Industrial trade shows serve as a stage that showcases the present state of an industry and foreshadows future changes. They are “global business platforms” where companies, buyers, and consumers from around the world gather to experience the latest technologies and products, gauge market trends, and discover new business opportunities. Through its “Industrial Trade Show Report” section, Edaily examines the history, growth trajectories, and differentiation strategies of leading domestic and international trade shows and expos by industry, while re-examining the role and value of these events in connecting industries and markets. [Editor’s Note]

[Edaily Reporter LEE SEON-WOO ] The food industry, which began with securing and preserving food, is constantly evolving into an industry that encompasses health, taste, and sustainability in line with technological advancements and changing consumer trends. “Food industry trade shows” provide a stage where these changes and market trends can be observed at a glance. “Fairground,” a global food industry trade show information platform, lists 1,013 food-related trade shows taking place in 93 countries worldwide. The global trade show information platform “TradeFairDates” also lists 736 food industry trade shows across 333 cities.
By continent, Europe hosts the most events. Of the 736 food exhibitions registered on TradeFairDates, 300 are held in Europe, accounting for over 40%. According to statistics on exhibitions in 13 European countries compiled by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) in 2025, food-related exhibitions numbered 162, representing over 9% of the total 1,758 events.

world’s

◇40% of Global Food Industry Trade Shows Held in Europe
“Anuga” in Cologne, Germany, and “SIAL Paris” in Paris, France, are recognized as the two leading trade shows representing the global food industry, extending far beyond Europe. In terms of exhibition space, they are 2.5 to 2.8 times larger than Korea’s largest venue, Goyang KINTEX (Halls 1 and 2), and the proportion of international exhibitors and visitors ranges from 70% to 90%. Both events are held biennially, alternating between “Anuga” in odd-numbered years and “SIAL Paris” in even-numbered years.
Of the two events, Anuga has the longer history. Beginning in Stuttgart in 1919, shortly after World War I, and settling in Cologne in 1924, the event celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. The 38th edition, held in 2025, attracted more than 8,000 companies from 110 countries and was visited by approximately 145,000 buyers and industry professionals.

Sial Paris began in 1964, 45 years after Anuga. The 32nd edition of the event, held from the 17th to the 21st of last month at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, featured over 8,000 companies from 130 countries showcasing more than 400,000 products, and attracted approximately 305,000 buyers and industry professionals from 192 countries and regions.
The key difference between the two events lies in their structure and operational approach. Anuga combines 10 specialized trade shows—covering meat, dairy, frozen foods, beverages, organic foods, and alternative foods—into a single event, focusing on sector-specific expertise. In contrast, SIAL Paris places greater emphasis not only on the function of buying and selling food but also on predicting which products will sell well and which consumer markets will grow in the future.
A prime example is “Sial Innovation,” a program launched in 1996 to discover innovative products. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Sial Innovation received over 2,750 product entries, of which 775 were selected as innovative products following expert evaluation. Anuga is also discovering innovative products through the “Anuga Taste Innovation Show.” In 2025, approximately 1,900 products were submitted by 608 companies from 53 countries, and 62 were named innovative products.

was the first to embrace globalization

Its core strategy goes beyond simply attracting overseas companies and buyers; it also involves exporting the exhibition’s brand and operational know-how to target local markets.
SIAL Paris, which first entered the Chinese market in Shanghai in 2000, has expanded its reach to Canada, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia, establishing a global network of 12 exhibitions. Anuga, which made its first overseas foray in 2004 by co-hosting a local exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand, has expanded its reach to India, Japan, and Brazil, and is set to enter Spain and South Africa next year.
The history of domestic food industry exhibitions, which have recently garnered attention due to the K-Food craze, began with “Seoul Food” in 1983. According to exhibition industry statistics from the Korea Exhibition Industry Promotion Association, more than 100 food-related exhibitions and fairs are held annually in Korea, including those in the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors.
Industry insiders cite “Seoul Food,” held every June at KINTEX in Goyang, and “Food Week Korea,” held every November at COEX in Seoul, as the two major food industry exhibitions. Outside of Seoul and the greater Seoul metropolitan area, representative events include the “Busan International Food Expo” (now in its 33rd year), the “Daegu International Food Industry Expo” (26th year), and the “Gwangju Food Expo” (21st year).

◇Korea’s Two Major Food Trade Shows: “Seoul Food” and “Food Week Korea”
This year’s 44th Seoul Food attracted a total of 1,800 companies, including 288 overseas firms from 49 countries. A total of 46,228 visitors, including 328 overseas buyers from 45 countries, attended the event. As the largest food exhibition in Korea, it is recognized as one of Asia’s major food industry exhibitions alongside “Sial Shanghai” (China), “Tapex Anuga Asia” (Thailand), “Foodex Japan” (Japan), and “FHC Shanghai” (China). However, compared to Anuga and SIAL Paris, the number of participating companies is only about 20 percent of those at those events, and the number of visitors is roughly 15 to 30 percent.
Food Week Korea, which began in 2006 as a merger of separate exhibitions for the food, foodservice, and kitchen equipment sectors, grew into a large-scale event utilizing the entire COEX complex after further integrating the “Korea Food Expo” in 2009. The 21st edition of the event, running for four days starting on the 4th, will feature 963 companies from 47 countries—slightly more than half the number of participants at Seoul Food.

Seoul Food has taken the lead in globalization. It began jointly operating the International Pavilion with the British exhibition company Allworld Exhibitions in 2007 and continues to collaborate with Informa Markets today. This year, 288 companies—16% of all participating firms—are from overseas. Last year, “Seoul Food in Bangkok”—which began in 2024—drew 133 domestic food companies and 389 overseas buyers. This year, the event is set to hold its third edition from December 2 to 4 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.
Park Gwang-kyu, Section Chief of KOTRA’s Strategic Exhibitions Team, noted, “Beyond attracting overseas companies and buyers, expanding the exhibition brand’s global reach and pioneering local markets are emerging as new growth challenges for domestic food industry exhibitions.”