The premier mega business to business (B2B) exhibition draws participants from packaging, confectionery, bakery, dairy and hotel and allied services sectors. The Expo, supported by seven major trade associations from the food industry and hospitality sectors, is being held in Kolkata after a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zakir Hossain, Convenor of the exhibition, at a press conference said: “As an impact of the pandemic, there has been a sea change globally in the line of food production. Automation, hygiene and safety have got a new impetus in the food and hospitality industry. The 19th International Foodtech Kolkata 2022 Exhibition will carry forward this message to the food manufacturers and their huge consumer base. Hygienic packaging will be the focal theme of International Foodtech 2022 this year.”

“Eastern India’s food entrepreneurs generally go to other metropolitan cities to procure machinery and plants. The 19th International Foodtech 2022 Kolkata will provide a wide range of in-hand experience in this regard at the Exhibition,”  Hossain said.

Rajat Budhraja, Chairman, All India Food Processors’ Association, Eastern Chapter, said: “Foodtech 2022 will present a unique platform to bring the farmers, food processors and the latest technologies under one roof. Besides presenting technological advancements, the business to business (B2) Expo provides a conducive ambiance for marketing outreach and consultancy services.”

Dhiman Das, President, Sweet & Savourite Entrepreneurs Association of Bengal, said: “There is major technological upgradation taking place in the food packaging and hygiene like Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). Representatives of smaller and local businesses will get an opportunity to come face to face with some of the latest technological advancements to be showcased at the Exhibition.”

Pratik Chandra of Paschim Bangla Chanachur Byabsai Samiti, said: “Use of technology and new packaging processes to extend shelf life of products and maintaining a high level of hygiene is one of the themes of the Exhibition which will benefit local food producers immensely and help them move from a labour intensive industry towards automation."

He said from the “farm to fork” technology to revolutionising food production, manufacturing and processing while raising hygiene standards, shelf-life of foodstuffs, minimising wastage and recycling of waste materials.

The speakers said from culturing meats to contactless dining experiences and food delivery platforms, technology has streamlined the way fresh food reaches the end users. Equipment driven by smart technologies are cutting down energy costs in kitchens and restaurants across the country. The 19th International Foodtech Kolkata 2022 would highlight these themes, they said.

The West Bengal Food Processing Department will highlight various schemes and subsidies for setting up MSME food processing units in the state.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is participating for the first time to sensitise the entrepreneurs in the hospitality and food industry on food safety and standards. The Indian Institute of Packaging will highlight various technical courses of the packaging industry among young aspirants and also apprise them of the modern concepts in food packaging.

The mega Exhibition will showcase under one roof the latest products and services cutting across hotel, confectionery, equipment, catering equipment, tableware, food packaging technology, food flavours and additives, industrial refrigeration, hotel and food chain consumables and Bengali sweets and snacks. Various seminars and discussions on bakery & confectionery industry, culinary industry, sweets and snacks industry are conducted during the three-day Exhibition.