SIAL or Anuga: which food trade show to visit

If you're in food, you've probably heard both names. SIAL Paris and Anuga in Cologne are the two heavyweights in Europe. They're not interchangeable, and which one you pick depends on what you're after.

SIAL is the trend show

SIAL leans toward innovation. Smaller brands, new flavours, things that aren't everywhere yet. If you're hunting for what's next, this is where the buzz lives. For a shop like ours that sells novelty, that's gold.

Anuga is the scale show

Anuga is enormous and broad. It covers every food category you can name, with a lot of very big, established players. If you need volume, or a supplier who can move serious quantity, Anuga is the safer bet.

How we choose

We go to SIAL for discovery, and Anuga when we need to renegotiate or find reliable volume. For a shop our size, SIAL usually wins. The new stuff is what our customers want, and that's the point of the whole box.

If you're deciding, don't overthink it. Pick one, go properly, and do it well. A half-visited big show teaches you less than a fully worked smaller one. See how that plays out in what we stock at our snacks.

Frequently asked questions

Which show is bigger?

Anuga is generally larger and broader.

Which is better for small brands?

SIAL, if you want novelty and new suppliers.

Can I do both in a year?

Yes, if budget and time allow. We don't always.