The latest edition of Aahar, the largest fair on food & hospitality Sectors in India, will be much bigger than last year with five to six new halls in addition. Last year, 42,000 sq m was reserved for the exhibition, while this time around 50,000 sqm covering over Hall Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12A, 14, 15 & 18 will be there. In addition a lake inside Pragati Maidan is covered to put up Hall No. 27 for the purpose of the exhibition. The show will be held from March 15-19, 2016.
This will be the largest show of its kind in South Asia where nearly 900 exhibitors including foreign participants from 22 countries will participate. The organisers are expecting the event to attract footfalls close to 45,000 in terms of visitors. Besides, foreign business delegations from USA, the UAE, Singapore, Bangladesh, and Nepal, companies from Australia, Afghanistan, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Korea, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, and USA will be present at the show.
New Initiatives for Aahar 2016
New & young entrepreneurs from India being offered booths at 50% rebate, in accordance with the T&Cs. Increase in exhibition area to meet the overwhelming demand of applicants, and focussed initiatives to bring more overseas delegations, buyers & exhibitors to the event with match-making services to facilitate efficient interaction between buyers and exhibitors.
The show will cover two separate but concurrent exhibitions. “Hospitality India” covering Hotel & Restaurant Equipment and Supplies and “Food India” covering Foods, Processed Foods, Food Processing & Beverages.
J Guna Sekaran, GM, ITPO, explains, “We expect, exhibitors to be 900+ who will participate in the event and new halls 2, 4, 5 have been made available this time for the fair. Further, we have built one large pavilion covering the lake that will be hall 27 and utilised for the fair. We have used some space outside at Hall 7 and 8 as well for the purpose of exhibition. This time food will also be having much bigger space in halls 14, 15, 18 & 28 as compared to last year, when there were two halls 14 half and 18 full.”
According to the plans, food products / beverages / ingredients / additives will be in 14, 15, 18 L, 18 U and 28 that will be displaying Fresh produce & Dairy Products; Confectionery/ Chocolate/ Desserts; Bakery Products & Ingredients; Organic & Health Products; Frozen, Canned & Processed Foods; Meat, Poultry & Seafoods; Cheese and Fine Specialty Food; Snacks & Convenience Food; Food Additives and Preservatives; Coffee & Tea ; Syrups, Juices & Energy Drinks; Wine & Alcoholic Beverages; Non Alcoholic Beverages; and Ingredients & Additives etc.
For F & B Equipment (Preparation / Processing / Packaging Eqpt) Halls include 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12A which will display Bakery & Confectionery Equipment; Food Preparation Equipment & Supplies; Food Processing & Packaging Equipment; Refrigeration / Chillers / Freezers; Stewarding, Tableware & Glassware Products; Bar Equipment & Supplies; Storage Units ; and Kitchen Support Equipment
For Hospitality Solutions halls 2, 4, 5, 6 will have Housekeeping Products & Supplies; Laundry & Cleaning Equipment; Guest Amenities; Linen, Furnishings, Textiles, Fabrics & Apparels; Bathroom Fittings & Fixtures; Lighting Solutions; Cooling Solutions; Fitness & Spa Equipment; Security & Safety Solutions; In-room Technology & Entertainment; Hospitality Support IT Solutions; Furniture & Interiors; Carts / Trolleys etc.
Guna Sekaran adds that since food and hospitality is such a vast and diverse subject there is no theme for the fair. But there will be seminars, competitions and discussions. And ITPO will be promoting visitors to come to the venue.
He elaborated that this time three new things will be added to the fair. At first place, more space is provided to accommodate everyone.
“Second, we have introduced New Young & Startup Entrepreneurs plan and we have given stalls with 50% discount. There is a government programme to boost such startups and next to hall 7 there is a separate pavilion for the startup entrepreneurs. This is all to help them boost their business prospects. Some 40+ entrepreneurs have registered so far and we expect the number to grow.”
“Further, we have also sent invitation to various CEOs of the hotels, food companies to visit the event. We will facilitate them with separate arrangement through protocol so that they can visit the event with much ease. There is elite invitation going from CMD inviting these visitors. We expect many CEOs to visit the fair. Also we have contacted the foreign missions here in Delhi to visit the fair.
“Also we have created a studio where product launches could be done, interviews could be done while live feed is provided through various TV panels placed across the Pragati Maidan. Besides Twitter feeds, Facebook updates will be done and we have tied up with the agencies for the purpose to get worldwide attention,” he trailed off.
Besides, every day newsletter bulletin will be published for the event.
