D – After four show days of intensive discussions and presentations of new products, ISM 2022 closed its doors on February 2 with according to the official figures an attendance figure of around 15,000 trade visitors from 96 countries. “We are delighted that the restart of the leading global trade fair for sweets and snacks was a success in these challenging times. This is not least also thanks to the exhibiting companies, who took part in the 51st edition of the trade fair,” explained Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse. “Of course, we weren’t expecting a superlative trade fair or new records, but the fact that ISM 2022 took place underscores once more that trade fairs with a clear business focus can be staged safely also in pandemic times and can offer their respective industries the urgently needed platform for the development and expansion of international business.”
The joy at personal encounters, engaging in an exchange face to face as well as sampling a variety of sweets and snacks dominated this year’s ISM. In addition to the high quality of the visitors, the exhibiting companies praised above all the opportunity to engage in intensive discussions with partners and customers. Furthermore, the good international response with a 78% participation of foreign trade visitors contributed towards the positive mood of the trade fair.
With a hybrid concept and the new, digital platform “ISM & ProSweets @home”, from the third day onwards ISM 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.
Digital networking options and digitally streamed contents such as expert lectures and presentations additionally enhanced the physical event. All of the trade fair participants can continue to use the digital format ISM & ProSweets @home up until April 30. The next edition of ISM is scheduled to take place from January 29 – February 1, 2023.
Photo source: Koelnmesse/ISM
