Conference 2026 – ProFood India Expo

Pro Food India Expo 2026 Conference

Theme: Building manufacturing excellence capabilities in Indian food processing operations

Conference Program

A conference is a vibrant gathering of individuals united by a common interest or profession. It’s a dynamic platform which provides unique opportunity for attendees to engage with industry experts and thought leaders through insightful panel discussions. They can network with like-minded peers, potential collaborators, and innovators where they can exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences to foster collective growth and discover new trends, technologies, and solutions.

More details are coming soon.

About the Conference

The Future of Food Processing

Shaping intelligent, sustainable and efficient food manufacturing for better tommorow

Imagine Food Manufacturing in 2040

You step into an SME food processing plant. Gone are the days of disconnected equipment and manual oversight. In their place are smart factories integrating technology and data to optimise every part of the process — from receiving raw materials to shipping the final product.

Intelligent and Smart manufacturing

Machine Learning

Analyse product homogeneity, remove defects and ensure batch consistency.

Sustainable Operations

Smart processing technologies enable sustainable manufacturing by optimising energy consumption, reducing waste generation and promoting responsible water stewardship. Through intelligent automation and resource-efficient processes, manufacturers can improve operational efficiency while supporting long-term environmental goals.

Enabling Operational Excellence

Risk based Production Efficiency

Prioritises proactive hazard prevention over reactive testing. Export-compliant machinery aligns with global safety, quality, hygiene & sanitary standards

Skilled & Future-Ready Workforce

Engaged in L&D programmes, keeping abreast of the latest hygiene, material & engineering standards. Data teams use historical tools for prescriptive decision-making.

Productivity & Efficiency Gains

Data-driven insights ensure smarter operations, continuous improvement & higher productivity.

Our Vision at

Pro Food India 2026 Conference

Join Us as we seek to paint this future facing picture at the Profood India 2026 Conference

Through informative panel discussions and debates, we aim to mainstream smart manufacturing practices, intelligent equipment adoption, energy conservation and ergonomic material handling solutions in the food processing industry. The programme will examine manufacturing excellence in Indian food processing operations through the prism of equipment design, innovation, digital transformation, standardisation and certification, material handling, safety, quality and hygiene, energy management, and clean labelling.

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Building manufacturing excellence capabilities in Indian food processing operations

Day I: 28th October 2026

12:30 hrs – 17:45 hrs

Proposed Topic I: How homegrown giants in peer industries have gone global – Learnings for Indian food processors
1230 hrs –1330 hrs Panel Discussion - l	Proposed Discussion Points: • Success stories of Indian brands in pharma, leather, apparel & textiles, and handicrafts that have crafted a successful global brand narrative • Cautionary tales of Indian brands – Why they went from boom to bust • Dealing with the unknown – Venturing into international markets & wooing a non-Indian audience • Challenging yourself – First-person leadership accounts of adaptability, resilience and out-of-the-box thinking • Grappling with adversity – Managing expectations in new markets & handling unfavourable outcomes with poise • What family-led, food processors can learn from successful Indian cross-border forays

Proposed Topic II: Road ahead for equipment modernization of Indian snack manufacturers’ operations
13:30 hrs – 14:30 hrs. Panel Discussion - lI	Proposed Discussion Points: • A look at India’s fried savoury market revolution • How HoReCa, QSR, coffee chains, bakeries are supporting growth of snack & RTE industries • Industry drivers impacting adoption of modern processing technologies in snacks manufacturing • Adoption of intelligent & continuous systems to minimize energy consumption and prepare healthier snack options • Future of continuous frying systems in plant operations – Look at key technological advancements • Role of smart processing technologies in optimizing productivity, increasing energy efficiency, prioritising sustainability, maintaining safety, quality, & compliance standards, and boosting profitability • Examining successful deployments in Indian settings • Best Practices in future-ready snack factories

Proposed Topic III: Meeting global standards in Indian MSME food processor operations – Where we stand & where we need to go
14:30 hrs – 15:30 hrs. Panel Discussion - lII	Proposed Discussion Points: • Spotlight on food hygiene, material & engineering standards in India – Look at regulatory bodies shaping the future of food in India • Scale & scope of Good Manufacturing Practices for plant operations • Examining standards from product point of entry till point of exit from facility • Discussing Indian food processor pain points impeding GMP adoption • Challenges impacting adoption & development of standards in Indian food processing equipment sector • Future of standards for food equipment manufacturers – Pivoting towards strict safety, IoT-driven traceability, & sustainability • Market drivers shaping adoption of robust global standards amongst equipment manufacturers

