March 29, 2024

ProSweets Cologne 2022, where the industry gets together

International supplier fair for sweets and snacks provides an holistic overview and sets impulses for the industry

For the around 200 exhibitors from 21 countries, ProSweets, which was held under special circumstances from 30 January to 2 February, proved to be a reliable industry get-together for the suppliers of the sweets and snacks industry. Around 6,000 trade visitors from around 60 countries came to Cologne over the four days of the trade fair. “ProSweets Cologne proved itself to be an important business event in spite of the difficult framework conditions. In conjunction with ISM, the international supplier fair provides an holistic overview of the sweets and snacks industry and sets important impulses in terms of raw materials and ingredients, packaging, packaging machines as well as machines and systems. We were aware that we wouldn’t match the number of visitors at the previous event, but the fact that ProSweets Cologne took place was of great significance for the industry and furthermore also underlines that trade fairs with a clear business focus can be conducted safely in pandemic times. At this point my thanks go to all of the exhibiting companies and partners, who actually made ProSweets Cologne 2022 possible,” explained Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.

For most of the exhibiting companies the participation was an important step in the direction of normality. After the break due to the pandemic, the focus lay above all on meeting up personally with the international trade audience. The high quality of the trade visitors as well as the long periods of time set aside for discussions, which can’t be replaced by digital alternatives, went down very well with the exhibitors. The overall impression comprising of the exhibits of packaging, machines and systems also met with a positive response. As was already the case at the autumn events, Koelnmesse’s safety and hygiene concept prove itself and ensured the smooth running of the trade fair.

Over 60 percent of the trade visitors came from abroad, in particular from Europe (primarily also Eastern Europe) the Near East, Africa, the EFTA states, Asia as well as from Central and South America. Furthermore, a few visitors from North America and Oceania were represented at the trade fair. The countries with the strongest participations include the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, France, Turkey, but also Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

Alongside production managers from leading companies, numerous medium-sized and smaller companies also came to gather information, since they themselves make the decisions regarding further investments in their companies. All of the biggest sweets manufacturers were represented at this year’s trade fair, even if in some cases in smaller delegations due to the current Corona virus situation. Among others Mondelez, Nestlé, Ferrero, Perfetti van Melle, Haribo, Rübezahl Schokoladen GmbH, Intersnack NL, Suntjens, Henry Lambertz, Alfred Ritter as well as Mars Wrigley Confectionary visited this year’s ProSweets Cologne. The fact that ISM was held simultaneously meant that the professional dialogues held were particularly intensive and target-oriented.

Central themes
Above all, the exhibiting companies concentrated on future-oriented themes. In the Ingredients section and in the new Ingredients Event Zone, natural ingredients and solutions for reformulated products still played a major role. Beyond this, flexible machines that can be adapted to changed recipes and demands as a result of their fast set-up options were also under focus. In the packaging section, the significance of individualised forms and sustainable packaging is growing. The trade visitors also showed great interest in this subject. The trend towards individualised products was also reflected in the survey “My Food – Personalised Diets” of the German Agricultural Society (DLG), which was presented at the trade fair.

New digital networking possibilities
With its hybrid concept and the new, digital platform, ISM & ProSweets @home, from the third day onwards ProSweets Cologne offered the exhibitors, visitors and media representatives numerous new possibilities of coming into contact with partners, potential customers and interesting companies. Every on-site exhibitor was simultaneously represented on the platform with a digital showroom.

Moreover, in addition to the personal discussions and the extensive on-site event and congress programme, beyond the physical trade fair ProSweets Cologne also offers new digital networking options and digitally streamed contents such as expert lectures and presentations.

The second edition of the future congress “#CONNECT2030 – The Future Summit for Sweets and Snacks – in transition” is also available on-demand and provides interesting insights into the themes resource conservation, CO2 reduction and the effects of the climate change on the availability of raw materials. The digital ISM & ProSweets Cologne thus not only ensures an extended reach, but also gives all trade fair participants the opportunity to network, establish new contacts and call up contents they missed in person up until 30 April 2022. The ProSweets app, which was implemented parallel to the trade fair, also integrates new networking functions for the digital exchange, on during and after the trade fair.

Together with ISM, the world’s most important trade fair for sweets and snacks, which is held simultaneously, the entire value chain of sweets production and sales is gathered at the same time and place; a worldwide unique constellation with extensive synergies for the entire industry.

ProSweets Cologne is sponsored by the Federal Association of the German Sweets Industry (BDSI), Sweets Global Network e.V. (SG), the German Agricultural Society (DLG e.V.) and the Central College of the German Sweets Industry (ZDS).

The next ProSweets Cologne is scheduled to take place from Sunday, 29.01.2023 to Wednesday, 01.02.2023.

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