ISM - the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair - has ended after four days pleased to announce an increase in the number of visitors. Around 37,000 trade visitors came to experience and learn at the 45th gathering of the world's largest and most important trade fair for sweets and snacks. That is about six per cent more than in 2014. At 67 per cent, the proportion of foreign visitors remained stable. This means that a strong trade presence from Germany also contributed to the increase in numbers of visitors. "This year the ISM has once again made it clear how important the fair is for the confectionary trade both nationally and internationally," commented Katharina C Hamma, the managing director of Koelnmesse GmbH, referring to the positive results of the ISM 2015. This is because the fair was also able to record some modest growth in the number of exhibitors. Bastian Fassin, chairperson of the Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) noted that "the quality of the trade visitors was again impressive. The producers are expecting strong and energetic business after the fair". The ISM was opened by German Minister for Food and Agriculture Christian Schmidt. After touring the fair he greeted participants at a conference held by the Forum for Sustainable Cocoa.
According to exhibitors, the quality of the trade guests at the ISM was consistently high. This is also confirmed by the visitor questionnaires as well as registration details. Top purchasers again came from abroad from large trading companies and importers. German trade was also strongly represented once again. As one supplier confirmed: "at ISM in Cologne we reach our important trading partners, whether from Germany or one of our many export markets". Another vendor noted: "we couldn't afford not being present this fair".
The visitors came from 141 countries. The increase in the number of visitors from abroad was spread almost evenly across all countries. The number of visits from Asia, particularly China and Korea, showed a modest increase. Eastern Europe saw a small decrease in its share of guest arrivals.
1,513 providers from 65 countries, 228 of them from Germany, participated in the ISM this year. As ever, there was demand for innovative products and marketing concepts, which the branch once again had on offer for its purchasers. The diverse range of offers at the ISM 2015 was underscored by, amongst other items, the special presentation "New Product Showcase", at which around 90 businesses participated. For the first time, all ISM visitors were called on to select the Top Three Innovations. The "SoundyCandy®" sweet from Turkish company Toller was voted first place. This product combines the properties of a candy with those of tingling granules. Second place was taken by Belgian chocolate manufacturer Fairy and its "Cho'Clair" creation. Swiss family company Zweifel Pomy-Chips AG was in third place for their "Secrets Dried Beetroots" - a combination of potato chips and red beetroot.
New product segments for the themes of snacking, breakfast and coffee were on display at the ISM for the first time. These segments were received very positively by both exhibitors and visitors alike. "The range of offers has expanded, providing new possibilities for presenting and purchasing," notes one exhibitor displaying in Cologne for the first time as part of the new product segments. "The response in trade was resounding," adds another supplier. "We are already planning our next appearance at the ISM."
The ISM 2015 in figures:
1,513 suppliers from 65 countries (2014: 1,467), 85 per cent of whom came from abroad, exhibited at ISM 2015 on exhibition space covering 110,000 m². These included 223 exhibitors and 5 additionally represented companies from Germany as well as 1,272 exhibitors and 13 additionally represented companies from abroad. Around 37,000 trade visitors from 141 countries attended the ISM 2015, the foreign proportion was 67 per cent.
According to exhibitors, the quality of the trade guests at the ISM was consistently high. This is also confirmed by the visitor questionnaires as well as registration details. Top purchasers again came from abroad from large trading companies and importers. German trade was also strongly represented once again. As one supplier confirmed: "at ISM in Cologne we reach our important trading partners, whether from Germany or one of our many export markets". Another vendor noted: "we couldn't afford not being present this fair".
The visitors came from 141 countries. The increase in the number of visitors from abroad was spread almost evenly across all countries. The number of visits from Asia, particularly China and Korea, showed a modest increase. Eastern Europe saw a small decrease in its share of guest arrivals.
1,513 providers from 65 countries, 228 of them from Germany, participated in the ISM this year. As ever, there was demand for innovative products and marketing concepts, which the branch once again had on offer for its purchasers. The diverse range of offers at the ISM 2015 was underscored by, amongst other items, the special presentation "New Product Showcase", at which around 90 businesses participated. For the first time, all ISM visitors were called on to select the Top Three Innovations. The "SoundyCandy®" sweet from Turkish company Toller was voted first place. This product combines the properties of a candy with those of tingling granules. Second place was taken by Belgian chocolate manufacturer Fairy and its "Cho'Clair" creation. Swiss family company Zweifel Pomy-Chips AG was in third place for their "Secrets Dried Beetroots" - a combination of potato chips and red beetroot.
New product segments for the themes of snacking, breakfast and coffee were on display at the ISM for the first time. These segments were received very positively by both exhibitors and visitors alike. "The range of offers has expanded, providing new possibilities for presenting and purchasing," notes one exhibitor displaying in Cologne for the first time as part of the new product segments. "The response in trade was resounding," adds another supplier. "We are already planning our next appearance at the ISM."
The ISM 2015 in figures:
1,513 suppliers from 65 countries (2014: 1,467), 85 per cent of whom came from abroad, exhibited at ISM 2015 on exhibition space covering 110,000 m². These included 223 exhibitors and 5 additionally represented companies from Germany as well as 1,272 exhibitors and 13 additionally represented companies from abroad. Around 37,000 trade visitors from 141 countries attended the ISM 2015, the foreign proportion was 67 per cent.
