The ninth edition of Indusfood 2026, Asia’s premier food and beverage trade show, began at Expo Mart, Greater Noida, on 8 January 2026. The event was inaugurated by Chirag Paswan, minister of food processing industries, government of India.
This edition of Indusfood is among the largest yet, covering a total area of 120,000 square metres. Abhishek Dev, chairman, APEDA; Mohit Singla, chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India; Jens Wolfgang Michel, CEO, Abu Dhabi Food Hub (KEZAD); and Ashish Kumar Agrawal, managing director, Bhikharam Chandmal, were present on the occasion, along with industry leaders, buyers, exhibitors, and members of the global F&B ecosystem.
The exhibition aims to help Indian brands gain greater export opportunities while sharing knowledge about emerging global trends. The ninth edition is twice the size of the 2025 show and features not only Indian brands but also country pavilions from Argentina, China, Egypt, Iran, Thailand, the UAE, and others.
Branding and storytelling through products and point-of-sale displays were major highlights. The mascots doubled in number compared to the previous year. The products showcased spanned a wide variety of sectors, including consumer goods, ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook ranges, processed meat and poultry, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, oils, spices, and other ingredients. Notably, pavilions featuring street food products attracted the highest footfall.
Technological showcases also drew attention, featuring a range of dispensing solutions across beverages, confectionery, and ingredients. Stand designs were a highlight too—ranging from sleek modern architecture to traditional village aesthetics. The exhibition also introduced an AI map bot to guide visitors to the stalls of their interest.
Delivering his inaugural address, Paswan said, “The government of India has a separate ministry for the food processing sector, which underlines the importance accorded to it. We are trying to be a bridge between the government and the industry. Now that we are food surplus, we must convert this volume into value. We all know the strength of the sector and India’s untapped potential to become the global food basket; the need now is to channelize our resources.”
He said the ministry is encouraging more entrepreneurs to enter the field. Schemes such as the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), and the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management are supporting both farmers and industry stakeholders. The minister also mentioned that his ministry had raised concerns over the high GST rate on the food processing sector, which was later addressed through reforms. The GST was reduced to the lowest slab—either 5% or 0%—helping create greater market access for the sector.
Concluding his address, Paswan urged all brands to establish R&D centres in India. “India’s diversity offers immense potential to introduce new varieties to the global food platter,” he said.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has also launched an initiative to support agri-food and agri-tech start-ups, aimed at promoting innovation and creating new export opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
APEDA chairman Abhishek Dev said that the initiative—Bharati, which stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Enablement—has been designed to empower start-ups in the agri sector.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mohit Singla said, “The scale of Indusfood 2026 demonstrates ambition. We have brought together more than 2,200 exhibitors from over 30 countries across 125,000 square metres of exhibition space. We are privileged to host more than 15,000 buyers and trade visitors from over 120 countries. Indusfood integrates the entire F&B value chain—trade, technology, and talent—within a single vibrant ecosystem.”
Indusfood 2026 also marks the introduction of two new pavilions: Pet Food and Animal Nutrition, and Cookware and Kitchenware. Their inclusion reflects emerging export opportunities driven by global lifestyle shifts, premiumisation, wellness, and sustainability.
Michel of Abu Dhabi Food Hub congratulated the participants and highlighted the potential for synergy between Indian food exporters and UAE buyers. He also called for fully transparent and sustainable practices in the food trade, noting that an India–UAE Food Corridor will soon be launched.
The Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) has signed an MoU with Abu Dhabi Food Hub. India’s F&B exports for 2024–25 stood at US$47.3 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 8.2% and a five-year CAGR of 8.4%. Processed food exports totalled US$7.9 billion, with a five-year CAGR of 9.1%. The fastest-growing processed food category (year-on-year) was cocoa and its preparations.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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