As Europe’s flagship trade show for the industry, success in this evolving landscape will require adaptability, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability. With over 1,500 exhibitors from 70 countries, the ISM trade fair will once again be the international stage for the innovations and trends of the sweets and snacks industry from 2 to 5 February 2025 in Cologne.
ISM is co-located with the supplier trade fair ProSweets Cologne in the scope of the Sweet Week and brings supply and demand together in a targeted manner.
Organisers said new event and content formats would provide answers to “urgent industry issues” during a series of talks at the ‘Sweet Week Production Summit,’ which sets new benchmarks as an event, content, innovation platform and networking hub. It covers the entire industry's value chain and brings players from the industry, trade, and supplier sectors together in one location.
Confirmed exhibitors include: German brands such Katjes, Krüger, Lambertz and Trolli, who are presenting their latest products, while international companies like Baronie from Belgium, Canel's from Mexico, Cloetta Holland from the Netherlands, Fazer from Finland, Millano from Poland and Sölen from Turkey will exhibit their innovations.
The exhibitor, Bifa Biscuits from Turkey, is returning to the trade fair after five years and the Japanese cult brand, Morinaga, is on board again after 20 years of absence. Both companies are known for their creative and high-quality products.
Sustainability issues
In Europe, and in other parts of the world, there is a growing consumer demand for sustainably and ethically sourced confectionery products. In Germany, for example, over 80% of chocolate confectionery sold in 2022 was made using sustainably produced cocoa. Retailers, including Lidl, Aldi, and REWE, have committed to selling only 100% sustainable cocoa chocolates, reflecting a broader industry trend towards sustainability.
"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,” said Sabine Schommer, Director ISM.
“Through the combination of 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."
Koelnmesse’s Hall 10.1 will create plenty of room for new ideas and offer 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.
Content platforms
"Both trade fairs, ISM and ProSweets Cologne, have developed into leading content platforms for the sweets and snacks industry and, in times of rapid market changes offer in-depth insights into trends and progress, such as sustainable packaging solutions and innovative flavours.
"The synergy with ProSweets Cologne allows a comprehensive overview of the entire value chain and turns the Sweet Week into the ideal platform for innovations and business opportunities," said Schommer.
- ISM/ProSweets takes place at Koelnmesse, Germany from 2 February to 5 February 2025, The event ISM programme under the following link.
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