating at SIAL?

Traditionally Indian participants at SIAL have showcased very traditional commodity products such as rice, spices and ingredients. However we are very happy to note that gradually processed and ready to eat products from India have also started to be presented in SIAL and we hope that this trend to showcase value-added products will develop further in years to come. The Indian processed food industry is coming of age with many new convenience foods, such as ready masalas and mixes, being developed for the modern consumer.