Features

Tiefkühl Star Shines on Retail Frozen Food Department Innovators in Germany

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Frozen food department managers of Elli- Markt in Delbrück, Wasgau-Center in Pirmasens (pictured above) and E-Center in Magdeburg, Germany, were big winners in the Tiefkühl Star 2019 competition that culminated during the recently held Anuga exhibition in Cologne. They prevailed over numerous other store operators in size segment categories of 2,500 square meters, 2,500 to 5,000 sqm, and over 5,000 sqm, respectively.

The biennial event, organized by the Deutsches Tiefkühlinstitut (dti) and Lebensmittel Praxis, is judged by renowned personalities from the German trade and industry. They analyze the applicants according to a catalogue of criteria in which includes economic factors, orientation in the market, clarity of the department and the depth and breadth of the product range. The presentation as a whole is also closely examined, with regard to the exemplary and innovative character of the business for the marketplace.

During the October 10 Tiefkühl Star event, just prior to the awards presentation, Fabio Ziemßen, Metro Trend expert and head of the company’s NXFood Hub, offered the approximately 250 attendees a presentation about anticipated frozen food industry development in the coming decade and technologies that will further shape the retail sector going forward.

Contemporary trends, innovations and visionary concepts for nutrition of the future were prominently on display at the bustling five-day Anuga. The world’s largest trade fair for food and beverages showed once again that it is the No. 1 event of its kind. With an increase of 3%, the number of trade visitors from over 200 countries exceeded the 170,000 mark. Around 7,500 exhibitors from 106 countries presented themselves to the show-goers.

The exhibitors were particularly impressed by the quality of the visitors. Droves of buyers with decision-making authority from retail and foodservice channels came to Anuga. Among them were the Top 10 food retailers in the world and the Top 12 from Germany, according to the Koelnmesse organizer.

Full Anuga Program

As a strategic partner of Anuga Frozen Food and Anuga Culinary Concepts, the Deutsch Tiefkühlinstitut’s newly designed, attractive booth in Hall 4.2 was a central contact point for members and all exhibitors and trade visitors interested in the German frozen food market. The dti presented current food trends and frozen food market data in an area of around 70 square meters. On digital posters, visitors were able to find out which “frozen food type” they were – a consumer test made it possible.

Deutsches Tiefkühlinstitut Chairman Bernd Stark addresses members and guests attending a reception at the dti booth during the Anuga in Cologne. At his side at left is Dr. Sabine Eichner, managing director of the Berlin-headquartered trade association.

For members, the dti offered the exclusive opportunity to hold meetings with partners and guests in the “Frozen Lounge.” The tables were well occupied on the most important days of the fair, and the service was used intensively. Companies providing culinary refreshments included Ditsch, Dr. Oetker Professional, Erlenbacher, Gelato Classico, supported by technical partners Rieber and Hauser.

The frozen food industry was represented at Anuga with around 600 companies from 50 countries showing their stuff. The trade fair offered an excellent platform for socializing in general and for an international professional exchange with partner associations.

A working meeting with frozen food organizations from the Netherlands, France and Austria took place at the invitation of Anuga and dti. A special focus at show were the trend lectures in the “Frozen Lounge” held by Karin Tischer (Food & More) and Nicole Jansen (Innova Market Insights), who interested a sizable crowd of listeners.

Trends were also the focus of the first “Guided Tour: Innovation in Frozen Food,” which was organized by dti together with Anuga and the French agency Nutrimarketing. Around 25 participants visited 14 exhibitors in the Frozen Food Hall, including many dti members.

At the 1st GenussGARTEN Forum on the subject of “Appreciating Instead of Throwing Away,” various industry representatives were invited by Hack AG to discuss solutions for reducing food waste with Federal Minister for Agriculture and Food Julia Klöckner. The dti actively participated in the forum and focused on deep-freeze technology, which demonstrably ensures less food waste.

Anuga offered the best conditions for public relations work in the frozen food industry. The dti was represented in Anuga previews at major food industry B2B websites and within the pages of trade magazines with articles, interviews and background information. A comprehensive report in one of the largest national daily newspapers in Germany, Der Welt, highlighted current market research results of the dti in a detailed report.

Frozen Products on Center Stage

“#coolicious – Frozen Foods. 1,000 and 1 Possibilities” was the motto of the dti front cooking show which filled the auditorium of the Culinary Stage in Hall 7 to the last seat. Andreas Scholz, kitchen director of the Hotel Esperanto in Fulda, emphasized that the use of frozen components allows modern, creative and delicious dishes to be staged. The top chef swirled across the stage, sizzling burgers, stirring bowls and discussing recipes, their implementation and the benefits of frozen fare.

Chef Andreas Scholz offers tips and tricks from his menu of “1,001 possibilities for the creative use of frozen products.”

Whether “Power-Food-Bowl,” “Autaumnal Prime Cut Burger” or “Salted Caramel Cake on Melon, Watercress and Hay Ice Cream,” there were no limits to the creative and imaginative staging of frozen products. Chef Scholz, supported by his competent team, conjured up trendy dishes for the gastronomy audience in a very skillful manner. He combined frozen products from dti member companies Agrarfrost, Ardo, Erlenbacher, Salomon FoodWorld and Schne-frost with other ingredients to create new culinary delights. The spectators visibly enjoyed the tastings on offer.

The dti also took account of the increasing importance of quick frozen products in gastronomy with its first presence in the DEHOGA marketplace Gastronomy in the Anuga Culinary Concepts Hall. In the DEHOGA Smart Café the dti presented its digital information offer for chefs, TK-PEDIA, and the e-learning tool HOGAFIT to visitors from the catering trade.

Guided tour visitors to the spacious Deutsches Tiefkühlinstitut booth receive a detailed presentation about the German frozen food market’s performance during 2018 from Dr. Sabine Eichner, the trade association’s managing director.