Anuga
Regarded as the world's largest trade fair for the food industry: held every two years in Cologne, ten trade fairs under one roof, trade visitors only.
The name stands for "Allgemeine Nahrungs- und Genussmittel-Ausstellung" (General Food and Delicatessen Exhibition), and the event has been a fixture in Cologne since 1951.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Trade fair for the food and beverage industry
- Full name
- Allgemeine Nahrungs- und Genussmittel-Ausstellung
- Frequency
- Every two years
- Location
- Cologne, Deutz district
- Structure
- Ten trade fairs under one roof
- Scale
- Over 8,000 exhibitors from 110 countries, more than 140,000 visitors from 190 countries
- Organizer
- Koelnmesse
In 1924, the first Anuga in Cologne became a national demonstration amid the British occupation of the Rhineland – a commemorative publication at the time hailed it as a "good German deed."
A Trade-Only Event
Anuga positions itself as a marketplace for manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, and industry decision-makers, targeting retail, foodservice, the out-of-home market, and online trade. The organizer reports that 94 percent of exhibitors come from abroad. There are no days open to the general public.
Ten Trade Fairs in One
The event is divided into ten specialized fairs, each with its own focus: Anuga Fine Food (delicatessen and staple foods), Anuga Drinks (beverages), Anuga Chilled & Fresh Food (fresh produce, fish, fruit and vegetables), Anuga Meat (meat, sausages, game and poultry), Anuga Frozen Food (frozen food and ice cream), Anuga Dairy (milk and dairy products), Anuga Bread & Bakery (bread and baked goods), Anuga Organic (organic products), Anuga Hot Beverages (tea, coffee and cocoa), and Anuga Alternatives (alternative proteins). This structure sharpens each fair's profile while still allowing for synergies across sectors.
Origins
The series traces back to 1919, when it began in Stuttgart as part of the 12th convention of the Reich Association of German Delicatessen Merchants, with around 200 German companies taking part in this trade show. It then toured annually as a traveling exhibition, stopping in cities including Munich, Hanover, Berlin, and Magdeburg. From August 17 to 24, 1924, it came to Cologne for the first time, drawing 360 exhibitors across roughly 10,000 square meters and about 40,000 visitors. At the time, the Rhineland was economically cut off from the rest of Germany, and Anuga became a national statement against the British occupation.
A Fresh Start After 1951
Following World War II, Anuga was revived in Cologne in 1951, running from October 6 to 14. More than 1,200 exhibitors from 34 countries filled 52,000 square meters of exhibition halls, and around 250,000 visitors attended. Association president Adolph C. Nickelsen explained the choice of location as a way to give one of the cities hardest hit by the war new strength for reconstruction through the vitality of an exhibition. The biennial rhythm in Cologne was set from then on; by 1953, visitor numbers had climbed to about 262,000, and for the first time foreign exhibitors outnumbered German ones.
Timeline
- 1919First Anuga held in Stuttgart as a small-scale trade show with about 200 German companies.
- 1920Anuga takes place as a touring exhibition in Munich.
- 1921Anuga takes place in Hanover.
- 1922Anuga takes place in Berlin.
- 1923Anuga takes place in Magdeburg.
- 1924First Anuga in Cologne (17–24 August) with 360 exhibitors and about 40,000 visitors.
- 1951First post-World War II Anuga in Cologne (6–14 October) with over 1,200 exhibitors.
- 1953Anuga sees more foreign than German exhibitors for the first time, with about 262,000 visitors.
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Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-09-23
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