Cologne Anuga FoodTec 2027: what the fair covers

Anuga FoodTec is an international trade fair for technologies used throughout food and beverage production. The 2027 edition is scheduled for 23–26 February 2027 at Koelnmesse, Messeplatz 1, 50679 Cologne, Germany. It takes place every three years and brings specialist buyers, food manufacturers, technology suppliers and decision-makers into a single professional setting. Its scope runs from process equipment and ingredients through filling, packaging, quality systems and intralogistics. For visitors, the practical value lies in connecting a plant or product challenge with relevant equipment, materials and supplier conversations; for exhibitors, the cross-sector setting helps explain how a solution fits into a wider production line.

Why Cologne Anuga FoodTec matters to food production

See connected production technologies together

Food plants rarely make investment decisions about one machine in isolation. Processing, filling, packaging, inspection, control systems and internal logistics have to work together. Anuga FoodTec's official product groups cover these links, allowing technical teams to compare related technologies and ask how equipment may integrate with existing processes. A visitor can use the fair to build a shortlist, identify technical questions and decide which suppliers merit a deeper evaluation after the show.

Compare options across the value chain

The official product taxonomy includes process technology; filling and packaging technology; automation, software and control technology; food safety; environmental and operating technology; conveying, storage and logistics; ingredients and auxiliary materials; components and accessories; service firms; and laboratory analytics, biotechnology and cultivated food. This breadth is useful when a project crosses departmental boundaries. Production, quality, engineering and procurement colleagues can compare their requirements against the same supplier landscape instead of assessing each category separately.

Understand the current technology conversation

The 2027 key theme, “Navigate Complexity. Smart. Safe. Sustainable.”, addresses system complexity in food and beverage production. The organiser describes connected automation, AI-supported decision-making, production transparency, hygiene, monitoring, traceability and resource and energy efficiency as parts of that discussion. Treat these as themes to investigate rather than guarantees that every technology or application will be demonstrated. A useful visit connects a theme to a concrete question: what data is captured, how does a control system communicate with existing equipment, how is cleaning supported, or what evidence demonstrates performance in the intended process?

Published scale from the 2024 edition

• Visitors: 38,427 from 133 countries, according to the organiser's current fact-and-figures card for the last regular edition, 2024.
• Exhibitors: around 1,307 in the same 2024 fact-and-figures card.
• Space: 118,000 m² of exhibition and event space, as reported for 2024.

The organiser's separate 2024 review uses rounded attendance and exhibitor figures. The figures above follow the event site's detailed fact-and-figures card and refer to the previous edition, not a forecast for 2027. The reported scale indicates a broad international comparison environment; it also makes advance prioritisation more useful than trying to cover every product group.

Who should visit Cologne Anuga FoodTec?

The fair is most useful when you arrive with a defined operational, sourcing or technology question. The groups below reflect the organiser's positioning of specialist buyers and decision-makers together with the product categories listed for the fair.

Food and beverage manufacturers and plant decision-makers

If you are responsible for a production site, a new line, capacity changes or process improvement, use the fair to compare equipment approaches across the manufacturing chain.

• Map a current production constraint to the process stage where it occurs.
• Compare system configurations, throughput requirements and integration assumptions.
• Ask how cleaning, changeovers, maintenance and operator training are handled.
• Separate equipment that fits a live project from technologies that are only relevant to longer-term planning.

Bring a concise description of the product, process, line conditions and project timing. Ask suppliers which assumptions they need to confirm before preparing a technically meaningful proposal.

Process, production and automation engineers

Engineers can use the cross-category display to examine how machinery, software, sensors, controls and logistics interact. The 2027 theme puts smart and connected production in focus, while the official product groups include automation, software, control technology, components and intralogistics.

• Compare system interfaces, data access and compatibility requirements.
• Ask how a solution handles product variation, cleaning cycles and production changeovers.
• Record utilities, footprint, operating conditions and integration work that need follow-up.
• Distinguish a live demonstration from a specification claim that still needs documentation.

Where a solution depends on digital integration, ask what standards, connectivity options and cybersecurity responsibilities are supported, then verify the details with the technical team.

