Canned organic mountain trout, a meat substitute made from carob and rice flour, a green beer brewed with olives, frozen duckweed, a yoghurt substitute made from spelled, freeze-dried kimchi or an imitation of cotton candy without sugar thanks to the fiber of chicory… These are some examples of the menu of innovations concocted by the International Food Show (SIAL), which was to take place in Paris-Nord-Villepinte , from Saturday 15 to Wednesday 19 October.
This high mass of the agri-food industry, organized every two years, aims to enlighten professionals on new consumer trends and new products developed in its kitchens.
“The highlight this year is the explosion of the plant supply”analyzes Nicolas Trentesaux, CEO of SIAL, who is pleased that this global event has regained its 2018 size, after the interruption linked to the Covid-19 crisis and the cancellation of the 2020 edition. “ We had the years of gluten-free, then those of organic and, this time, a quarter of the nearly two thousand innovations presented are related to a vegetable substitute for meat but also for dairy products or fish. »adds Mr. Trentesaux.
Innovations that are sometimes the result of pioneers, such as the Breton company Olga, formerly Triballat Noyal, which has made a name for itself with its Sojasun and Vrai brands, and its variations of fresh desserts, drinks or soy-based cakes . SIAL has chosen to showcase Soon, its new range of products based on vegetable ingredients such as spelt or hemp, alternatives to dairy products.
“The consumer wants the real thing”
But it is also the favorite ground of many young shoots, qualified as “food tech”, which have chosen to exhibit their vegan offers. Like La Vie, HappyVore, Les Nouveaux Affineurs, Kokiriki, Onami Foods or Hari & Co, to mention a few French players. “These products combine the ecological and ethical transition side, and the health dimension for consumers. “, underlines Xavier Terlet, founder of the firm ProtéinesXTC.
Investors are doubling their appetite for these companies. Thus, HappyVore and La Vie raised respectively 35 million and 25 million euros in 2022, in order to develop imitation luggets or imitation lardons. The Israeli company Redefine Meat, for its part, raised financing of 170 million dollars (175 million euros approximately) for its vegetable steaks. Even if, after a thunderous IPO, the Californian firm Beyond Meat, specialist in vegetable burgers, a model time to follow, is going through a zone of strong turbulence.
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