ISM, the world's largest trade fair for sweets and snacks, has developed a professionally demanding programme for trade visitors and exhibitors that spans topics from the production to marketing of the sector.
Held in Cologne from 29 January to 1 February 2017, participants will have the opportunity to learn about current product and consumer trends, as well as new ingredients and innovative marketing platforms.
The Newcomer Area will welcome 12 industry newcomers from seven countries, in Hall 11.1, D 31/E 38. The product palette ranges from classic to innovative and trendy. The New Product Showcase will be relocating, and from 2017 on, it will be presented in an attractive area in Hall 2.2., featuring 130 suppliers.
A new addition, the GoodfoodHalal Supermarkt, will be premiering at ISM 2017. Located at the Central Boulevard, Stand B4 (near the Pink Champagne Bar), it will be the meeting point for buyers interested in halal products and sweets at ISM.
For participants interested in learning more about the sweets and snacks sectors, the ISM Expert Stage (located in the passage between Halls 4 and 5) is an important information hotspot. This year, topics will be focused on the specialised retail trade, with seminars and discussions on the 'digitalisation' of retail, including talks on content marketing, e-commerce, and cross-channel management.
Lectures by Innova Market Insights will be held daily, from Sunday to Tuesday, on the ISM Expert Stage, and will be focused on topics such as the top ten trends of 2017 for sweets, the increasing 'snackification' and popularity of on-the-go products, and new sweet-flavour trends, such as goat cheese, tea and champagne.
Accompanying such events will be the Cologne Coffee Forum, which will offer buyers inspiration and contacts in the world of coffee. Suppliers of Italian espresso, speciality coffee roasters, and suppliers of instant coffee and coffee capsules, as well as tea and cocoa specialities, will be represented here.
Events will include a latte-art workshop, as well as the international Espresso Italiano Champion barista competition, being staged for the first time in Germany. The winners will take part in the international semi-finals in Milan in October 2017.
Finally, ProSweets Cologne – the international supplier fair for the sweets and snacks industry – will once again be staged parallel to ISM. Together with ProSweets Cologne, ISM covers the entire value chain of sweets production and sales at the same time and place – a unique worldwide constellation.
Trends are also the focus of the supporting programme of ProSweets Cologne. Both fairs are exclusively open to trade visitors.
For an overview of special events, lectures and workshops, plus the complete programmes, visit the ISM and ProSweets Cologne websites.
Sponsored content. © 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
