ISM, the finished goods fair, and ProSweets, the ingredients and processing & packaging show, run parallel from 1-4 February 2015 at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.
ISM expects rise in organic product exhibitors
The International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) marks its 45th year. Last year’s fair attracted over 35,000 visitors from 140 countries and 1,400 suppliers from 70 countries.
This year’s event will be held across 6 halls of the Koelnmesse, representing over 110,000 sqm of exhibition space.
The organizers are anticipating a rise in exhibitors with organic products. In 2008, ISM hosted 54 organic product exhibitors, but this year expects around 170 across all sectors such as Ecofina with its Vivani chocolate brand, Swiss firm chocolat Halba and German confectioner Felicitas.
New Product Showcase and awards
ISM will once again feature the New Product Showcase. This year all visitors who are industry professionals, not only journalists, will be able to vote for the top three innovations.
Koelnmesse will also issue its second ISM Award to acknowledge services to the confectionery and snack industry. Last year’s winner was Herman Goelitz Rowland Sr., chairman of Jelly Belly.
Meet Us!
ConfectioneryNews and our sister publication BakeryandSnacks will be conducting interviews in Cologne. If your company feels it has something to share please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact ConfectioneryNews editor Oliver Nieburg HERE.
Natural colors and sweeteners
ProSweets is back after a hiatus during last year’s Interpack. The show is expected to feature around 300 processing and packaging and ingredients suppliers such as Loesch, Netzsch and Bühler.
The fair will include a special focus on natural ingredients with a show entitled ‘Power Fruits’, featuring exhibitors such as Bolasco, Cargill, GNT, Ocean Spray and Döhler.
ProSweets Speakers’ Corner
The ProSweets exhibition zone will feature 'Speakers’ Corner', where industry experts will deliver lectures ranging from sensors for confectionery production to active packaging. See HERE for the full schedule.
The organizers said that German consumers ate an average of 32 kg of sweets and snacks per person a year. “However, purchasing decisions are no longer based on price, taste and appearance,” said Koelnmesse in a release. “Every third person takes a critical look at the list of ingredients before the sweets end up in their shopping trolley. Consumers are particularly keen on natural ingredients derived from fruits and plants.”
Koelnmesse also said that it expected rising interest in fruit concentrates that allow a clean label as well as natural sweeteners and colors.
A study commissioned by the GNT Group found that around a third of people pay attention to whether there are artificial ingredients in their confectionery.
Sustainable packs for sustainable products
In packaging, the organizers predict that manufacturers will be on the hunt for sustainable packaging for sustainably produced products.
Koelnmesse said in a release: “True to the motto ‘What has been sustainably produced should also be sustainably packaged’, more and more bio and fair trade purchasers are placing value on bio-packaging.”
According to a report by consultancy firm Smithers Pira, the global market for sustainable packaging will reach $244bn by 2018.
The organizers expect that confectioners will also look to lightweight their packaging to reduce its environmental impact.