ProSweets set to add new production summit

Die Oberbürgermeisterin Henriette Reker besucht die ISM 2024/ProSweets 2024. Eröffnung und Rundgang.
The organising team behind ProSweets has unveiled key additional elements for the upcoming event in Cologne, including a new production summit.
As Koelnmesse noted, the city will be experience something of a sweets and snacks takeover between 2-5 February when the Sweet Week – the trade fair synergy between ProSweets Cologne and ISM – brings the industry together.
Confectionery Production will once again be a media partner for the event, and the show’s expanded offering for 2025 is aiming to raise its performance even further with extra content, innovation platform and a networking hub. It covers the entire industry’s value chain and brings players from the industry, trade and supplier sector together in one location.
Hall 10.1 is the centre stage of the Sweet Walk, offering plenty of room for new ideas and co=operation: Here, the Lab5 by ISM unites ISM with ProSweets Cologne. This connection is reinforced by the spatial proximity of Hall 10.1 to the theme worlds Packaging Materials and Sweet & Snackable Ingredients, which act as a central interface between supply and the end product.
The Lab5 by ISM offers a platform for the New Product Showcase – a special exhibition for the most innovative new products, start-ups, scale-ups, trend snacks and finest creations. The Lab5 by ISM is enhanced by interactive formats like the “Live Sweets Creation”, where the production of sweets can be experienced up close, as well as the get-together at the GISMO Bar on 4 February, which makes innovation tangible and promotes the exchange in an inspiring atmosphere.
The Sweet Week is presenting new content and event formats on the Expert Stage and the new Sweet Week – Talks & Tasting Stage, which provide solutions to the industry’s most urgent challenges: Sustainability, digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence, a lack in skilled labour and increasing prices for raw materials.
“We would like to particularly accentuate our joint goal of actively pushing the networking between production teams and supplier companies in the scope of the Expert Stage and the Sweet Week – Talks & Tasting Stage, which not only creates a platform for conveying knowledge, but also offers room for a practice-oriented exchange and networking. In this way, we actively contribute towards the sweets and snacks industry remaining fit for the future in a world that is becoming increasingly more digitalised and sustainably-oriented”, Guido Henschke, Director ProSweets Cologne, accentuated.
“The emphasis of ISM and ProSweets Cologne 2025 is on the active dialogue and lending the industry targeted support with today’s most urgent challenges. In the scope of the Sweet Week our diversified programme offers valuable impulses. Through the combination between practical best practices, trailblazing innovations and top-class industry experts, we enable the participants to develop concrete solutions that pave the way into a more sustainable and more efficient future”, said Sabine Schommer, Director ISM.

Sabine Schommer. Pic: ISM
Experts stage
On the Central Boulevard, right next to Hall 10.1, the Expert Stage offers first-class input on urgent industry themes such as sustainability, digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence. The programme will be enriched by the expertise of the knowledge partners, Innova Market Insights and Euromonitor International, and thus creates a well-founded basis for future-looking discussions and practical solutions.
A diversified programme that combines knowledge transfer, innovation and interactive experiences with each other awaits the visitors on the Sweet Week – Talks & Tasting Stage in Hall 10.1. On Sunday, 2 February, from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. Johann Lafer will present the new product called “Piece of Cake” on the stage in the scope of a product presentation with a tasting session. This will be followed by an inspiring talk format with Germany’s most famous TV and star chef on Monday, 3 February, from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., which will offer exciting insights into current trends and their impact on food service cuisine.
In addition to these programme items, the Sweet Week – Talks & Tasting Stage comprises of further highlights that address both industry professionals and interested visitors. The latter can taste the latest products on-site and let themselves be inspired.
Further stage highlights include: Insights into future industry trends, i.e. on themes like AI, Live podcasts with industry insiders like Food Insider, T. Gross
Workshops on sensor technology and trends by the food expert, Hanni Rützler
Pitches by start-ups, hosted by the investor, business angel and founder, Robert Kronekker, there will also be insights into the recycling strategy for the reduction of waste, which opens up sustainable perspectives for the industry.

Hallendurchblick, Halle 10.1. Pic: koelnmesse
Sweet Week Production Summit
The Sweet Week Production Summit, a format that specifically connects production teams with the supply industry of ProSweets Cologne, is taking place for the first time on the Sweet Week – Talks & Tasting Stage at 1:30 p.m. on 3 February.
The focus lies on practical examples of Best Practice and innovative approaches for a cost-efficient and future-proof production, especially through the use of AI tools. Lectures like “Transparency and added value through digital platform services for the sweets and snacks industry” by Tim Hellwig (SweetConnect GmbH), “AI in food production: Intelligent planning for more efficiency and sustainability” by Maximilian Köhler (Optiwiser AI Solution) or the case study “Production planning of the future” by Norbert Weichele (OMMM Operations Management Solutions GmbH) will provide the industry with new impulses.
The three-minute pitch sessions of the supplier companies that will be discussed in depth in a subsequent matchmaking forum in the Networking Area to promote concrete solutions and business relations are especially worth highlighting.
The Summit will be rounded off by the ProSweets Cologne Party from 6:00 p.m., which offers the participants an additional opportunity for an exchange and to network in a relaxed atmosphere. The Sweet Week Production Summit thus concentrates on innovation, knowledge transfer and cooperations.
Around 240 exhibitors from 30 countries are expected to participate at ProSweets Cologne including ingredients business, Doehler.
“Our company is proud to be part of ProSweets 2025, which provides an excellent opportunity to connect with customers and industry experts. Bringing ideas to life, we will showcase our latest innovations for confectionery, bakery and snack applications, as well as our broad portfolio of ingredients from fruit and vegetable ingredients, to natural taste and colour solutions and systems. A specific highlight will be shed on our nut and seed paste portfolio – adding both natural and nutritional benefits to the final applications as well as superb Multi-Sensory Experiences,” explained Agneta Hoffmann, Head of Market Segment Food, stated.