Consumer and product trends, innovations, start-up pitches, industry talks and, for the first time, Lab5 by ISM are part of the diverse range of events on site.
The preparations are in full swing: ISM and ProSweets Cologne – Special Edition are jointly opening their doors from 23 to 25 April and are thus bringing the international sweets and snacks industry together again. At present, around 1,200 exhibitors from 72 countries and all continents are awaited.
With this year’s key theme “Encourage. Enable. Excite!”, ISM is addressing the challenges in the sections climate, raw materials, energy, supply chains, logistics, health and digitalisation as well as the related opportunities for the industry. “Thus, at ISM we can jointly search for efficient solutions and discuss new opportunities for a wide range of challenges. In addition, we offer the industry the ideal exchange platform to find out about current developments and trends,” emphasised Sabine Schommer, Director of ISM Cologne.
The new Lab5 by ISM will have a relaxing effect on the hustle and bustle of the trade fair: A location with a diversified design, where the visitors can let themselves be inspired by sweet surprises and delights amid a relaxed atmosphere and nice music.
Lab5 by ISM!
The Lab5 by ISM is the industry’s new “place-to-be”: Located in Hall 5.2, it offers both a feel-good oasis and sufficient room for networking accompanied by relaxing music. The visitors can look forward to a colourful mixture of selected sweets and delights as well as refreshing and hot beverages. The perfect place for a joint toast to an unforgettable trade fair visit.
Expert Stage
The Expert Stage of ISM and ProSweets Cologne – Special Edition is the central point of contact for the latest developments in the sweets and snacks industry. Lectures and discussion panels take place here daily. Furthermore, ideas and solutions to combat the current challenges will be discussed on the Expert Stage. On Sunday, 23 April, the attention is focused on new products like vegetable-based sweets or the consumers’ expectations in sweets as a guideline for product innovations. ISM Monday, 24 April, is dedicated to “new strategies”. Here, the main trends as well as the opportunities and challenges in the global and European snack industry will be presented. Among others, Marilyn Repp, deputy managing director of HDE, will show best-practice examples from the retail sector in her presentation “Metaverse and Web3”.
Tuesday revolves around “new technologies” and, together with ProSweets Cologne – Special Edition, focuses on the topics of sustainability, supply chain transparency, safety and energy supply. In addition, there will be daily “Guided Tours” by the DLG under the heading “Raw materials for the sensory wow effect”. At the end of the fair, a happy hour awaits visitors from 6 p.m. as part of the supplier fair. “The event programme of ProSweets Cologne 2023 – Special Edition also benefits from the close integration with ISM in terms of space and content. Exhibitors as well as visitors will find here the optimal platform for promoting industry-oriented dialogue and professional exchange. Whether packaging, ingredients or innovations in production and technology, this year’s edition offers trade visitors the full spectrum of topics relating to the supplier industry,” explains Guido Hentschke, Director ProSweets Cologne.
In addition, daily trend presentations will be held by ISM Knowledge Partner Innova Market Insights as part of the Expert Stage. Euromonitor, a long-standing partner of ISM, will also present the impact of inflation on the confectionery and snacks market in Europe under the title “Inflation Surge and its Impact on Snacks”.
Further detailed information on all lectures can be found in our event database: Discover the ISM Events
Start-up area
In the Start-up Area, companies that have not existed for more than five years will exhibit their products and concepts under one roof at ISM. The entire Start-up Area is located in the Lab5 by ISM in Hall 5.2. The sponsor of the Start-up Area is go2market, a company with a unique REAL-LIFE market research tool for the consumer goods industry.
New: Specialised trade section “Finest Creations – hand-crafted”
For the second time, there is going to be a specialised trade section entitled “Finest Creations – hand-crafted” that focuses on the small volume business with sweets and snacks. This exhibition section unites craft businesses, whose visitor target group comprises of confectioners, cake shops and specialised sweet shops. The new exhibition section will also be located in Hall 5.2.
New Product Showcase
The New Product Showcase has established itself at ISM as an appealing attraction and as the key location for innovations. The trade visitors can examine the new products of 2023 in the many display windows of the special “New Product Showcase” exhibition in the Hall 5.2. In addition, the three most innovative products of ISM 2023 that were distinguished during the ISM Night will be presented here. The top innovations were selected by an independent jury of experts from the industry, trade and field of science.
Consumer Award
For the first time, the ISM Consumer Award 2023 will be presented on the last day of the fair. The most popular product will be determined from all the products submitted for the New Product Showcase in a consumer vote in cooperation with Food News Germany (only German) on Instagram.
ISM Award
The ISM Award is being conferred for the ninth time this year. The award for outstanding services to the sweets and snacks industry will be presented at the gala evening on 23 April 2023. Luigi Zàini, CEO of the medium-sized Italian sweets company, Luigi Zàini S.p.A., received the award at ISM 2022.
Halal Market
Halal is a forward-looking trend in the German and European retail trade. This year, the international trade fair for confectionery and snacks is once again dedicated to this topic and offers an overview of the global halal confectionery and snack segment at a new position in the passage between Halls 10 and 11 in the Halal Market.
