Trade fair food & drink technology Africa (fdt Africa) – taking place on September 14 and 15 at Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand – is set to provide a platform for networking in the food and beverage industry.

Organiser of fdt Africa and international trade fair organisers Messe München South Africa aims to create an event “for Africa, by Africa”, says Messe München South Africa CEO Elaine Crewe.

“As an international organiser, we pride ourselves on bringing together local and international exhibitors and visitors,” she adds.

fdt Africa is the third offset of drinktec in Munich, the world’s leading trade fair in the beverage and liquid-food industry. With the bar set high by the Munich event, Messe München South Africa has ensured that the fdt Africa event will showcase industry leaders in the local food, beverage, packaging, and supply chain logistics industries.

“All our clients benefit from our trade fairs; having industry leaders, small businesses and start-ups under one roof provides them with an amazing opportunity to maximise their return on investment,” notes Crewe.

The show focuses solely on the food and beverage industry. Industry leaders will present their latest innovations and technologies, which are tailor-made for the Southern African market, she states, adding that the new event programme is an ideal knowledge platform and value-add to increase awareness in the Southern Africa market.

Commenting on the main attractions at the event, Crewe says the show will feature an exhibitor forum focusing on resource and cost efficient production, solutions for the brewery industry, the latest trends in packaging for the food and beverage industries, as well as training.

“The organisers are also pleased to have multinational brewing and beverage company SABMiller exhibiting. . . The winning UniMicroBrew Design Competition kit will be on display at the event,” she highlights.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend a well-established European conference, the Microbrewer Symposium, the day before fdt Africa begins. The symposium has been designed specifically for creative brewers who produce beer on a small-scale in South Africa.

Organised by brewing industry training and service provider the Research and Teaching Institute for Brewing (The VLB), in Berlin, the MicroBrewer Symposium South Africa will allow for discussion and information-sharing on technological and quality aspects of craft beer brewing at professional level.

Crewe states that the event promises to attract investors from Africa and abroad. “Having the show on African soil for the second time puts the spotlight on the Southern Africa market in particular and provides participants with the opportunity to focus on investment in the region.”

She concludes by advising that preregistration will ensure free access to the show and can be completed at fdt-africa.com