Anuga, the world’s largest trade fair for food and beverages, is reinforcing its role as a premier platform for innovation within the industry.
In a continued partnership with Ecotrophelia Europe—widely regarded as Europe’s most influential competition for sustainable food innovation—Anuga is set to spotlight emerging product concepts, entrepreneurial talent, and progressive business models. The collaboration will culminate in the European finals of Ecotrophelia, scheduled to take place on October 7 and 8, 2025, within the Congress Centre North in Cologne, as part of Anuga’s five-day event. A formal award ceremony will follow on the Trend Zone stage at Boulevard North.
“For us, the partnership with Ecotrophelia Europe is a strategic pacesetter for the entire food industry. Together we are creating a platform where the highest level of sustainable innovation, young entrepreneurship and industrial networking come together,” said Jan Philipp Hartmann, Director of Anuga.
With this renewed alliance, Anuga is making a deliberate statement: a commitment to nurturing young talent, promoting sustainable value creation, and shaping the future direction of the food sector.
“We are delighted to be back at ANUGA for the 2025 competition. Our collaboration with Koelnmesse provides the foundation to our efforts to bring our competitors together, and to give them the opportunity to experience how the food industry innovates in a rapidly changing world. We value the support and creativity of the ANUGA team so that we can showcase our emerging talent in action,” said Maarten van der Kamp, President of Ecotrophelia Europe.
Often referred to as the “Champions League” of food innovation, Ecotrophelia Europe has influenced the continent’s food innovation agenda for more than a quarter-century. Each participating country hosts a national competition to select breakthrough concepts for sustainable food products, developed by student teams typically comprising two to ten members. National winners then advance to the European finals held during Anuga. These competitions are managed locally by national food associations.
The event is organized by EEIG Ecotrophelia Europe, a consortium of seven national food associations and two major European industry bodies—FoodDrinkEurope and EIT Food. Its mission is to build a pan-European innovation ecosystem that transforms academic ideas into viable, market-ready food solutions. Participants benefit not only from visibility, but also from direct engagement with industry leaders, investors, and innovation partners.
Notably, the 2025 edition introduces a new milestone: Korea will join the competition as the first non-European participant. The inclusion of a four-member Korean student team, presenting their concept “To-flex,” aligns with Korea’s status as Anuga’s official partner country this year. This debut marks a significant step toward internationalizing the competition and reflects the expanding global relevance of sustainable innovation in the food industry. The dual role of Korea—as both Anuga’s featured country and Ecotrophelia’s first non-European contender—underscores a deepening network of cross-border collaboration and a shared commitment to transformative food systems.
Find out more at: https://www.anuga.com