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The trends that will define the food business over the next five years will be discussed at Alimentec | Anuga Select Col

With more than 25 years building the region’s leading trade platform for food and beverages, Alimentec | Anuga Select Colombia, organized by Koelnmesse and Corferias, opens its 2026 edition at a stage of strengthening and internationalization. From June 9 to 12, at Corferias, Bogotá, the fair will present its proposal under the concept Origin Matters, within the framework of its integration into Anuga Select Colombia: the seal of the Anuga brand family, the parent fair and global benchmark of the food and beverage industry, organized by Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.

Bogotá D.C., March 2026. The food and beverage industry in Latin America is experiencing a moment of change. More than adapting to short-lived trends, the sector is facing profound transformations driven by a more informed consumer who is increasingly interested in their well-being, the care of the planet, and the experiences offered by brands.

For chefs, restaurateurs, franchise managers, procurement directors, and innovation leaders, the next five years will depend on companies’ ability to understand and leverage four trends that are already transforming the sector.

Longevity and well-being. Today, food is increasingly understood as a tool to prevent diseases and improve quality of life. In restaurants, hotels, and cafés, demand is growing for menus that include ingredients with clear health benefits, such as probiotics, high-quality proteins, and products that promote digestive, mental, and emotional well-being. For foodservice businesses, this implies reviewing their menus, better communicating the benefits of their ingredients, and working closely with specialized suppliers.

Transparency and sustainability. Knowing where products come from and how they are produced is no longer an added value, but a market expectation. Consumers, business partners, and investors want to know the origin of ingredients, production practices, and the environmental impact of companies.

Therefore, more and more companies are incorporating technologies to trace the origin of their products, using biodegradable packaging, and making better use of their waste. For chains and franchises, these changes also represent opportunities to operate more efficiently.

Artificial intelligence and personalization. Personalized nutrition and artificial intelligence are beginning to change how the sector operates. Tools that analyze data allow companies to optimize inventories, reduce waste, and better understand consumption habits. This makes it easier to design offerings that are more aligned with what customers are looking for. In a scenario where costs are increasingly demanding, using technology intelligently can make the difference between growing or falling behind.

New consumption cultures in beverages. The increase in demand for premium non-alcoholic beverages and products with less sugar shows a cultural shift: consumers want to indulge without neglecting their health. Younger generations are driving this trend, which is leading bars, cafés, and restaurants to renew their portfolios with more varied options aligned with new lifestyles.

These trends are already influencing investment, expansion, and product development decisions throughout the region. The 2026 edition of the fair integrates them into its central concept: Origin Matters proposes returning to origin as a starting point for business, from ingredients to production models, and opens an industry conversation about authenticity, traceability, and sustainability with real implications for decision-making.

In this context, Colombia resumes its role as a gateway for regional expansion. Alimentec | Anuga Select Colombia consolidates itself as the space where companies from Latin America and other international markets find the conditions to scale, explore new territories, and connect with partners, distributors, and buyers in the region. The fair expects to receive delegations from more than 20 countries, confirming that Bogotá is today one of the most active meeting points for the food and beverage industry on the continent.

“Alimentec arrives at this edition with a broader dimension. The integration with Anuga Select Colombia connects us with the Anuga brand family, the parent fair of the global food and beverage industry, and reinforces what we have built for more than 25 years: a solid, recognized platform with regional projection. That connection is not just a seal: it opens real possibilities to attract international players, expand participation, and position Colombia as a key meeting point for the industry in Latin America,” said Alberto Almanza, Project Manager of Koelnmesse for Alimentec | Anuga Select Colombia.

“With 25 years of experience, Alimentec is a fair that the industry recognizes, visits, and uses to make decisions. This edition adds a component that made a lot of sense: the connection with Anuga Select Colombia strengthens our ability to bring together buyers, distributors, and international players who see Colombia as the gateway to Latin America. This gives the fair a different weight and opens conversations that we would not have been able to have so easily before,” said Doris Chingaté, Project Leader on behalf of Corferias.

The fair will feature an agenda of knowledge and experiences built around the concept of the edition. The Food Innovation Summit will bring together experts in trends, innovation, and the future of the sector. HORECA Talks will address the challenges and opportunities of the foodservice and hospitality channel. Bake & Arts will connect the world of bakery and pastry with current consumption trends. Drink Trends will focus on the evolution of beverages, including premium non-alcoholic options that are gaining ground throughout the region. The Cooking Shows will bring live experiences to the venue that connect product, technique, and gastronomic trends. And in the Franchising space, developed in alliance with the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, the universe of franchising in food and beverages will be addressed: business models, opportunities for franchisors and franchisees interested in entering or scaling in the sector, with the participation of speakers and industry representatives who provide both academic and practical support to the discussion.

Alimentec | Anuga Select Colombia is the leading international trade fair for the food, beverage, and food technology industry in the Andean region, Central America, and the Caribbean. With more than 25 years of experience, held at Corferias in Bogotá, it brings together manufacturers, machinery and solutions providers, distributors, specialized buyers, and decision-makers from the HORECA and retail channels. Organized by Koelnmesse and Corferias, it is part of the Anuga brand family, the parent fair of the global food industry, positioning itself as a key platform to identify trends, generate business opportunities, and strengthen the development of the industry in the region.

With an expectation of more than 37,000 professional visitors and more than 20 confirmed international delegations, the fair is projected as a space to update knowledge, create new connections, and learn about innovations in equipment, ingredients, services, and solutions for the industry.

More than offering single answers, the meeting seeks to bring together the main players in the sector at a key moment, when understanding the consumer has become one of the main advantages for competing.

Companies and professionals interested in participating as exhibitors or attending as visitors can register and find more information at feriaalimentec.com and be part of Alimentec | Anuga Select Colombia 2026, the meeting point to discover trends, generate alliances, and strengthen the food and beverage business in the region.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS

Koelnmesse – Trade fairs for the food industry: Koelnmesse, the Cologne Trade Fair, is an international leader in organizing events dedicated to food. Events such as Anuga and ISM are world leaders held in Cologne. In addition, Koelnmesse presents numerous food fairs in key markets around the world, such as Brazil, China, India, Italy, Spain, Japan, Colombia, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, with different focuses and specific content for the sector. Through these global activities, Koelnmesse offers its clients tailored regional events and trade fairs in different markets, ensuring sustained international business. In the field of food technology, Koelnmesse is also optimally positioned with its leading global trade fairs Anuga FoodTec and ISM Manufacturing, as well as its global network that includes other trade events.

Corferias – International Business and Exhibition Center of Bogotá: With more than 70 years of experience, Corferias is Colombia’s main exhibition venue and one of the most important in Latin America. Its mission is to promote business, social, and cultural development through fairs, events, and conventions that drive innovation and economic activity in the region.