The 39th edition of Aahar, the B2B international food and hospitality fair and one of India’s largest culinary shows, held in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan from 4 to 8 March 2025, witnessed huge footfall with known and emerging Indian brands showcasing their culinary products and packaging innovations.
Organized by India Trade Promotion Organisation with support from the Union ministry of food processing industries, the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and other bodies — the show highlighted the potential of the Indian hospitality sector with technologies, products, and services for domestic and international buyers.
The B2B flagship exhibition hosts a large variety of food and beverage producers. Pani puri, momos, parathas, mocktails, bakery products, frozen desserts, wafers, dairy-based products, plant-based products, chocolates, candies, coffee – the list was endless.
With a strong focus on aspects such as food safety standards, advanced production techniques, and environmentally sustainable practices, the exhibition provided an opportunity for Indian buyers, retailers, and food service professionals to explore the versatility of Indian cuisine.
Thematically, the biggest number of exhibitors were from the bakery, ready-to-cook, and beverage providers. Apart from business expansion and promotion of MSMEs, it offered an opportunity for companies to reconfigure their supply chains, logistics, and expand their outreach for better distribution.
Unlike other food trade shows that focus heavily on expanding the Indian export market, Aahar is more centered on the growth of domestic providers within the country. A large segment was dedicated to the HORECA (hotel, restaurant, and café/catering) segment.
Point of sale (POS) systems, QR codes, and innovative stands were the key highlights at Aahar. Bikano’s stand at the show featured a ‘tapri’ (tea stall), enhancing the interaction with visitors as a well-acquainted medium. Many companies hire mascots to engage with visitors, which is a growing trend at trade exhibitions. Several stands had QR codes for information sharing. Some even featured interactive games, especially in the nutraceutical segments.
This edition was bigger and more crowded than the previous editions. Despite the massive size of Pragati Maidan, the halls wouldn’t be able to accommodate the exhibitors or the visitors without additional hangars outside the main halls.
What was new was the addition of the entire first floor, comprising halls 4,5, and 6, which were dedicated to packaging solutions providers — many of them chanting the sustainability mantra.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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