This year’s ISM & ProSweets shows in Cologne, Germany, featured a host of dynamic exhibitors from around the world, which delivered eclectic and engaging events. The two events were back to their traditional four-day schedule, with a total of 43,000 visitors across the halls.
The international trade shows dedicated to confectionery and snacks, organized by Koelnmesse, drew in more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 74 countries this year. Notable among the updates for the 2024 edition was the expansion of Hall 4.2, specially designated to host emerging exhibitors from the USA, Latin America, and the Middle East.
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ISM
With a high share of over 70 percent, there was an ongoing strong presence of international trade visitors at ISM. The most strongly represented countries from Europe were Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Ukraine. Beyond Europe, particular growth was recorded from China, Israel, Japan, Canada, and the USA.
ISM demonstrated how the consumers’ awareness of enjoyment and health continues to grow. They are placing increasing value on sustainable ingredients and production. Healthier snack options like products that are rich in protein or low in sugar, for instance, also play an important role. Sustainably grown, natural ingredients are also being implemented more frequently by the manufacturers. The upcycling of ingredients is also a forward-looking manufacturing method for sweets and snacks. Unexpected flavors are also increasingly coming under focus.
About 1,427 suppliers from 74 countries took part in ISM 2024, 88 percent of whom came from abroad. They included 172 German exhibitors and 1,255 exhibitors from abroad. More than 30,000 trade visitors from over 140 countries attended the exhibition, with over 70 percent foreign share.
“ISM is not only a business platform, but also a central meeting point for product innovations, a specialized program, and interesting discussions. It not only promotes the cooperation between different players, together with the industry it also enables new, pioneering paths to be trodden. For us the positive response of all the participants confirms that the customary January date is the optimal point in time for the sweets and snacks industry,” Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse, emphasized.
PROSWEETS
The quality of the trade audience and the high share of decision-makers convinced the suppliers to attend ProSweets 2024. The even closer collaboration with ISM in the scope of Sweet Week was highly remarkable, which once again created a host of synergies along the entire value chain. Closely interlinking the two trade shows not only enabled a more intensive exchange within the industry, it also offered a practice-oriented specialized program and new event formats focusing on innovation and sustainability. The latter was reflected at different levels, from machines to processes, through to raw material procurement. Joint lectures on the Expert Stage, Special Shows, Guided Tours, and the ProSweets Cologne Party further promoted networking and business potential among the participants.
ProSweets Cologne 2024 hosted 248 suppliers from 30 countries: 60 percent of them came from abroad. These included 80 exhibitors from Germany and 168 from abroad. Over 13,000 trade visitors from around 90 countries attended the show, with a foreign share of 60 percent.
