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ProSweets Cologne to become ISM Manufacturing

The conference is sharpening its focus on becoming a uniform brand family.

The international supplier trade fair for sweets and snacks, ProSweets Cologne, will be renamed ISM Manufacturing starting in 2027. With this rebranding, Koelnmesse is aiming to pursue the strategic further development of its industry-specific trade fair portfolio in the food section, and at the same time strengthening its focus on a uniform, international brand family for the sweets and snacks industry.

In the future, the umbrella of the ISM brand will encompass the trade fairs staged in Cologne: ISM; ISM Ingredients, which is being launched in 2026; and the new ISM Manufacturing. As such, the entire value chain—from raw materials and production, technology, and packaging through to the finished product—will be represented in a worldwide constellation. Sabine Schommer will continue to head up ISM in Cologne as director. ISM Ingredients and ISM Manufacturing will also remain under the responsibility of the current ProSweets Director, Guido Hentschke.

"With the realignment and renaming of ProSweets Cologne to ISM Manufacturing, we are creating a uniform brand and a trade fair world that brings the entire production process of sweets and snacks alive on-site. For exhibitors and trade visitors this means a clear orientation, more efficient processes and new networking options—all under a strong, uniform brand presence," emphasizes Oliver Frese, COO, Koelnmesse GmbH.

Response to the growing market demands

The realignment is taking place against the backdrop of the changing market demands and increased networking within the value chain. The processes in the sweets and snacks industry are more strongly interlinked today—from raw materials, production, and packaging through to the finished product.

The new brand architecture aims to integrate the supplier industry more strongly into ISM and position it as an integral part of the global sweets and snacks industry. In this way, a clearly structured, internationally oriented trade fair environment with increased visibility will unfold for the companies and trade visitors. Complementary services like a joint website presence and ticket shop, a central trade fair app, as well as uniform networking and communication platforms will facilitate the planning and the exchange from 2027 onwards. Overall, the new structure strengthens the orientation and promotes the professional and business dialogue across all relevant sections of the industry, ISM says.

Theme sections of ProSweets Cologne to remain intact

Since 2006, ProSweets Cologne has aimed to serve as an independent, central platform for suppliers, machine manufacturers, packaging technologies, and production processes in the sweets and snacks industry. With the rebranding to ISM Manufacturing, this role will be consistently continued and strategically developed from 2027 onwards, the show says. The format will continue to cover the four central theme sections—Packaging Materials, Packaging Technology, Production Technology, and Operating Equipment & Auxiliary Devices—focusing on machines, plants, packaging solutions, and production processes. The content-related offers will, however, be more strongly integrated into the overall portfolio of ISM in future, the show notes.

ISM Ingredients to be launched

Starting this year, ISM Ingredients will become the new platform for raw materials, ingredients, and semi-finished products within ISM. The format bundles the former "World of Ingredients" of ProSweets Cologne and addresses manufacturers, suppliers, and trade visitors from the sweets and snacks industry. The focus lies on high-quality raw materials, innovative ingredients and sustainable solutions, the show adds.

Registration for 2027 now open

Industry companies and personnel can now register online for ISM, ISM Ingredients, and ISM Manufacturing 2027. Early bird pricing ends on March 31. Click here to register.