Packaging, filling and procurement teams

Packaging specialists and buyers can compare filling and packaging machinery with packaging materials and auxiliaries in the same fair environment. This can help a team assess the relationship between product format, line requirements, packaging performance and supplier service.

• Bring the formats, materials and pack sizes relevant to the project.
• Ask about line speeds, changeover ranges, inspection steps and material compatibility.
• Compare installation, spare-parts and service assumptions as well as headline specifications.
• Record which samples, drawings or production data a supplier needs for a firm assessment.

For a purchasing decision, use the show to create a comparable shortlist. Request written specifications and commercial terms afterwards rather than treating a brief conversation as a complete evaluation.

Food safety, quality and laboratory professionals

Quality and laboratory teams can investigate food-safety systems, analytical equipment, biotechnology and related control technologies listed among the product groups. Their questions should focus on how a product fits the relevant process, what it measures or controls, and what evidence supports its intended use.

• Define the hazard, quality parameter or verification task before comparing instruments.
• Ask about measurement range, repeatability, calibration and data handling where relevant.
• Check how the equipment fits hygiene procedures, sampling routines and the site's quality system.
• Request validation material and independent technical documentation for follow-up.

Use the fair to identify approaches and suppliers; confirm that any proposed system is suitable for your product, operating conditions and regulatory responsibilities before purchase.

Ingredient, component and service buyers

Buyers sourcing ingredients, auxiliary materials, components or specialist services can use the fair's broad product groups to compare options that affect production performance. The supplier categories include ingredients and auxiliary materials, components and assemblies, accessories, service firms and organisations.

• Specify the intended product or equipment application and any performance constraints.
• Ask for composition, compatibility, handling and documentation details that matter to your process.
• Compare availability, technical support and the information needed for qualification.
• Keep a record of unresolved questions and the person responsible for answering each one.

Where a purchase depends on product-specific requirements, confirm the relevant standards and documentation with qualified advisers and the supplier.

What can you find at Cologne Anuga FoodTec?

Process and production technology

• Process technology for food and beverage manufacture.
• Environmental and operating technology.
• Components, assemblies, surface technology and accessories.
• Services and technical organisations supporting production.

Compare equipment by application and process conditions. Ask what raw materials, operating ranges, cleaning practices and line interfaces the system assumes.

Filling, packaging and materials

• Filling and packaging technology.
• Packaging materials, packaging and packaging aids.
• Conveying, transport, storage, logistics and intralogistics.

Assess the whole package-and-line task: product protection, format flexibility, changeover, inspection, material handling and downstream movement. Ask how the equipment accommodates the formats and materials you actually use.

Automation, safety and analytical technologies

• Automation, software, controlling and regulation technology.
• Food safety and quality-related systems.
• Laboratory technology, analytics and biotechnology.
• Cultivated-food technologies within the listed product groups.

For digital or analytical products, ask what data is produced, how it is interpreted and how it can be connected to established quality and production workflows. Confirm performance and validation requirements before making decisions.

Ingredients and auxiliary materials

The organiser lists ingredients and auxiliary materials among the product groups. Buyers can use this category to identify relevant suppliers and ask about application, technical specifications and documentation. The fair's technology scope also makes it possible to consider how materials interact with processing, filling and packaging decisions.

What makes Cologne Anuga FoodTec different?

Its defining feature is the combination of food-production technologies across the process chain, rather than a single machine or product category. This gives visitors a way to connect equipment, materials, automation, safety and logistics questions that might otherwise be researched separately.

For 2027, the organiser presents the key theme “Navigate Complexity. Smart. Safe. Sustainable.” and describes the Community Hub SMART as a space for artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, digital production control and cybersecurity. The Community Hub SUSTAINABLE focuses on resource efficiency, circular economy, alternative packaging, new protein sources and responsible value creation. The organiser describes interactive formats including tech talks, fishbowl discussions, BarCamp sessions and showcases. Check the current event programme for the exact sessions and timings before planning around a particular topic.

The official site also announces the 2027 International FoodTec Award winners: five gold and 16 silver awards for 21 developments. The award ceremony is scheduled for 23 February in the context of the fair. The award gives visitors a concrete set of innovations to investigate, but individual product claims still require technical evaluation.

