ISM 2014 - world's biggest confectionery trade fair

-A total of 1,402 exhibitors from 67 countries will be exhibiting at the 43rd International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) from 27th to 30th January 2013 in Cologne. This year 82 per cent of the exhibitors will come from abroad. The fair will occupy 110,000 m² of gross exhibition space in Halls 2, 4, 5, 10 and 11 at the Cologne exhibition centre.

Trade fair

The concept and its advantages:
Market overview and product comparison are becoming increasingly costly in time and money. The same applies to personal communication between producer and major customer. ISM is therefore conceived as an international platform for supplier and bulk buyers in the sweets and biscuits industry. Its two basic principles are: restriction of products to the relevant items visitors; restricted to wholesalers and major buyers.

Good business
Business needs partners. ISM provides the forum for this. International concerns are represented by their top personnel for good reason. It's the combination of established business connections and the exciting opportunity to meet new potential partners, which makes ISM so successful.

Facts & Figures ISM 2014
Compact information for visitors and exhibitors at one view.


Trade fair Sub-heading: ISM International Sweets and Biscuits Fair

Date of the event:       26.01. - 29.01.2014 
Organizer:                   Koelnmesse GmbH
Event frequency:         Annual 
Conceptual sponsor:   AISM Arbeitskreis Internationale Süßwarenmesse
Venue:                        Cologne Exhibition Centre
Opening times             For exhibitors: 07:30 a.m. - 07:00 p.m.
                                    For visitors: 09:00 a.m. - 06:00 p.m.

Space rate/sqm
for booking until 30.04.2013:152,70 EUR
for booking until 30.06.2013:171,40 EUR
for booking from 01.07.2013:181,40 EUR
Energy costs/sqm: 7,50 EUR 


Product segments ·
Cocoa, chocolate and chocolate products
· Biscuits
· Snack Items
· Sugar Confectionery
· Ice Cream and marzipan products

Fair profile
ISM is the largest and most important sweets and biscuits fair in the world. Every year the international sector meets to introduce discover and discuss the latest trends, the newest products and the most up-to-dates perspectives. The entire global market is reflected an ISM’s range of products, which is broader than that of any other comparable trade fair. All of the relevant target groups in the world of confectionery are brought together here. Small, medium-sized and market-leading suppliers make direct contact with the global trade to fulfill the needs of tomorrow’s
customers with innovative ideas, creations and concepts. And that ensures a profitable future for suppliers and customers alike.
Mailing of registration forms to exhibitors:    Middle of March, 2013
Hall occupancy:                                           2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 10.2, 11.1, 11.2, CC East
 Access rights:                                             Trade Visitors
Target groups exhibitors:

Target groups visitors:
Manufacturers and Distributors of confectionery and biscuits ready packed for retail sale under the following headings:

· Cocoa, chocolate and chocolate products
· Biscuits
· Snack Items
· Sugar Confectionery
· Ice Cream and marzipan products

Buyers from the wholesale and retail confectionery trade, grocery wholesale, multiples and their regional branches, cash & carry operations, department stores, health food wholesalers, nutrition scientists, drugstore chains, confectionery specialist outlets, cafes, confectioners, bakery operations as well as the buying offices of forecourt convenience stores. Marketing and distribution specialists will also attend.
Figures for the previous event (2013)

Exhibitors:                     1.402
Gross exhibition space: 110.000 sqm
Visitors:                          35.000 



ISM 2013 Final Report

Leading trade fair for the confectionery industry gives international trade a long-term boost

ISM 2013: The most important platform for business and innovations worldwide

Once again with over 35,000 trade visitors from around 150 countries


For four days, Cologne was the capital city of the international confectionery industry. From 27th to 30th January 2013, sweets and snack items were the focus of attention for over 35,000 buyers from around 150 countries who came to the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM). "Only ISM brings together all of the relevant global market participants from industry and the retail trade on such a large scale," says Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse. "In this way, ISM underlines its position as the most important business and innovation platform for the confectionery industry. Within a mere four days, the top decision makers from around the globe were able to meet each other in Cologne." Bastian Fassin, Chairman of the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair Working Group (AISM) and Executive Committee Member of the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI), adds, "ISM is indispensable to the confectionery industry. It brings new momentum to national and international trade activities - for market leaders and medium-sized companies alike."

The suppliers all reported that they had engaged in intensive discussions with well-informed and influential trade visitors. "I'm always impressed by the international scope of the trade fair and the high level of decision-making authority of its visitors," says a manufacturer of fine baked goods. In addition to the presence of high-ranking decision-makers from the German trade, which was fully represented at ISM, top buyers, importers and distributors of confectionery products from abroad also travelled to Cologne. That's why expectations are optimistic for both domestic and international business following the trade fair. "The discussions and negotiations that we conducted with qualified buyers during ISM were very promising," says a chocolate supplier.

This year, ISM was once again characterized by the high percentage of visitors from abroad. At around 67 per cent, this was a slight increase compared to the previous year. Correspondingly there was also an increase in the number of visitors' countries of origin to around 150. The highest visitor numbers were recorded for Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, North America, Japan and the Middle East. With 1,402 exhibitors from 67 countries, the number of suppliers at ISM remained at a high level.

A new initiative introduced at ISM 2013 addressed young companies in the confectionery industry. Ten such companies - including some with only small budgets and limited staff - took advantage of the opportunity to exhibit in the "Newcomer Area" of the most important international trade fair for confectionery and snack items.

Innovations and new developments not only generated media interest but also emphasized the vitality and achievements of the sector. Once again the "New Product Showcase" reflected these developments. In 2013, 84 companies from around the world presented 120 products in this area. Almost 90 international journalists took part in selecting the top three innovations at ISM. First place went to a surprisingly tingly "Cola Crackle Wafer" from the Austrian company S. Spitz GmbH. The Greek company Hatziyiannakis Dragees won over the jury with roasted almond dragées that are sweetened with steviol glycosides. Third place went to the traditional Swiss company Kägi Söhne AG for the unusual packaging of their fine wafers. A yodel melody plays when the packaging is opened.

The special show "Sweet Nostalgia" presented by the KISD, Köln International School of Design, was also very popular. A group of 26 design students from the KISD took the theme of nostalgia as their inspiration and translated different perspectives and memories into creative product concepts.
This year's ISM featured a wide variety of trends. In addition to products for consumers with special requirements - for example lactose-free, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian products - low-fat and low-sugar confectionery and snack items continued to play a role. The themes of "sustainability", "fair trade products" and "country of origin labelling" were likewise very important. And new dimensions in flavours and combinations were to be found in all segments, from confectionery to snack items.

ProSweets Cologne, the international trade fair for the supplier industry, which takes place in parallel with ISM, was also a complete success. At the close of the trade fair, Koelnmesse reported that the number of visitors from around 100 countries had grown by a good five per cent to more than 17,000. Visitors here were presented with information about the product ranges of 325 companies from 30 countries.

ISM 2013 in figures:
A total of 1,402 companies from 67 countries participated in ISM 2013; 82 per cent of the exhibiting companies were from abroad. The fair occupied a gross exhibition space of 110,000 m². The participants included 219 exhibitors and 30 additionally represented companies from Germany as well as 1,141 exhibitors and 12 additionally represented companies from abroad. Over 35,000 trade visitors from around 150 countries attended ISM 2013, roughly 67 per cent of whom came from abroad.


Contact Details
Contact Person:Claudia Majchrowicz
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