Variety in drinks
Image: Frank Boxler
BrauBeviale returns to Nuremberg, Germany, after its four-year hiatus. CanTech International reports
After an extended break in its exhibition schedule, BrauBeviale returns to Nuremberg this year, from 28 to 30 November. Providing a programme for visitors in the beer; mineral water; soft drinks; juices; wine; sparkling wine and spirits industries, BrauBeviale allows suppliers to present their solutions, products and services – from raw materials to filling, packaging and marketing at the point of sale.
The event offers a comprehensive range of products and services for the entire process chain in nine halls, covering approximately 40,000m² of exhibition space, with around 900 exhibitors. Around 130 suppliers for packaging, closures, labelling, and secondary packaging will show their solutions for the tasks involved in product- appropriate and efficient packaging. The pressing question of carbon dioxide supply, for example, will be addressed by 17 suppliers and answered with state-of-the-art solutions. Alternatively, raw material topics, including answers to questions about securing raw materials, can be discussed with a total of 88 suppliers.
The BrauBeviale product database is online and can be accessed by all users in the beverage and brewing industry to obtain the comprehensive supplier information prior to visiting the event. Exhibiting metal packaging companies include Antares Vision Group; Ardagh Metal Packaging; Cannery; Imeta; Industrial Physics; KHS; Krones; Sacmi; Ska Fabricating and more.
At a press conference in Milan, the BrauBeviale show organisers presented their programme for this year and drew a close connection between the challenging economic environment and the clear responses offered by the show’s overall line-up. The organisers used three key topics to illustrate the current challenges in the beverage industry.
In many segments, for example, consumption figures, and correspondingly production figures for many beverages, had not returned to 2019 levels even by the end of 2022. Furthermore, a shortage of appropriately skilled workers in the catering industry was contributing to the fact that out-of- home consumption in particular still had some catching up to do.
Challenging economic environment
There is always movement within the industry, and thus the number of breweries in Europe, with an increase of 614 during 2022, further demonstrates that forward-looking entrepreneurs continue to assess the potential in the European beverage market. At the same time, however, the enormous cost increases, which, according to a survey by the German Brewers’ Association (Deutscher Brauer Bund), have resulted in a 140 per cent increase in the price of new glass, a 135 per cent increase in the price of carbon dioxide, and a 150 per cent increase in the price of brewing malt, demanding a high degree of flexibility in the procurement policies of beverage producers and breweries. In addition, the requirements recently published in the EU’s draft Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWR) bring new uncertainties, particularly with regard to the development of reusable packaging strategies in Europe.
Image: Thomas Geiger
Forum and lectures
Specialist lectures will take place in the BrauBeviale Forum in Hall 1. Among other things, this year’s programme focuses on the Marketing Forum on 28 November 2023, moderated by Dr Uwe Lebok, K&A Brand Research. He will use current examples and practical presentations to show how brand success works. Insights into strategic concepts – such as those of Giesinger Braumanufaktur or Paulaner Brauerei – will inspire the audience here, say the organisers.
The Forum covers a wide range of topics during the three days of the fair. The industry hotspot of Future Raw Materials is particularly important. Horst Dornbusch and Elva Ellen Kowald, as hosts, will bundle the topics and, among other things, cast light on the availability and security of raw materials with brewers, winemakers and mineral water representatives. Sustainability and the requirements resulting from climate change will be presented from many angles on 29 November 2023.
Awards
The World Beverage Innovation Awards will be presented in Hall 1 at the BrauBeviale Forum on 28 November, honouring the best in the categories of best product, best packaging, best innovation and best business scenario.
On 29 November, at the same venue, the award for the German Hop Champion 2023 will honour the work of hop growers and their quality efforts. This will be followed by the grand awards ceremony for the European Beer Star, this year in its 20th iteration, which has 74 categories. Over 500 breweries from 44 countries are sending entries.
Logistics
The increased importance of logistics in the entire beverage industry is taken into account by the fair with the new Logistics Lounge in Hall 4.
Under the umbrella theme of ‘Sustainable Reusable Logistics,’ the special area – moderated by the pool system operator and reusable specialist, Logipack – offers a relaxed meeting place for all those interested in logistics, with many short presentations to stimulate discussion. A special focus will be on the EU’s activities around the European Packaging Regulation (PPWR) and its impact on the industry from different perspectives. Various manufacturers such as brewers, AfG suppliers and vintners will discuss with political opinion leaders from Berlin and Brussels about the implementation of sustainable reusable logistics in practice. The consequences of the possible specifications for the entire logistics chain of the beverage industry in Germany will be explored with numerous experts in the Logistics Lounge.
The insider meeting ‘LOGICircle 6.0’ will also take place on 28 November 2023 at BrauBeviale in the Logistics Lounge. In a keynote speech at 4pm, Bernd Huesch, managing director of Heusch & Partner Logistics Consultants, will present his future prospects and the strategic importance of logistics for the industry. Experts will then discuss his theses and outline the importance of sustainability in logistics. Special registration is required for this event.
Wine & sparkling wine focus
BrauBeviale has long been the home of the international beverage sector. It has traditionally focused on beer, but since the event concept was adapted many years ago, it now covers all beverage segments, including wine and sparkling wine. This year, BrauBeviale explicitly asked about this segment, and 60 per cent of the exhibitors already registered said that they also had products and solutions in their portfolios specifically for these visitor categories. Following this, the 2023 event sees a debut of a special show on grape processing and cellular management, organised in cooperation with the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture (LWG), which is aimed at wine and sparkling wine producers and will be hosted in Hall 4A.
“We are investing in this special area,” explains Andrea Kalrait, executive director of BrauBeviale, “in order to demonstrate that the range of products and services at BrauBeviale is very broadly diversified and that a visit is therefore also worthwhile for those in the wine industry.” Around 70 per cent of exhibitors at BrauBeviale 2023 will include an offering for the customer group winegrowers.
The show’s slogan for the BrauBeviale 2023 edition is ‘We stand for variety.’ Image: Thomas Geiger
A promise of diversity
The show’s new slogan ‘We stand for variety,’ points the way for BrauBeviale, the organisers say. “Anyone familiar with BrauBeviale will know that we have been putting this principle into practice for a long time now,” explains Kalrait.
“But now we have finally made this commitment official, to promote a strong sense of community in the sector and unite the world of beverages under one roof in an even more focused and profitable way.”
Kalrait also comments: “All the focus topics significantly increase the benefits for visitors to the trade fair. From our point of view, the new offer of the Logistics Lounge and our special show for the wine and cellar industry are particularly important.”
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