What should you try to achieve at Cologne Anuga FoodTec?

If you are assessing a production project

Set an objective such as: identify three process or packaging configurations that could meet the line's capacity, hygiene and changeover requirements. Record the assumptions each supplier makes and what engineering information is needed next.

If you are responsible for procurement

Set an objective such as: build a comparable shortlist of suppliers for one defined equipment or material requirement. Compare technical fit, installation, service, parts, documentation and commercial terms as separate items.

If you work in engineering, quality or laboratory operations

Set an objective such as: find two approaches for a named control, analysis or integration problem, and list the evidence required to validate each. Note measurement conditions, interfaces and qualification steps rather than relying on a product name alone.

If you are exploring technologies for a future plan

Choose one theme—such as connected production, packaging, food safety or intralogistics—and note what is ready for a near-term project, what requires a pilot and what remains an idea to monitor. This keeps exploration useful without confusing a demonstration with a deployment-ready solution.

How to prepare before Cologne Anuga FoodTec

1. Define the decision you need to make

Write a short brief: what process or sourcing problem are you addressing, what constraints matter, who will approve a solution and when must the decision be made? Separate must-have requirements from preferences. If several departments are involved, agree on a shared evaluation list before the visit.

2. Build a target list from the official exhibitor search

The official website provides an exhibitor search and product-group listing for the 2027 fair. Use them to identify relevant companies and categories, then verify each target's products and stand information in the current directory. Do not assume that every company in a category serves your specific product, plant or region.

3. Rank meetings and demonstrations

Use three priority levels: A — must discuss for a live project or essential supplier; B — useful for alternatives or adjacent technologies; C — explore if time allows for market scanning. Contact priority suppliers through the organiser's current channels if you need a scheduled meeting, and confirm availability before relying on a demonstration.

4. Prepare technical questions

Adapt questions to the product and your site. For processing systems, ask about product characteristics, throughput assumptions, cleaning and changeovers. For filling and packaging, ask about formats, materials, speed ranges, inspection and changeover. For automation, ask about interfaces, data ownership, integration work and cybersecurity. For laboratory and food-safety systems, ask about accuracy, calibration, validation and sampling. For intralogistics, ask about layout, loads, controls and links to production systems.

5. Bring useful project information

Prepare non-confidential process descriptions, product formats, site constraints, required operating range and project timing. Bring drawings or sample specifications only when you are authorised to share them. State which information is preliminary so that suppliers can distinguish an initial discussion from a formal request for quotation.

6. Plan the practical visit

The 2027 visitor schedule lists 09:00–18:00 on 23, 24 and 25 February and 09:00–16:00 on 26 February. Check the organiser's current daily schedule, ticket details and event programme before travelling. Opening hours differ on the final day, so avoid assuming that every day has the same close.

How to make the most of the exhibition

Use the fair to make comparable observations rather than collecting brochures without a decision. For each supplier or technology, record:

• Company and product: what is being offered and for which process stage.
• Why it may fit: the requirement, challenge or opportunity it addresses.
• Evidence to request: specification, performance data, references, validation or compatibility information.
• Project conditions: installation, utilities, integration, cleaning, training and service assumptions.
• Next action: document, sample, technical meeting, site assessment or no further follow-up.

When comparing solutions, use the same questions with each supplier. Mark statements that are verbal estimates and ask for written confirmation where the detail affects a purchase. If a product is part of a live demonstration, note what the demonstration actually shows and what would still need to be tested at your facility.

Plan your time at Cologne Anuga FoodTec

Before the first visit day

Confirm registration and access arrangements, review the exhibitor directory and programme, and group your targets by product category or project. Keep a short list of must-see suppliers and leave space for related categories that may solve the same problem differently.

During your first day

Orient yourself with the current fair map and prioritise A-list meetings. Focus on the main equipment or material requirement and capture specifications and follow-up actions while the conversation is fresh.

On a later day

Use return time for technical questions, adjacent suppliers and programme sessions that relate directly to your brief. Compare alternatives and identify gaps in your evidence rather than adding meetings simply to increase the number of contacts.

