ISM behind the scenes: 2023 preparations already progressing strongly
ISM 2023 is being pushed back to April 2023 amid major market challenges. Pic: Koelnmesse
The organisers behind Germany’s global ISM confectionery event have reported a strong initial response to its revised dates for its 2023 show, set for next April, writes Neill Barston.
As the Koelnmesse team acknowledged, major challenges faced by the sector in terms of fast-rising ingredients and materials prices continue to impact on industry, leading to a number of participating businesses calling for next year’s event to be delayed from its traditional January positioning.
The revised, shortened dates of 23-25 April have now been put forward, with ProSweets set to once again be staged alongside the key show in Cologne – despite this being just several weeks before the planned Interpack 2023, which will offer a major launchpad for many companies operating across the sector, including within confectionery, snacks and bakery markets.
According to Koelnemesse, it has already received applications from 56 countries and all continents as well as a current 40 percent increase in space booked compared to last year’s event.
Notably, more than 30 pavilions have already confirmed their participation, including applications from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the USA. Also groups from the People’s Republic of China, Latvia, Lithuania and Taiwan, which didn’t take part in 2022, are also signed up to participate.
From Germany companies such as Dietrich Borggreve, Brandt, Cavendish & Harvey, Coppenrath Feingebäck, Genuport, Halloren, hitschler, Katjes, Dr. Klaus Karg, Klett Schokolade, Herbert Kluth, Krüger, Kuchenmeister, Niederegger, Georg Parlasca, Pertzborn, Piasten, Riegelein, Rübezahl, Schluckwerder, Conrad Schulte, Seitenbacher, Chr. Storz, Trolli, WAWI, Wicklein, Windel or Zentis have registered.
As usual, ISM is also displaying a strong international alignment. The companies that have already confirmed their participation include Baronie (Belgien), Canel’s (Mexico), Cloetta Holland (the Netherlands), Colombina (Colombia), Dan Cake (Denmark), Elvan (Turkey), Fazer (Finland), Hamlet (Belgium), Hellema – Hallum (the Netherlands), ICAM (Italy), Kervan (Turkey), Loacker (Italy), Luker (Colombia), Kambly (Switzerland), Manner (Austria), Millano (Poland), Natra (Spain), Nestlé Italiana (Italy), Peccin (Brazil), Roshen (Ukraine), Royal Fassin (the Netherlands), Sölen (Turkey), Toms (Denmark), Valor (Spain), Vidal (Spain) as well as Wawel (Poland).
Alongside individual stand areas, the trade fair also offers special zones for start-ups or newcomers and theme-oriented areas such as Trend Snacks or the specialised trade section “Finest Creations – hand-crafted”. The latter celebrated its debut in 2022 and attracted a high level of interest.
Focus on the themes and challenges of the industry
The challenges in the sections climate, raw materials, energy, supply chains, logistics, health and digitalisation are the key themes of the supporting programme of ISM 2023. As an international industry meeting point, in addition to being the central discussion platform, the trade fair of the sweets and snacks industry also offers a display window for solutions and new product ideas.
In the course of this discussion, resilience and a sustainable, resource-saving production of sweets and snacks is called for more than ever. At the coming edition, beside the presentation of products, the emphasis will above all lie on the contents and themes of the industry. The personal exchange plays a significant role here, which we are dedicating new event and networking formats to,” explained Sabine Schommer, Director ISM.
The largest network for the sweets and snacks industry worldwide, which comprises of ISM in Cologne and ISM Japan in Tokyo together with ISM Middle East in Dubai, offers additional themes from the international markets, which are integrated into the event programme of ISM.
Further to ISM, Koelnmesse has staged a number of fairs across the food and drink sector, with Anuga HORIZON set to take place in Cologne will mark the launch of an additional event format dedicated to food industry innovations.
In addition to the events at its Cologne headquarters, the organisation also stages numerous food trade fairs with different sector-specific areas of focus and content in further key markets across the world, including Brazil, China, India, Japan, Columbia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
These global activities enable Koelnmesse to offer its customers bespoke events and leading regional trade fairs in a variety of markets, thus creating the foundation for sustainable international business. Koelnmesse is also ideally positioned in the field of food technology with its leading international trade fairs Anuga FoodTec and ProSweets Cologne and its global network of satellite events. Further information: https://www.ism-cologne.com