15:30 hrs – 15:45 hrs	Networking Break

Proposed Topic IV: Addressing the bugbear of working capital financing in the SME sector
15:45 hrs – 16:45 hrs:. Panel Discussion - lV	Proposed Discussion Points: • Understanding nature of SME food processors: Highly unorganised, family-run & limited by challenges in financial awareness • SME pain points – Raising capital to cover raw material, labour, & energy costs and investment in equipment, technology, and R&D • Addressing access to credit concerns – Stringent lending criteria of banks and sluggish & burdensome loan-approval processes • Role of fintech companies – Providing digital lending platforms & smart supply chain finance solutions • Rise of DTC startups & role of VC funding • Government initiatives & schemes to promote SME sector • Policy suggestions to improve affordability & accessibility of credit facilities • Roadmap to augment & improve credit facilities for SME sector

Proposed Topic V: Debate – Is the time ripe for Indian food processors to adopt smart manufacturing technologies or is it currently a case of a bridge too far?
16:45 hrs – 17:45 hrs: Panel Discussion - V	Motion – On the one hand, India is well placed to emerge as a leader in technology-driven food innovation. Integration of technology across agriculture, manufacturing, retail, & distribution promises to catalyse growth for the food processing sector. There exists great scope for improvement in both plant and in-transit operations, helping processors optimise production processes & supply chains. Looking ahead, technology deployment in plant operations will allow SMEs to meet international standards, thereby positioning India as a reliable global supplier. Furthermore, the rise of the climate-friendly, eco-conscious, consumer bodes well for adoption of technologies that prioritise energy efficiency, water management, carbon footprint abatement, & waste reduction. On the flip side, the Indian unorganized & unregistered food processing sector represents ~98% of existing food processing units. Small in scale, nearly 66% of these units operate in rural areas & ~80% are family-owned operations. The typical processor faces a daily reality where arrangement of working capital is a more pressing concern. With new technologies requiring substantial upfront investments, on-demand training & talent development, aside from absence of strong safeguards for data privacy & security and cultural resistance to change, the time is currently not favourable for Indian processors to mainstream adoption of technology tools in the farm to fork experience. For the Motion: The Indian SME food processor is not prepared yet to manage technology integration into manual & traditional day-to-day plant operations Against the Motion: The Indian SME food processor stands to benefit immeasurably from the deployment of technology in plant, productivity, process & product passage operations

Day II: 29th October 2026

10:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs

Proposed Topic VI: Trends shaping the future of baking operations in India
10:00 hrs – 11:00 hrs: Panel Discussion - VI	Proposed Discussion Points: • Impact assessment of clean label, high protein, reduced sugar & functional bakery ware sectors on plant operations • How current production realities are shaping adoption of automation & digitalization in bakery operations – Managing tight labour markets, product complexity & rising inputs costs • Why sustainability imperatives are driving bakery operations to prioritise energy efficiency, water management, zero-waste measures, and improved transparency • Role of innovation in product development & smart manufacturing operations • How automation & process optimisation are neutralising material, labour, & energy costs with focus on manufacturing excellence • Examining use-case illustrations in AI & IoT integration, automation & robotics, sustainability & energy efficiency, and blockchain • Global Best Practices of Smart Bakery operations

Proposed Topic VII: Role of innovation in sparking growth of Indian food processing industry
11:00 hrs – 12:00 hrs: Panel Discussion - VII	Proposed Discussion Points: • Decoding the typical Indian SME food processor – How the family-led business environment operates & prioritises non-essential spends • Impact potential of cutting-edge predictive technologies in improving plant operations & in-transit experiences • Challenges facing cash-strapped processors in integrating technology – Initial seed cost, payback duration, and market acceptance • Understanding implementation bottlenecks in processor operations – Lack of skilled manpower, cybersecurity risks, and compatibility of legacy equipment with new-age technologies • Real-world advantages of technology adoption in processor operations – Food safety, quality & hygiene management; Production Process & Supply chain optimisation; waste reduction • Industry use-cases of data science, sensor, simulation, and geospatial technologies in Indian SME operations Policy enablers as drivers for adoption of advanced technologies • Best Practices in Indian context – Leadership narratives on early-adoption use-cases & successful integration illustrations

