ISM and ProSweets Event will be significant, hosted in Cologne between the 23rd to 25th of April, have an exceptional line-up of programmes, preparation is in full-swing and approximate attendance of 1,200 exhibitors from 72 countries.
The key to this year's ISM and ProSweets is ‘Encourage. Enable. Excite!’. The event will address specific industry challenges in various sections, including climate, raw materials, energy, supply chains, logistics, health and digitalisation, and the related opportunities for the industry.
“At ISM, we can jointly search for efficient solutions and discuss new opportunities for various 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
ISM’s very own Lab5 will be a space for networking, offering ‘feel good’ vibes, sweet surprises, and relaxing music to have a soothing effect on attendees away from the hustle and bustle of the trade fair.
There are several sections within the trade fair, including the Expert Stage, the Start-Up area, Finest Creations (hand-crafted), New Product Showcase, a Halal Market, and more.
The Expert Stage of ISM and ProSweets Cologne is a special edition this year and will be a central point of contact for the latest sweets and snacks industry developments. Lectures and discussion panels occur here daily, with different topics dissected on different days.
Strategies day will present the global and European snack industry's leading trends, opportunities, and challenges. Discussions regarding ideas and solutions to current challenges will occur in the Expert Stage.
Marilyn Repp, deputy managing director of HDE, will show best-practice examples from the retail sector in her presentation "Metaverse and Web3".
Another day will revolve around new technologies. Topics of sustainability, supply chain transparency, safety and energy supply will underpin this.
In addition, there will be daily guided tours under the heading ‘Raw Materials for the Sensory Wow Effect'.
At the end of the fair, a happy hour awaits visitors from 6 pm. as part of the supplier fair. The trade fair facilitates the close integration of space and content.
“Exhibitors and visitors will find the optimal platform for promoting industry-oriented dialogue and professional exchange here. 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," explained Guido Hentschke, Director ProSweets Cologne.
In addition, ISM Knowledge Partner Innova Market Insights will hold daily trend presentations as part of the Expert Stage. Euromonitor, a long-standing partner of ISM, will also present the impact of inflation on the European confectionery and snacks market.
In the Start-Up Area, sponsored by go2market (an industry market research tool) will have companies that have not existed for more than five years exhibiting products and concepts under one roof at ISM.
For a second time, the ‘Finest Creations, Hand-crafted’ section will focus on small businesses with sweets and snacks. This exhibition section unites craft businesses, whose visitor target group comprises confectioners, cake shops and specialised sweet shops.
The New Product Showcase has established itself at ISM as an appealing attraction and critical location for innovations. An independent jury of experts from the industry, trade and field of science selects top innovations. The trade visitors can examine the new products of 2023, where the three most innovative products of ISM 2023, distinguished during the ISM Night, will be presented here.
Finally, the Halal Market will be a segment of the trade fair dedicated to Halal confectionery and snacks.
Two significant awards are to be won, including the Consumer Award for the most popular product determined by consumer vote through all submitted for the New Product Showcase and the ISM award for outstanding services to the sweets and snacks industry.
