Once a year, at the end of January, Cologne attracts buyers and marketers from all over the world to ISM, the world’s largest trade fair for sweets and snacks. Once again in 2018 – from 28 to 31 January – the offer of diversity and internationality is unbeatable. Around 1,660 exhibitors from 73 countries will present the entire spectrum of products from the sweets and snacks industry: from cocoa and chocolate, to chocolate products and confectionery, from biscuits to snack products, ice-cream and pastes. Furthermore, since 2015 ISM has been presenting products on the themes snacking, to-go products, breakfast, coffee and gourmet products and thus satisfies the growing demand in the different channels and among the consumers.
ProSweets
ProSweets Cologne – the international supplier fair for the sweets and snacks industry, will be staged parallel to ISM again, which is taking place for the 48th time in 2018. Together, both trade fairs offer two information and procurement platforms for the industry and trade that complement each other perfectly. This concentrated and unique information and networking package is flanked by an event program that targets professionals, which offers further input and inspiration for the business of tomorrow.
The New Snacks Area
However, the special quality of ISM is just as much determined by numerous medium-sized and smaller companies, who regularly exhibit at ISM. They bring specialties, selected products, country-specific delights, exceptional creations and taste experiences with them to ISM and thus offer the trade even more possibilities to compile the most attractive offer possible for their customers. In addition to numerous exhibitors from the big sweets nations such as Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey, companies from Armenia, Guatemala, Iceland and Nepal are exhibiting, which enhances the diversity of the offer excellently. The offer of savory snacks, i.e. fruit and vegetable bars, breakfast snacks, jerkies and meat snacks, protein and raw vegetable bars, etc. that was presented for the first time at ISM in 2015 has shown further successful development. 35 companies from 16 countries are exhibiting in the “New Snacks Area” in Hall 5.2 this year and thus offer a concentrated contact point at the trade fair. Moreover, further snack offers such as chips or other snack items, but also savory bars and nut specialties can be found all over the trade fair.
The Coffee Forum
The “Cologne Coffee Forum” in Hall 5.2 will also be presenting a host of interesting coffee manufacturers and roasting companies again. They will demonstrate on-site how excellently sweets, biscuits and coffee or cocoa and tea go together and will provide new impulses for the trade and for cafés. The same applies here too: coffee, tea and cocoa offers are also on display at the stands of many of the other ISM exhibitors. However, the “Cologne Coffee Forum” is lending the theme coffee a special anchor point at ISM. The complete offer of ISM exhibitors is available in a fast and simple process via the exhibitor database, which is found on the website. The exhibitor data can for example be sorted according to nations and product segments, as well as according to trend themes. These include i.e. Organic, Fair-traded, Vegan, Allergy-friendly, Halal and Kosher. ISM in Cologne encompasses among others the world’s largest offer of sweets and snacks trademarks. These can also be found in the exhibitor database of ISM.
Two further highlights
Companies that want to test the marketing platform ISM for themselves are exhibiting in the “Newcomer Area” again. This special area is fully-booked again this year with the participation of 12 companies. ISM is offering an own platform for “Start-ups” for the first time this year. 14 companies that have not existed for more than five years will be exhibiting here and presenting their products and concepts. The event program of ISM offers further input, not only at ISM, but also at ProSweets Cologne. These include lectures, workshops and special events such as the “New Product Showcase”. Wednesday, 31 January 2018, the last day of the fair, is no exception to the rule here: ISM is presenting the “Trend and Theme Day”, a special program for both buyers and the industry.