ProSweets event set to be rebranded as ISM Manufacturing from 2027

The organisers of the annual ProSweets event in Cologne have confirmed a major branding change for the show, which will become known as ISM Manufacturing from 2027, reports Neill Barston.

This will in effect make this year’s edition beginning in Germany this Sunday, the final one in its present guise, which was first held in 2026 – making the latest on its twentieth anniversary.

As Koelnmesse noted, the move is a key strategy to further develop its industry-specific trade fair portfolio in the food section and at the same time strengthening its focus on a uniform, international brand family for the sweets and snacks industry.

It comes as the event has developed its ISM Ingredients element, which will be unveiled with the opening of the show this weekend. Director Sabine Schommer will continue to head up ISM in Cologne, while ISM Ingredients and ISM Manufacturing will also remain under the responsibility of the current ProSweets Director, Guido Hentschke.

“With the realignment and renaming of ProSweets Cologne to ISM Manufacturing, we are creating a uniform brand and a trade fair world that brings the entire production process of sweets and snacks alive on-site. For exhibitors and trade visitors this means a clear orientation, more efficient processes and new networking options – all under a strong, uniform brand presence,” emphasised Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.

The realignment is taking place against the backdrop of the changing market demands and increased networking within the value chain. The processes in the sweets and snacks industry are more strongly interlinked today – from raw materials, production and packaging through to the finished product.

The new brand architecture will integrate the supplier industry more strongly into ISM and position it as an integral part of the global sweets and snacks industry. In this way, a clearly structured, internationally oriented trade fair environment with increased visibility will enfold for the companies and trade visitors.

Complementary services like a joint website presence and ticket shop, a central trade fair app as well as uniform networking and communication platforms will facilitate the planning and the exchange from 2027 onwards. Overall, the new structure strengthens the orientation and promotes the professional and business dialogue across all relevant sections of the industry.

Theme sections of ProSweets Cologne to remain intact
Since 2006, ProSweets Cologne has served as an independent, central platform for suppliers, machine manufacturers, packaging technologies and production processes in the sweets and snacks industry. With the rebranding to ISM Manufacturing, this role will be consistently continued and strategically developed from 2027 onwards. 

Companies from the industry can now register online for ISM, ISM Ingredients and ISM Manufacturing 2027. The early bird phase ends on 31 March 2026.