Proposed Topic VIII: Envisioning the future of energy conservation in Indian food processing operations
12:00 hrs – 13:00 hrs: Panel Discussion - VIII	Proposed Discussion Points: • Demand analysis for HVACR in food processing operations – Examining the coming 10-year horizon • SME sentiment on impact of innovation in HVACR solutions over coming decade • How greater thrust on food preservation, safety, quality, hygiene, handling & movement is driving innovation in thermal processing equipment, cold storage & industrial refrigeration • Assessing economic, energy & environmental impact of HVACR operations in food processing industry in decade ahead • Technology trends & innovations in HVACR industry • Promise for alternative energy technology adoption in food processor operations • Role of tightening food safety regulatory compliance, audits, & EPR guidelines on energy management in processor operations • Glimpsing Indian & international energy conservation Best Practices in processor operations • Role of government subsidies & grants to drive long-term sustainability & net-zero target realization.

13:00 hrs – 14:00 hrs	Networking Break

Proposed Topic IX: Where is the Indian F&V processing equipment market headed over the next decade?
14:00 hrs – 15:00 hrs: Panel Discussion - IX	Proposed Discussion Points: • Demand drivers for F&V processing equipment market in India • Processing-as-a-Service – Rental of modular & mobile units to access process technology minus heavy upfront investment • Role of automation, freeze drying, & advanced preservation technologies in supporting shelf stability for domestic consumption & export growth • Prioritising export competitiveness – Competitive edge derived from compliance-driven technology adoption & export-oriented processing • How smart processing technologies are shaping the future of breeding, growing, distributing & marketing fresh produce • Market opportunities for specialized equipment for niche product categories • Government-backed infrastructure expansion & incentive schemes • Case studies of successful technology deployments in F&V processing operations • Global Best Practices sharing

Proposed Topic X: Material handling in food processing - A role beyond logistics
15:00 hrs – 16:00 hrs: Panel Discussion - X	Proposed Discussion Points: • What material handling means in food processing – Product handling from moment of entry into facility to time of exit from facility • What it means to create a well-designed material handling system – Spotlight on product safety & hygiene, quality, efficiency, and unit economics • Material handling in modern food plants – Analysing traditional-vs-automated, data-driven systems • Choosing the right material handling equipment – Beyond technical specifications & measuring dimensions • Role of product type, volume & speed, facility layout, sanitation needs, & modularity in choosing the right tools, boxes & machines • Challenges facing modern food processors – Wet & cold conditions; Fragile item handling; Allergen-sensitive product management; Hygiene inspections; Statutory compliances; and Workforce modernization • Future of material handling – No longer movement of product but securing strategic brand advantage

Proposed Topic XI: Debate - Is the growth of the clean label industry mirrored by the rise in the number of natural & organic ingredient manufacturers or is it a case of smart positioning
16:00 hrs – 17:00 hrs: Panel Discussion - XI	Motion – The future is promising for Indian ingredient suppliers who embrace clean label principles. A 2023 NielsenIQ study found that 64% of Indian consumers actively seek clean-label food. Moreover, the clean-label ingredients market is projected to grow at over 9% annually through 2029, marking the shift towards healthy living unmistakable. Additionally, online grocery platforms reported a 35% rise in organic and natural food sales between 2023 and 2024. However, as buyers become more skeptical of traditional processed foods, there has risen a debate over what is ‘clean’, ‘natural’, and ‘organic’. With nutritional positioning becoming just as important as flavour or price, some argue that manufacturers & brand owners are walking a tight rope between technical compliance & consumer perception. In the wake of tightening FSSAI regulations & health-oriented consumer sentiment, the question arises whether we are genuinely witnessing a supplier-led revolution towards organic, natural & plant-based manufacturing or are we victims of specious brand positioning. The debate echoes a wider tension within the global food industry where processors market products through the lens of transparency while using terms defined loosely in regulation. This leads to situations where technically accurate claims can be deemed misleading if they craft the wrong impression in consumer minds. This begs the question, “are these products a case of old wine in new bottle?” For the Motion Statement: The rise in number of clean label manufacturers is more a case of smart product marketing as opposed to product innovation Against the Motion Statement: The supplier-led clean label revolution is thriving with innovation in clean, natural, & organic food and ingredient manufacturing

