By Dr. Jörg Häseler

Around 3.5 weeks have passed since the trade fair highlight ProSweets Cologne and the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair, and just ten days ago the German parliamentary elections took place. Only time will tell how and when things will change. In the meantime, the economy must see how it can navigate through these difficult waters that have lasted far too long. Everyone is hoping for growth after two years of stagnation and a temporary downturn.

The confectionery industry is currently faced with rising raw material prices cocoa prices in particular only go in one direction: upwards. Poor harvests and the effects of climate change have led to an increase, which in turn is driving up production costs. This trend is reflected in consumer prices: In December 2024, chocolate bars were on average 14.6 per cent more expensive than in the previous year.

Against this backdrop, ProSweets Cologne is gaining in importance as it always presents solutions for all process steps, materials and issues in the industry. In 2025, the trade fair increasingly focused on topics such as sustainable supply chains, resource efficiency and innovative packaging solutions. Particularly noteworthy is the introduction of the “Sweet Week Production Summit”, which celebrated its premiere on February 3, 2025 and dealt with topics such as increasing efficiency and future planning in production. This event attracted more visitors to Hall 10.1, which not only I consider to be a complete success.