From April 23-25 in Cologne, Germany, ISM, the show that brings together the international confectionery and snack industry, is back. About 1,200 exhibitors from 72 countries are expected to attend this year’s edition. Visitors will be able to learn about the latest trends in confectionery consumption, and product innovations, and attend lectures by industry experts.
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MADE IN ITALY FOOD AT ISM 2023
“Italian products will play a prominent role at ISM 2023,” says Thomas Rosolia, CEO of Koelnmesse Italy. “Indeed, 150 companies from Italy will attend the trade show, 50 of which within a collective organized directly by Koelnmesse Italy. Germany is the first outlet market for the Italian food sector, and sweets rank third among the most exported products.”
Among the Italian companies that will be present, there will be brands of great interest such as Sperlari, with the Sperlari and Paluani brands, Caffarel (Lindt&Sprüngli), Elah-Dufour, Amaretti Virginia, Balconi, Majani, and many others. For the first time, there will also be a collective organized by the Region of Sicily, with 24 companies from the Distretto del Dolce di Sicilia (Sweet District of Sicily).
ENCOURAGE. ENABLE. EXCITE!
This year’s key theme of the exhibition is “Encourage. Enable. Excite!”, a claim that urges people to tackle today’s toughest challenges; from climate to raw materials, energy to supply chains, logistics to health and digital. We are in a period fraught with difficulties, but at the same time full of opportunities for the industry. ISM aims to be an ideal platform for exchanges, to learn about and explore the most current trends and seek the most efficient and innovative solutions.
EXPERT STAGE, LAB5, AND START-UP AREA
Expert Stage is the place where leading industry experts debate current issues. The program features daily lectures and talks to help retailers and manufacturers address an ever-changing marketplace.
Lab5 ISM, in Hall 5.2, hosts the Start-up Area, dedicated to companies that are no more than five years old. Hall 5.2 also hosts a specialized trade section, named “Finest Creations – hand-crafted.” For the second time, this exhibition area brings together small hand-crafted businesses that cater to bakeries and specialty cake stores.
NEW FEATURED PRODUCTS
The “New Products Showcase” is one of ISM’s special attractions. Among the products displayed here (Hall 5.2), consumers will choose the most popular one that will be awarded the ISM Consumer Award 2023, given for the second time in cooperation with Food News Germany. The three most innovative products of ISM 2023, selected by an independent jury of experts from industry, trade, and science, will also be displayed here.
ISM AWARD
This year the ISM Award will be given for the ninth time and will be presented during the gala on April 23, 2023. Last year the Italian company Luigi Zaini won this award.