On the final day

The official visitor hours are shorter on 26 February. Reserve that day for priority follow-ups, outstanding questions or categories that can be covered efficiently. Confirm the current schedule and avoid leaving essential meetings until the final afternoon.

Beyond the exhibition floor at Cologne Anuga FoodTec

The 2027 official programme includes the Community Hub SMART and Community Hub SUSTAINABLE. The organiser describes tech talks, fishbowl discussions, BarCamp sessions and showcases within these interactive formats. Their stated subject areas include AI, robotics, automation, digital production control, cybersecurity, resource efficiency, circular economy, alternative packaging, new protein sources and responsible value creation. The 2027 International FoodTec Award recognises 21 developments, with five gold and 16 silver awards; the ceremony is scheduled for 23 February.

Use the programme to choose sessions that answer a question from your project brief. Check the published agenda for exact session descriptions, locations and timings; the themes above do not imply that every topic has a dedicated session or that a particular speaker will appear.

Networking at Cologne Anuga FoodTec

A useful introduction is specific: state your role, the product or process you work with, the challenge you are evaluating and the kind of information you need. For example, a packaging engineer might explain the pack formats and changeover issue under review, then ask which specifications a supplier needs to assess fit.

After each conversation, note the person's name and role, the relevant product, the evidence promised and an agreed next step. Ask permission before sharing project material or adding someone to a mailing list. A contact is valuable when the follow-up has a clear purpose, not simply because a badge was scanned or a brochure collected.

Travelling to Cologne Anuga FoodTec

The event venue is Koelnmesse at Messeplatz 1, 50679 Cologne. The organiser's arrival information identifies Köln Messe/Deutz as a station directly beside the exhibition grounds. It lists suburban rail services S6, S11, S12 and S19 at the south entrance, underground lines 1 and 9 at the south entrance, and lines 3 and 4 for the east, west and north entrances. Cologne Bonn Airport is identified as an air gateway for the venue, and the organiser also describes access by car.

Use the organiser's current arrival and venue information to confirm which entrance serves your destination and to check transport arrangements for the 2027 dates. The official arrival page describes admission-ticket-related local transport information, but verify the conditions attached to your own ticket before relying on it. Allow time for movement between the station, entrance and the appointments you have booked.

One day or several days at Cologne Anuga FoodTec?

The event runs for four days, and the official 2024 figures show a broad product range and international participation. A single day can work if your brief is narrow, your target exhibitors are confirmed and meetings are concentrated. It is less suitable for exploring multiple connected systems, attending sessions and comparing alternatives across several product groups.

Two days may suit a visitor with a defined project and a small number of adjacent categories: use one day for priority suppliers and the next for comparisons and technical follow-up. A longer visit can be useful when a team must cover process technology, packaging, automation, quality and intralogistics, or when programme sessions form part of its learning objectives. The right duration depends on your list and meetings, not on a promise that more time automatically produces better results.

Bring a live project to Cologne Anuga FoodTec

If you are evaluating equipment or materials for a real project, bring the information needed to make conversations concrete: process stage, product characteristics, packaging format, capacity range, site constraints, required hygiene or quality controls, project milestones and decision criteria. For an integration project, identify existing controls and systems at a level you are permitted to share.

Ask each supplier what must be verified before a proposal can be compared. Capture assumptions about throughput, operating conditions, changeover, cleaning, utilities, staffing, commissioning and service. Where the answer depends on a site visit, test or sample, make that the recorded next step rather than treating an exhibition discussion as a final technical approval.

After Cologne Anuga FoodTec: turn conversations into decisions

Within a few days, classify your notes into three groups: A — immediate project fit, where the supplier or technology meets a defined requirement and needs a prompt technical follow-up; B — possible fit, where one or more questions remain; and C — market intelligence, useful for understanding alternatives or future planning but not tied to an active purchase.

For A and B contacts, send a concise follow-up that recalls the product and question discussed. Request the relevant written specifications, drawings, validation or performance data, samples, installation requirements, service plan and commercial terms. Compare suppliers on the same criteria and involve engineering, quality, operations and procurement where their approval is needed. Record reasons for declining an option as carefully as reasons for advancing one; this protects the decision from being driven by the most memorable demonstration.

