GERMANY | As part of Sweet Week 2025, ISM and ProSweets Cologne, the only supplier fair specialising in sweets and snacks, will bring the industry's entire value chain together in the Cologne exhibition halls.
This trade fair duo has been the most significant industry get-together in the world. Interactive event and content formats will involve the various phases of the value chain in the dialogue in a targeted manner. The close interlinking between the preliminary stage, the industry and the trade has created synergies that extend far beyond the trade fair and lend the industry valuable impetus.
Thirty-three country pavilions and specialised exhibition sections will demonstrate the international sweets and snacks industry's impressive diversity and innovative power. The trade fair has attracted global market leaders and medium-sized and smaller companies, guaranteeing a diversified spectrum of offers.
This diversity ranges from the classic categories of sweets and snacks to innovative product segments that pick up on current trends like sustainability, healthy snacks, functional snacks and to-go snacks.
The high frequency of visitors has underlined the significance of ISM as an essential industry event and its role as the industry's leading international trade fair. All important national and international trading companies have confirmed their participation.
The top buyers already registered include, among others, Aeon, Bartels-Langness, Carrefour, Colruyt Group, Coop, Costco, Delhaize, Edeka, Globus, Jumbo Supermarkten, Mercadona, Metro, Migros, Rewe Group, S Group, Salling Group, Schwarz Group, SPAR International, Walmart and many more.
The positive development of ISM has reflected the general upward economic trend in the international sweets and snacks market. According to the current market data of ISM's knowledge partner, Innova Market Insights, global chocolate sales will grow annually by two percent until 2027.
The value of the overall sweets market is forecast to have an annual growth rate (CAGR) of three percent from 2023 to 2025. New sweets products worldwide recorded a yearly growth rate of four percent between 2020 and 2024.
According to current predictions by ISM's knowledge partner, Euromonitor International, the global snack market will reach a US Dollars 680 billion turnover in 2024. North America headed the global snack turnover rankings in 2023, followed by the Asian Pacific region and Western Europe.
ISM 2025 will present many products that reflect the consumers' wishes for fast, practical and at the same time healthy alternatives. The "snackification" trend, i.e. the increased shift from meals to snacks, has significantly contributed to the market's constant growth.
The Lab5 by ISM has established itself as the creative section of ISM over the past two years. Comprising many interactive sections and international players, Lab5 by ISM has offered a comprehensive insight into the latest developments and trends.
Thanks to Lab5 by ISM's spatial and thematic proximity to the Raw Materials and Ingredients and Packaging sections, this Sweet Week will offer ideal conditions for effective networking between sweets and snack manufacturers and suppliers of raw materials and ingredients, packaging, machines, and plants.
The Trend Snacks Area, which presents the growing variety of modern snacks, including many that fall under the sanctification trend, also comprises Lab5 by ISM. Over 40 exhibitors from 16 countries will impressively demonstrate in a space spanning over 1,000 square metres how snacks can satisfy consumers' changing demands, whether in terms of sustainability, naturalness, or practical, to-go solutions.
The "Finest Creations – hand-crafted" specialised trade section that concentrates exclusively on the small volume business with hand-crafted sweets and snacks is also located in Lab5 by ISM. The latest innovations in the sweets and snacks industry will be presented in the "New Product Showcase" special exhibition.
ISM and ProSweets Cologne will provide targeted answers to the most urgent industry issues through an intense and top-class event and content programme.
The Expert Stage on Central Boulevard will concentrate on the industry's current challenges and opportunities, focusing on trends, innovations, and sustainability. Knowledge partners Innova Market Insights and Euromonitor International will support the programme.
At the Congress Centre East, long-standing ISM partners, such as the Sustainable Cocoa Forum (GISCO) and the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SIWSSCO), will share in-depth insights into the topic "A living income in the cocoa sector.”
The trade fair experience will become an interactive highlight on the Talks and Tasting Stage. Inspiring lectures, activating influencer tastings, captivating live podcasts like those of the Naschkatzen, and creating workshops that encourage visitors to participate will ensure a lively and dynamic atmosphere.
Other highlights of ISM 2025 include the presentation of the famous ISM Award and the ISM Consumer Award.
Visitors can look forward to a diversified and inspiring trade fair experience that will present all facets of the sweets and snacks industry from the 2nd to the 5th of February 2025.
