The 38th edition of Aahar – the International Food and Hospitality Fair concluded here with a large participation from trade delegates from across the globe.
The five-day event hosted by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) also witnessed participation of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and apex industry bodies at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
This year, the exhibition was organised in an area of 1,10,000 sq.mtr. as compared to 90,000 sq.mtr. last year which has resulted in an increase in participation from 1,500 to 1,600 participants including participation from overseas companies from 12 countries including China, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the UAE.
Aahar also witnessed product launches. Companies including Cargill, Barry Callebaut, Pansari Group, and Elanpro were amongst who unveiled their new products.
Sanjay Jain, director, Elanpro, said, "We unveiled our latest innovations in commercial refrigeration space at Aahar. With our new range, we want to help food and beverage businesses reduce their carbon footprint."
"Our new Reach-in freezer is an industry first. It is for the first time, a Reach-in with energy-saving Inverter Technology Compressor is launched in India. This innovation is expected to save almost 30% of electricity bills. In addition, our new generation of blast freezers, undercounters, vertical coolers, confectionery showcases, softy machines and buffet freezers are expected to set a new standard for efficiency and innovation in food and beverage retail," said Jain.
Meanwhile, the display profile was segregated into different categories in various halls namely, Foreign Participation and FIFI Pavilion (Hall 1 GF), Confectionery & Bakery Products & Ingredients, ICMA (Hall 2 GF& FF), APEDA Pavilion (Hall 3 GF), Spices, Condiments Ingredients & Agri Produce(Hall 3 FF), Organic, Processed Food, Ingredients, Spices, Farm Produce, Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, Meat Products (Hall 4 GF& 4FF), Organic Processed Food, Ingredients, Spices, Farm Produce, Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, Meat Products, Chocolate Products (Hall 5 GF), Culinary Art India Show by Indian Culinary Forum (Hall 5 FF), Bakery Heavy Machinery Equipment, Tentage & Décor, Packaging, Kitchen & Hotel Equipment (Hall 6, Hall 7 (A-H), Kitchen & Hotel Equipment, Refrigeration (Hall 8-11, 12 & 12A, 14), Hospitality, Décor, Housekeeping Products, Gift Items (Hall 14FF), Hospitality, Décor, Housekeeping Products, Gift Items, Mist Coolers, Coolers & Fans (Open Area).
According to ITPO, this year too, a large number of trade visitors visited the fair.
These include top echelons of the hotel and hospitality industry including CEOs, General Managers, Executive Chefs, Executive House Keepers, Purchase Managers, F&B Managers and so on. Besides, senior representatives from Centre and State Government, catering industry and academic institutions, hotel management professionals also visited the fair.
"Unveiling India’s export potential, the fair assumes tremendous significance especially when there is a focus of the Union Government to promote agri-community as well as MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) sector which complements the hospitality segment," reads a statement of ITPO.