Patrick Poirrier gains ISM Award at 50th anniversary event
Patrick Poirrier, CEO of French confectionery company Cemoi, has been named as the ISM Award winner, as the event celebrates its 50th anniversary.
As event organisers noted, the accolade pays tribute to exceptional services to the sweets and snacks industry.
Confectionery Production attended a special presentation evening event for the award last Sunday, which has honoured the sector’s most renowned leaders. The celebration also included an exploration of the history of ISM, charting its evolution over the past five decades.
Patrick Poirrier (pictured centre) leads Cemoi in the third generation, and is the first French national to gain the ISM award. The company founded in 1814 is now rated as the country’s leading chocolate manufacturer, and considered to be the guardian of French chocolate production.
Today, Cemoi carries out France’s chocolate tradition to 50 international countries and the corporate philosophy is to primarily implement sustainable chocolate, which is also reflected by the “Transparence Cacao” programme.
“I am delighted at winning this prize and am particularly proud of the entire Cemoi team, because without their services I wouldn’t be standing here today. I am also proud of the cocoa farmers, who are partners of our “Transparence Cacao” programme and thus contribute towards the success of the French chocolate manufacturer,” explained Poirrier.
As the business explained, it has been a partner for the sustainable development for over 20 years, taking a decisive step to introduce its “Transparence Cacao” scheme in 2015.
From the farmer through to the consumer, the company asserts itself for the provision of quality chocolate, which is based on the strict criteria: the traceability of the cocoa, aromatic quality, quality of life for the farmer and environmental protection.
In this way, Cemoi works in close contact with the producers directly on-site in order to accompany them with the sustainable production in all areas, where the company sources its deliveries from. Targeted action plans are implemented in partnership with local cooperatives in order to receive the best cocoa under the best conditions, both in terms of the human aspects, where the living conditions of the local communities are improved as well as in ecological terms, particularly by combatting deforestation.
As the latest excellent proof for its responsible approach, the business introduced its first organic series of chocolate onto the market last April and is working alongside the consumer brand “C’est qui le Patron?” for the production of fair and sustainable chocolate.
ISM New Product Showcase: The top innovations of 2020
Held in hall 2.2, ISM’s New Product Showcase in Hall 2.2. has been a crowd-puller at ISM, the world’s largest trade fair for sweets and snacks, in Cologne, since 2009. This is where the most important new products and innovations can be found at the trade fair.
The level of participation has been very high for many years. In total, 100 exhibitors from 33 nations took part in this year’s New Product Showcase and they filled 120 display windows with their 178 products. This shows how much innovative strength is found in the industry. In addition to the three top innovations, the ISM Packaging Award powered by ProSweets Cologne was also conferred.
As was the case last year, the selection of the top innovations was made by an independent jury of experts from the industry, trade and field of science.
The top three included:
1. Dr. Klaus Karg KG with “Dr. Karg‘s Bio Lentil Snacks“ from Germany
2. Confiserie Vandenbulcke with “Petit Melo®” from Belgium
3. Coppenrath Feingebäck GmbH with “Licorice Coooky“ from Germany
First place went to Dr. Karg’s Bio Lentil Snacks, a healthy nutritious snack based on the plant-based protein of lentils. The lentil snack is ovenbaked and comes in the flavours Sweet Fire that is a combination between mild pepper and hot chilli, Toasted Pita with a touch of aromatic black cumin and Wild Oriental comprising of coconut and mild curry.
