ISM and ProSweets Cologne to kick off 2024 with latest trends and innovations in confectionery

Under the banner: ‘Encourage. Enable. Excite!’ the joint event brings the international sweets and snacks industry together, with more than 1,400 exhibitors from more than 70 countries expected to participate in the ISM part.

The focus of the sweets and snacks industry remains on the challenges in the sections climate, raw materials, energy, supply chains, logistics, health and digitalisation, the organisers said.

"After a very successful ISM Middle East, we are all looking forward to ISM 2024 in Cologne. It is going to be particularly exciting on the Expert Stage this time: Here we are offering the exhibitors and the visitors a colourful and creative array of events – panel discussions, best practices and presentations. In this way, we will present efficient and sustainable solutions from the industry and will be able to discuss new opportunities and future challenges. Beyond this, on the Expert Stage, together with ProSweets Cologne, we are placing the emphasis on aspects from the supplier industry​," said Sabine Schommer, Director of ISM.

Expert Stage

During the event, the Expert Stage of ISM and ProSweets Cologne will also be the central point of contact for new developments in the sweets and snacks industry. Exciting lectures and panel discussions will occur regularly, and visitors can learn more about the innovative and clever product ideas of international start-ups.

There will also be daily trend presentations by ISM knowledge partners Innova Market Insights and Euromonitor as part of the Expert Stage. Innova Market Insights will again present the ‘F&B Top Ten Trends’ of 2024. Euromonitor will explain under the title ‘Anytime, anywhere? The evolution of snacking’, how current social changes influence consumers' snacking behaviour and what this means for snack manufacturers and brands.

Sustainability debates, will also take centre stage this year with consumers paying more attention to the origin and sustainable procurement of products and their raw materials.

These themes will be the focus of the event programme of ProSweets Cologne 2024. The two special shows on the respective segments, Packaging and Ingredients, will show innovative solutions for the industry's challenges. In addition, the DLG's ‘Guided Tours’ entitled ‘Tackling and wrapping up sustainability’ are being held daily, and the Sweets Global Network Guided Tours focus on Innovations & Sustainability.

Industry experts will also open up new perspectives, give insights into current research results, and report examples of best practices on the ISM/ProSweets Cologne Expert Stage on Central Boulevard.