Anuga Chilled & Fresh Food

The trade fair Anuga Chilled & Fresh Food under the roof of Anuga sets the trend for nutrition to go, fresh delicatessen and fresh out-of-house products for a quick snack in between.

The Anuga Chilled & Fresh Food trade fair, one of the ten trade fairs under the umbrella of Anuga, impressively presents the latest developments and trends in the field of chilled and fresh products. The increasing interest in fresh pasta, which is one of the most popular convenience products, is clearly reflected in the expanded refrigerated space reserved for it. In addition to these pasta products, one also finds a broad selection of fish and fish-based products, ready-to-eat salads, marinated vegetables and bite-sized fruit. These products especially address those consumers who have little time but still attach great importance to quality and freshness.

Another highlight of Anuga Chilled & Fresh Food is the attractive assortment of fresh, already prepared or partially prepared beverages. This product category also has a finger on the pulse of the times and is oriented to sophisticated consumers who are looking for both quick and high quality solutions.

The development of the industry for chilled and fresh food demonstrates a clear upward tendency. The global innovation activity in this field, especially in the case of food and beverages with a refrigeration unit as well as requirements for convenience and saving time, showed an annual growth rate (CAGR) of +3%. Nearly half of the market launches of chilled and fresh foods take place in Western Europe, while Asia is the second largest region with a share of 13%. Africa (+11%) and the Middle East (+7%) were the most rapidly growing regions in the period from 2019 to 2023. When one looks at individual countries, the United Kingdom had the highest share of market launches in the period 2019-2023 with 9%, followed by the United States with 8% and France with 6%.

- The top category for chilled and fresh foods: the most popular categories of chilled and fresh foods worldwide were "meat, fish and eggs" with a share of 34%, followed by dairy products (21%) and instant meals and side dishes (19%).

- Consumer influence: a survey of global consumers showed that 41% of those surveyed viewed convenience as very or extremely influential for decisions when purchasing food and beverages. In addition, 26% of consumers indicated that convenience was one of the most important aspects when eating foods and beverages away from home.

- Popular health and choice requirements: in 2023, "gluten-free" was the leading requirement with a share of 31%, followed by "rich in protein" (25%), "no additives/preservatives" (26%) and "lactose-free" (16%). Thses trends underline the increasing importance of chilled and fresh foods that address not only convenience but also health aspects and special nutritional needs.

*Source: Anuga knowledge partner, Innova Market Insights