The trade fair has proven its importance as a must-attend event for the international supplier industry in the confectionery and snack sector. Right from the start, the trade fair was characterised by optimism and a palpable euphoria – reinforced by a revised hall concept that created clear structures and new theme worlds, as well as new event and content formats that provided remarkable impetus.
252 suppliers took part in ProSweets Cologne 2025 from 2 to 5 February, 65% of them from abroad. This included 87 exhibitors from Germany and 165 exhibitors from abroad. The placement of Lab5 by ISM in Hall 10.1 also contributed to the innovation hub bringing additional dynamism to the trade fair. With exhibitors from 32 countries, ProSweets Cologne once again exceeded the figures from previous years. Most exhibitors came from Germany, Italy, China, Turkey, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the UK and Spain. In total, over 16,000 trade visitors from 85 countries came to ProSweets Cologne 2025 an increase of over 23% compared to the previous year. Exhibitors were delighted with the quality of the visitors and made intensive use of the trade fair for business deals, networking, professional dialogue and as a central knowledge hub for industry trends. Many exhibitors focussed on hands-on machines and production solutions, with impressive demonstrations and best-practice examples that made the practical benefits and innovations of the industry directly tangible.
As the world‘s only supplier trade fair for the confectionery and snack industry, ProSweets Cologne has further increased its relevance and innovative strength. With a clear focus on topics such as AI, digitalisation and future technologies, the trade fair set new standards and drove growth and innovation in the industry. In addition, networking was taken to a new level as the event promoted exchange and collaboration between international suppliers, confectionery manufacturers and innovative start-ups.
The Sweet Week Production Summit, held for the first time on 3 February, was all about artificial intelligence, digitalisation and effective matchmaking. The format was created to connect production teams with the supplier industry at ProSweets Cologne. High-calibre best-practice examples and interactive sessions offered valuable insights into the future of production technology. The participants were enthusiastic about the trend topics presented and the opportunities for networking and inspiration. An evening highlight was the ProSweets Cologne Party, which offered space for networking and dialogue.
The Expert Stage served as a knowledge hub and highlighted key topics such as sustainability, digitalisation, AI, rising raw material prices, and the shortage of skilled workers. The programme was divided into themed days and kicked off on 2 February with a Careers Day in cooperation with the DLG. The Careers Day offered students and young professionals the opportunity to make industry contacts and obtain information at company pitches. Other highlights included the Sustainability Day and a focus on AI, digitalisation and marketing hacks.
„The new hall concept, the mapping of the product areas via the theme worlds and the closer connection to ISM were a successful step towards optimally utilising the synergies of both trade fairs. The thematic and spatial proximity enabled manufacturers and suppliers to engage in even more targeted dialogue and exploit synergies along the entire value chain. Ultimately, it is high-quality content, targeted networking and the right impetus for innovation that make the difference – and that is exactly what this year‘s event impressively demonstrated,“ says Carola K. Herbst, Deputy Managing Director of the DLG Centre of Competence for Agriculture and Food.
The new joint stage of ISM and ProSweets Cologne, Sweet Week Talks & Tasting, offered a varied programme with interactive talks, start-up pitches, live tastings with creators, workshops, and live podcasts. A moderated tasting sharpened the fine sense for the diversity of flavours and deepened sensory perception. Another highlight was the presentation by CEO and Co-Founder Tal Govrin from Kokomodo. He presented his company‘s innovative cocoa technology, which produces cocoa for cellular agriculture. Tal Govrin explained how this pioneering technology can promote the future of the chocolate industry.
The Guided Tours organised by DLG e. V. and the Sweets Global Network took participants on a journey through the highlights of the trade fair and offered valuable opportunities to discover new technologies and products. The DLG Guided Tours provided insights into the World of Sweet & Snackable Ingredients. The Sweets Global Network Guided Tours provided a comprehensive overview of the entire value chain.
From February 2026, visitors to Cologne can expect an innovation: ISM Ingredients. This new segment will replace the previous Ingredients section of ProSweets Cologne and create an independent platform for raw materials, ingredients and semi-finished products. The integration in Hall 10.1 and the strong ISM brand umbrella offer ideal conditions for maximising synergies between suppliers and producers.
At the same time, ProSweets Cologne will remain an independent trade fair and will focus on machinery, equipment, packaging solutions, and food safety in future. See you in Cologne from 1 to 4 February 2026.
