EU Shines as Region of Honor: Exploring Food Excellence in India at SIAL INDIA and Vinexpo India Conference

New Delhi, December 9, 2023: SIAL INDIA and Vinexpo India, two leading global events in food and spirits, showcased cutting-edge products that seamlessly blended the worlds of wine, beverages, and culinary delights. The exhibition came to a resounding success with over 20 Ambassadors, 300 Exhibitors, and countless innovations in food & beverages.

 
The event was inaugurated by Janusz Wojciechowsksi, Agriculture Commissioner of the European Union, Anita Praveen, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries Government of India (MOFPI) and Abhishek Dev, Chairman, APEDA (Agricultural & Processed Food Products Development Authority) Ministry of Commerce & Industry Government of India, in the presence of 20 Ambassadors from participating countries. Sial India was powered by MOFPI. Comexposium, France, Vinexposium  and Inter Ads India  jointly organized the events.
 
 
SIAL India received an excellent response from the industry, with the participation of 30 countries, 300 national and international exhibitors with thousands of products.  It was a grand platform where global buyers and sellers got ample networking opportunities. New products, Latest technology and innovative products were displayed from countries like  Austria, European Union, France, Greece, Italy, Iran, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Tunisia, Turkiye, Thailand, USA and more. 
 

The EU, as the Region of Honour, hosted   conference “The EU and India: a partnership in food excellence”, where panellist explored ways to guarantee the safety, quality, authenticity and sustainability of agri-food products, trends in F&B innovation and products not yet widely available on the Indian market, The session was addresses by Janusz Wojciechowsksi EU Commissioner for Agriculture and other high-level speakers.
 

Event also had a French Patisserie Competition which was organized by IFCCI and  hosted at SIAL INDIA.  Thierry Mathou, the French Ambassador to India graced the exhibition with presence and gave away awards to winners of competition. Chef Astik Oberoi grabbed the winning title.

 
Another interesting segment seen here was innovation and new products. Spicy Witch from South Korea came up with an innovative transformation with the introduction of Kimchi with salad powder. This fermented Kimchi Powder streamlines the preparation process, delivering a ready-to-consume dish in 3 minutes. Its versatility allows seamless integration into vegetable dishes or salads, enriched with unique seaweed extracts.
 

'Kombucha,' introduced by You and I In the realm of detox beverages, drew attention. The Kombucha powder is a powerhouse of probiotics and low-calorie goodness, available in five flavours. Its standout feature is the single-stick-to-go convenience – simply add it to water for a refreshing drink.

 
Making its Indian debut, Kizable from Florida presented 'Kizandy,' an organic, mouth-watering candy in five distinct flavours.
 

On the tea front, TEA Bro, an Assam-based startup, unveiled instant-flavoured Tea in eight varieties. The beauty lies in its simplicity – add hot water, and savour the tea directly without any waiting period. Its portability and exquisite taste position it as a game-changer, seamlessly blending traditional flavours with contemporary convenience.
 
 

Puja Sekhri Director Fratelli said who entered the wine industry in 2009, for the very first time introduced Tilt canned Wines. She expressed that this platform gave a good opportunity to find importers and exposure to create brand awareness. She added wine should be treated in food categories as it is allowed in other countries and should have uniformity in exercise duties  across India.
 

Suhash Arora, moderator of wine master classes at Vinexpo said, it’s fantastic that new products found intersections at SIAL India. The 14 masterclasses provided insightful explanations, offering valuable knowledge. This event not only facilitated networking opportunities but also provided significant exposure for brands in the Indian FMCG market, enhancing their presence and potential growth.
 

The show could not have been more complete where  live cooking  was organized for all the three days.  Chef Manisha Bhasin’s Millet Risotto and Smoked Chicken was the recipe of the event, whereas Nishant Choubey's Rice Flour Pancake, Rosella Marmalade and Cranberry Jam didn’t fail to sweeten the taste buds. Chef Rakhee Vaswani introduced the audience to Chocolate tasting from countries like Spain, Poland, Ireland, and Cyprus.

 
Nicola Trentesaux – Director SIAL Group said, “SIAL India is no doubt the place to be to understand the Indian food market and assess the amazing opportunities ahead of us. Not only India is now the biggest market in the world with over 1.4 billion inhabitants but the appetite of the middle class for new and innovative products is amazing.
 

Rodolphe Lameyse, Directeur Général, CEO, Vinexposium, said “The exhibition was the platform of passion, innovation, and the artistry of fine wines and spirits. In the heart of India, where tradition meets modernity, we gathered to toast to the richness of the wine cultures and the boundless possibilities that our Vinexpo India offers. It was not merely an event;  a journey into the realms of taste, elegance, and the shared joy that comes from the perfect encounter."

Rajan Sharma, MD Interads exhibition Pvt. Ltd, said, “It was a privilege to host the 5th edition of Sial India! Where we received such a grand response from across the globe. I express my thanks to all the participating countries, exhibitors for believing in us and making this platform even more valuable.  Here we truly celebrated diversity of global culinary, innovation, and connection. The doors were open to both national and international enthusiasts, who marked a way for shaping the future of food.