Speaker Profiles

Directorates of food regulatory and enforcement agencies

Chairpersons from food safety, quality and hygiene audit authorities

Administrators from food training, compliance, skills and innovation institutes

Departmental leads from food testing and calibration laboratories

Leaders of the food industry

Heads of Manufacturing Excellence; Facility, Maintenance and Plant Operations

Functional leaders in Safety and Hygiene; QA-QC

Chiefs of Supply Chain and Logistics

Sustainability, EHS and ESG directors

Leaders in Food Innovation, Food R&D and Food Technology

Corporate Chiefs of Engineering and Material Sciences

Public Policy and Government & Industry Relations Directors; Company Secretaries

Heads of Business from food processing, air-conditioning and refrigeration, and material handling equipment manufacturers

CTOs and Digital Transformation and Data Science teams

F&B D2C founders

Leaders from banking, financial services, lending institutions and fintech

Founders in automation, robotics, AI, blockchain, IoT, AR-VR, data analytics and geospatial technology

Certification and Standards Heads (Food Business)

Coming Soon....

Session Topics

DAY 1 - Key Discussion Topics

How homegrown giants in peer industries have gone global – Learnings for Indian food processors

To discuss how leading Indian brands in food and consumer industries expanded abroad, highlighting both their global success stories and cautionary tales. The session shares first-hand leadership insights on winning over international consumers and overcoming market challenges.

Road ahead for equipment modernization in Indian snack manufacturers’ operations

To discuss how India’s fried savory revolution and the boom in QSR, coffee chains and bakeries are driving the need for equipment modernization. The session will look at the future of snack processing technologies and how smart snack factories can improve productivity, enhance yields, protect margins and minimize waste.

Meeting global standards in Indian MSME food processor operations – Where we stand and where we need to go

To discuss where Indian food MSMEs stand today with regard to hygiene, material and engineering regulations, and how a focus on standards supports the adoption of Good Manufacturing Practices. Looking at plant operations from the time a product enters to the moment it exits the facility, the session examines challenges affecting the adoption and development of standards, as well as the market drivers encouraging the mainstreaming of robust standards in plant operations.

Addressing the bugbear of working capital financing in the SME sector

To discuss the pain points the typical SME food processor contends with. Beset by capital challenges, insufficient in-house financial awareness and strict lending regulations, SMEs face an uphill battle in making ends meet. The session looks at the role of conventional lenders and the access issues confronting SME processors. The discussion explores how digital lending platforms offer a viable alternative to cash-strapped family-run businesses, as well as the important role that VCs play in ensuring that a robust D2C ecosystem exists to support them. Importantly, the session examines the role of policy in promoting the SME sector.

Debate – Is the time ripe for Indian food processors to adopt smart manufacturing technologies, or is it currently a bridge too far?

While the scope for technology to improve manufacturing competitiveness in SME operations is undeniable, the challenge is that promoter- and family-driven food units often have to contend with more immediate issues such as access to and availability of working capital. This debate poses the question of whether the integration of technology in day-to-day SME operations will boost productivity or whether it is a step too soon for operators grappling with operating expenses.

DAY 2 - Key Discussion Topics

Trends shaping the future of baking operations in India

This session studies the key market drivers reshaping the bakery goods market and how clean eating, rising product complexity and tighter labour markets are driving the adoption of automation and digitalisation solutions. Addressing smart manufacturing operations through the lens of sustainability, transparency, quality, hygiene, handling and movement, the discussion explores smart bakery best practices in India and abroad.

Role of innovation in sparking the growth of the Indian food processing industry

The session defines the prototypical SME processor, examining the potential for technology deployment in operations and product movement. Insightful first-person accounts come from SME leaders at different phases of their technology-adoption journeys, with inputs on spend behaviour, challenges faced in technology integration and operational bottlenecks encountered. The session reveals the advantages that accrue to operators both in-plant and in-transit, supported by case studies of successful deployments in Indian contexts.

Envisioning the future of energy conservation in Indian food processing operations.