Who should consider exhibiting at Cologne Anuga FoodTec?

The listed exhibitor categories span process technology, filling and packaging, packaging materials, automation and software, food safety, environmental and operating technology, logistics, ingredients, components, laboratory analytics, biotechnology and services. Companies whose products support food and beverage production can assess whether their offer fits this specialist audience and the fair's cross-process scope.

Before committing, define a result that can be evaluated: demonstrate a product to a relevant professional audience, explain a technical application, compare channel interest or arrange follow-up with target organisations. Identify the staff, demonstration equipment, technical documents and lead-handling process required. The organiser's homepage states that exhibitor registration for 2027 is open and gives a regular-price period ending 14 January 2027; confirm current application conditions and deadlines directly with the organiser before making a decision.

Exhibitors should also plan for the questions visitors are likely to ask about application fit, integration, performance evidence, cleaning, safety, maintenance, packaging compatibility and service. A clear answer and a practical next step are more useful than a broad product claim. Exhibition participation does not guarantee leads, contracts or sales; commercial results depend on the offer, audience fit and follow-up.

Cologne Anuga FoodTec visitor checklist

Before the fair

• ☐ Define the production, sourcing or quality decision you need to advance.
• ☐ Review the official exhibitor search, product groups and current programme.
• ☐ Prioritise target companies and confirm meetings or demonstrations directly.
• ☐ Prepare the process, product, packaging and site details relevant to your questions.
• ☐ Check ticket conditions, daily opening hours, venue access and travel arrangements.

During the fair

• ☐ Compare alternatives using the same technical and commercial criteria.
• ☐ Record product, application, evidence needed and the agreed next action.
• ☐ Distinguish a demonstration from validated performance in your own operating conditions.
• ☐ Note follow-up responsibilities and obtain permission before sharing information.
• ☐ Recheck the official schedule before attending a session or award event.

After the fair

• ☐ Prioritise contacts by project urgency and fit.
• ☐ Request promised specifications, samples, validation material and commercial details.
• ☐ Compare suppliers against the original requirement and involve relevant colleagues.
• ☐ Record open risks, assumptions and reasons for the final shortlist.
• ☐ Close the loop with contacts that are not progressing.

Is Cologne Anuga FoodTec worth visiting?

It is most relevant to professionals who work with food and beverage production systems, packaging, automation, quality, laboratory analysis, ingredients or plant logistics. The cross-sector range can help a project team compare connected parts of a process and discover suppliers beyond its usual category. Engineers, buyers and production leaders are likely to gain most when they arrive with specific requirements and make structured comparisons.

A visitor seeking a general consumer food experience may find the professional technology focus less suitable. The value of the visit depends on identifying relevant exhibitors and sessions, asking technical questions and following up on evidence afterwards; walking the halls without a plan makes it harder to convert the broad offer into a decision.

Cologne Anuga FoodTec 2027 at a glance

Dates, venue and visitor hours are published for 2027; the scale figures describe the 2024 edition. Confirm ticket conditions and the final programme with the organiser before planning your visit.

Make your Cologne Anuga FoodTec visit purposeful

Choose the production question that matters most, compare relevant technologies against it, and leave each conversation with a clear next step. The fair's broad process-chain scope rewards preparation and disciplined follow-up.

Define. Compare. Verify. Decide. Follow up.

Food production technology opportunities in Germany

Regulations and market-entry conditions

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 is the European Union framework for food information to consumers. It establishes mandatory information and allergen-emphasis requirements for prepacked foods and sets responsibilities for food business operators. The rule is in force and applies to relevant food businesses placing products on the German market; obligations depend on the product and sales context.

What this may mean for exhibitors and visitors

For Anuga FoodTec suppliers working on automation, production data, packaging or information workflows, the regulation is a reason to ask how a proposed solution supports customers' food-information processes. Buyers can use those conversations to check what data, labelling steps and documentation a product supports, then verify product-specific obligations with qualified compliance specialists. The regulation does not itself establish demand for any particular machine or software. No current Germany-specific market-size figure for food-processing technology was verified for this update, so these points are a compliance context rather than a market forecast.