GERMANY | ISM, the leading global trade fair for sweets and snacks, will be expanded to include a new format from February 2026 onwards.
The Raw Materials and Ingredients segment of ProSweets Cologne will be launched for the first time as an independent trade fair format called ISM Ingredients.
Under the strong umbrella brand ISM, a platform especially for raw materials, ingredients, and semi-finished products, this new segment will replace the existing ingredients sections of ProSweets Cologne and integrate closely into the innovation sections of ISM in Hall 10.1.
The aim was to maximise the synergies between raw material suppliers and manufacturers in the sweets and snacks industry and create a platform for innovation and sustainable production.
"In the form of ISM Ingredients, we are not only offering the ideal bridge between ISM and ProSweets Cologne to promote innovations along the entire value chain,” said Bastian Mingers, Vice President of Trade Fair Management, Food and Food Technology at Koelnmesse.
“We are also pushing the forward-looking further development of our trade fair formats of the food portfolio forward and additionally satisfying the needs of the exhibiting industry.”
In addition to presenting raw materials, semi-finished products, and functional ingredients, ISM Ingredients will offer a new, innovative congress and event format.
"The discussions with the industry also confirm that the theme of raw materials and ingredients holds huge growth potential. The integration into the brand world of ISM as the leading platform of the sweets and snacks industry is thus a logical step for us so we are even closer to the producers,” said Guido Hentschke, Director ProSweets Cologne and in future of ISM Ingredients.
Parallel to this, ProSweets Cologne will remain an independent trade fair. It will also focus on machines, plants, packaging solutions, food safety, and quality solutions. The new segmentation created a clear focus and strengthened the existing formats.
ISM is the leading global trade fair for sweets and snacks, held annually in Cologne. The brand is also present in the strategically important markets of Koelnmesse through ISM Middle East and ISM Japan.
ProSweets Cologne has been the international supplier fair for the sweets and snacks industry and co-staged annually with ISM at the Cologne fairgrounds.
With the introduction of ISM Ingredients from 2026 onwards, Koelnmesse has pushed further development of the existing portfolio in the food and food technology section to satisfy the needs of the industry optimally.