This session looks at demand factors — both HVACR consumption needs in the food processing industry as well as market drivers — that are spurring innovation in thermal processing equipment design, cold storage and industrial refrigeration. Discussing the impact assessment of HVACR operations, the session examines the changing face of technology, with a focus on alternative energy adoption. It also explores energy management best practices and the role of policy as an enabler in driving industry net-zero initiatives.

Where is the Indian F&V processing equipment market headed over the next decade?

Time- and temperature-sensitive goods such as fresh produce demand specialised care both in-plant and in-transit. This session addresses access to and availability of on-demand processing technology solutions for cash-strapped SME operators. Focusing on export competitiveness, the discussion looks at shelf stability and post-harvest losses through the prism of smart preservation and intelligent technologies. Raising the need for compliance-driven equipment design and technology adoption to boost manufacturing excellence in SME operations, the session includes leadership accounts and use-case illustrations of process deployments in Indian contexts and global best practices.

Material handling in food processing – A role beyond logistics.

To discuss how material handling in food processing operations has evolved from cargo movement to the design of product handling from entry to exit within a facility. Viewed through the lens of quality, safety, hygiene and efficiency, material handling today offers food processors a strategic advantage. The session addresses the challenges faced by modern processors and how automated, data-driven systems are enabling a more ergonomic approach to material handling solution design.

Debate – Is the growth of the clean-label industry mirrored by a rise in the number of natural and organic ingredient manufacturers, or is it a case of smart positioning?

Today’s consumer is demanding: educated, aware, conscious and careful about what they consume. With clean living the new buzzword, there is much promise in the rise of manufacturers who can marry taste with health. This debate poses the question of whether this market opportunity has seen a proportionate rise in natural and organic manufacturers, or whether perception has moved faster than reality. Join us as we discuss what is actually taking place when the race to win consumer favour meets stringent regulation.

Key Buyer Profiles

Bakery wares

Cereal and cereal products

Confectionery

Eggs and egg products

Fats and oils, and fat emulsions

Fish and fish products

Foodstuffs (nutritional uses)

Fresh and processed fruits

Fresh and processed vegetables

Meat and meat products (including poultry)

Ready-to-eat savouries

Salts, spices, soups, sauces, salads and protein products

Substances added to food (additives, enzymes, flavourings, nutrients and their applications)

Sweeteners

Core Focus Areas

The conference agenda is meticulously curated to address manufacturing competitiveness in Indian food processing plant operations. It will cover:

Market drivers sparking the manufacturing excellence revolution in processor operations

The way ahead for food processors in charting an operational roadmap to adopt quality, safety and hygiene standards

Mainstreaming the adoption of hygienic, quality-compliant and safety-defined equipment design and compatibility to spur manufacturing competitiveness in processor units.

Best practices in future-ready snack factories and next-generation smart bakeries

The role of automation and robotics in human interfaces to safeguard against infection and contamination risk, while better deploying the workforce for productivity gains

How predictive, sensor, simulation, geospatial and drone technologies enhance in-plant productivity and optimise in-transit movement

How big data and analytics minimise downtime and idling, optimise inventory management, enable real-time redressal of operational mishaps, improve material handling and support safer transport

Adoption of food hygiene, material and engineering standards in operations

Reconciliation of supplier standards with international regulatory benchmarks to ensure export competitiveness and resilience

The role of data and innovation in water stewardship and waste minimisation

Scope for efficiency drives in energy conservation across food preservation, safety, quality, hygiene, handling and movement processes

Areas of improvement in documentation and labelling to ensure the export competitiveness of Indian products

Profood India 2026 Conference National Advisory Committee (NAC)

Vision

To position India as a food processing industry of international repute & global renown by prioritising manufacturing competitiveness & export readiness.

Mission

Sparking growth of in-plant & in-transit processor operations via knowledge-sharing of adopter Best Practices, and solutions available in processing equipment design, technology tool & data science adoption, energy conservation, material handling design, sustainability, and standard & certification compliance.

About the ProFood India 2026 Conference National Advisory Committee

To pursue the stated Vision, and achieve the Mission Statement, we at Messe Muenchen India (MMI) are constituting the ProFood India 2026 National Advisory Committee (NAC). This newly constituted leadership group will serve as an elite, expert brain trust spanning large-scale & SME food processors, innovators, HVACR & processing equipment manufacturers, material handlers, standards & certification leaders, administrators, and R&D heads.