By Dr. Bernhard Reichenbach, Chefredakteur

At the turn of the year, didn’t you also hope that 2022 would be better than the not exactly uplifting previous years? Fiddlesticks! The Corona virus just won’t go away, supply chains continue to be disrupted, prices keep rising, purchasing power is dwindling, and then, the unspeakable war in Ukraine is unleashed, the effects of which making everything even worse. Despite all this, we should not lose heart and continue to do our best to make the best of the situation. Remember the fable of the two frogs in the milk pot: The one who kicked hard eventually escaped, the one who gave up was lost.

Giving up is certainly not an option for the courageous companies that, in the hope of better times, do not shy away from economic risk and exhibit at trade fairs – trade fairs like Anuga FoodTec, the Cologne supplier fair for the food and beverage industry, which we report on in advance in this issue.

It also took courage to found a company – like Arthur Handtmann – in the post-war years, which were not easy either. Today, Handtmann Maschinenfabrik in Biberach/Germany, which we present this time in our sp portrait, is a leading global manufacturer of vacuum fillers and portioning systems for the food industry.

Food and its ingredients are also the subject of an interesting article by Döhler company. The trend report shows that when it comes to confectionery, baked goods and snacks ingredients, there is a particular demand for ingredients that support health and well-being.