Drinktec is set to welcome more than 1,000 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors to Munich this month: all keen to hear about the latest technology in beverage processing, packaging, raw materials, ingredients and much more.
And it’s also a meeting point for the industry: as experts discuss the latest developments in plant safety, process technology, cleaning and filling technology and packaging and palletizing tech.
But it’s also a place for looking forward. How will AI reshape beverage manufacturing? How can brands help build a circular economy? How will sustainability reshape how we think about operations?
With 12 halls covering the entire spectrum of the beverage and liquid food industry, where to start? Markus Kosak, director of the Drinktec cluster, sits down with BeverageDaily to reveal what to expect from the 2025 edition.
BD: What’s changed since the last Drinktec event in 2022?
MK: What’s changed? The world changed!
Everyone can feel that. Everyone was part of the pandemic and that changed a lot. It changed the behavior of consumers, the drinks they’re consuming... and then the machinery suppliers needed to change their thinking too.
People are now seeking a beverage with purpose. It’s not: ‘I’m thirsty, I need a water’. It’s ‘I want something that makes me feel better, contributes to my wellbeing, my energy, etc.’
There are now sustainable goals across the world and circularity is important for producers and suppliers. Everyone needs to be assured they are more sustainable than before.
Then there’s AI! How can it optimize processes? What do we do with all the data we collected over the last couple of years? Digital twins weren’t a thing in the past... then during the pandemic, we learned how to do maintenance even when we couldn’t travel.
So we’re looking at consumer behavior, sustainability and those data-driven tools that have changed the world in the last three years.
And those are the top topics all over the world. The ranking might change a bit from market to market - maybe the number one and number two switch from market to market - but they’re always the topics driving the industry.
BD: What are the top trends we’ll see at Drinktec this year?
MK: Our top themes are: circularity and resource management; Data2Value; lifestyle and health.
The top 3 themes
‘Circularity & Resource Management’: Hear from experts on topics such as water reuse, wastewater treatment, global requirements for water conservation and their implementation. Additional focal points include energy recovery, the use of by-products from production processes, and more efficient packaging material usage. The implementation of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will also be reflected in the lecture program.
‘Data2Value’: This topic focuses on process transparency and the integration of machine learning and AI-based applications: ranging from flavor prediction models to predictive maintenance. These approaches also apply to cleaning process design: AI combined with machine learning enables the detection of contamination levels in containers and triggers self-adjusting cleaning cycles accordingly.
‘Lifestyle & Health’: This is a springboard for flavour solutions for low- or no-alcohol beers, alcohol-free wines, and fermented beverages: empowering manufacturers to tap into this growing segment with optimized recipes. Functional drinks enriched with minerals, vitamins, amino acids, fibre, or probiotics are expected to gain market share. The addition of plant-based proteins, some derived from brewing by-products, will also become increasingly important.
Within that, we have a variety of topics. I’ve been traveling with the Drinktec roadshow, and looking at trends in local markets. When you’re in Europe, alcohol-free beer has a very prosperous future. In Jakarta, they’re keen on beer with 0.0 alcohol. In Asia, we’re talking about RTD tea, in India we’re talking about lassi.
When I’m in a different country, I always visit a local supermarket - I want to know what’s in their fridge!
BD: What beverage sectors can we find at the show?
MK: All of them!
Soft drinks, carbonated and non-carbonated, fruit juice, sparking wine, spirits and beer.
We also cover liquid food and edible oils... because for some machines, it doesn’t make a difference if you’re filling certain beverages or oil. It’s the same for the capping technology; and the same when it comes to milk-based beverages.
Find them at Drinktec!
Drinktec prides itself on the amount of working machinery and prototypes you can see and view action on the show floor.
Among the 1118 companies exhibiting at Drinktec 2025 are: Aptar Closures, CO2 Sustain, Signode, ProLeiT, KHS, Krones, Givaudan, BMT, ADM, Sidel, GNT, Cleanova, PET Technologies, Crown, Regal Rexnord, Corvaglia and many, many more...
BD: What’s your top tip for getting the most out of the show?
MK: Make sure you wear comfortable shoes!
We cover 73,000m2 so there’s a lot to see.
Definitely check the exhibitor database before leaving home. But there will also be the innovation guide which shows the world premieres: the details will remain a secret until the first day of the fair.
The Drinktec family
Drinktec takes place once every four years (although this cycle was disrupted by the pandemic). So mark your diary for the other events taking place around the world:
- Brau Beviale - Nuremberg, November 2026
- Eats - Chicago, October 2025
- Drinktec India - Mumbai, November 2025
- China Brew China Beverage - Shanghai, October 2026
And make sure you visit Liquidrome. This is one dedicated area to meet people, network, and get the latest information and studies.
So drinktec isn’t just about the latest technology from exhibitors: we have universities and researchers and energy and inspiration coming from all stakeholders.
And if you want to extend your stay... the show finishes on Friday, and Oktoberfest starts on Saturday!
