Exactly two months after the Football World Cup in Russia, all eyes will be on Munich. This is where iba, the world’s leading trade fair for bakery, confectionery and snacks, will take place from September 15-20, 2018, providing bakers, confectioners, and industry representatives with unique inspiration for their everyday professional lives.

iba prepares bakers and confectioners for the future. They can experience outstanding artisan achievements, discover new ideas, open up additional areas of business, learn about technical developments in the trade, watch new machines in action, test products, listen to lectures, talk to experts and thereby promote their own company. These are just a few of the reasons that a visit to iba is a must for those in the trade.

Success factor 1: Discover and experience innovation in action

When it comes to novelties, the world looks to iba with anticipation every three years. After all, it is the pulse of the trade, and the trade fair where companies reveal their new products for the first time. At iba, trends are in the air – and that’s not all. Here, exhibitors frequently show their machines and whole production lines in action, invite attendees to try out the products, and as a result, transform the twelve trade fair halls into the largest, wonderfully  aromatic  bakery in the world. As a leading international trade fair, iba also cooperates with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to offer exciting start-ups the perfect stage for presenting their business ideas to potential customers across the globe.

Success factor 2: Get a unique overview of the market

Anyone who really wants to see it all and wants to be well-informed comes to Munich for iba. Only at the world’s leading trade fair for bakery, confectionery and snacks can visitors experience the entire spectrum of the trade to an extent that no other trade fair in the world can match. More than 1,100 exhibitors from over 45 countries (as of April 2018) present their products and services. Here, bakers and confectioners from companies of all sizes, food producers and traders, caterers and restaurateurs are guaranteed to find the perfect offer for their company.

Success factor 3: Profit from current and future trends

The “iba.SPEAKERS CORNER” in Hall A1 will celebrate its premiere at iba 2018 with a focus on new raw materials, digitisation, smart production routes, cashless payment, and new legal regulations. A new trending topic of the trade will be highlighted every day in lectures and panels. Researchers, producers, and users will debate current challenges and provide specific tips that both bakers and confectioners can benefit from. Additionally, the iba.FORUM in Hall B3 will offer all sorts of input from and for practical use, including innovative ideas from World Master Baker Champion Jimmy Griffin from Ireland and patisserie trends from Confectionery World Champion Bernd Siefert. All lectures are, of course, free to attend.

Success factor 4: Visit international bakeries at the trade fair

Only at iba can you have a look at successful international bakeries all in one place. At the new “Virtual Bakery Tours” experience area in Hall B3, trade fair visitors can immerse themselves in a completely different world within seconds and, using virtual reality glasses, experience the way colleagues in Germany, France, Greece, Iceland, and the USA work, the techniques and ingredients they use, and what makes them so successful in their country.

Success factor 5: Pick up new ideas for the catering market

The trend of eating out remains in force across the globe. Here, freshness, regional origin, and transparency, as well as appealing furnishings and implementation in one’s own shop, are key factors for the bakery trade to profit from this growing market. Trade fair visitors will receive suggestions, concepts, and individual advice at the new “iba.TO GO!” area in Hall B3. Here, they will find all innovations and solutions relating to food and beverage concepts, from shop design and front-of-house baking through to hot and cold beverages and accessories for food preparation. In addition to the entire process chain impressively showcased in this area, visitors can also participate in free workshops and demonstrations.

Success factor 6: Watch the world’s best up close

Highly anticipated and exclusive events at iba include the championships for bakers and confectioners, which will take place in large, specially set-up and fully-equipped bakeries directly at the trade fair. These offer the opportunity to learn from the best in the trade, find out how they cope with time pressure, see what masterpieces can be created, and learn one or two of the tricks. Here, visitors can pick up inspiration for future projects and tasks and develop new ideas. At the iba-UIBC-CUP of Bakers (15th, 16th, and 17th September), teams from twelve different countries —Japan, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Peru, the United Kingdom, Korea, the USA, Spain, Russia, France, and China—will compete against each other. The motto of this year’s competition is “space”, and the teams will conjure up unbelievable creations to take the gold medal at the end. In 2018, the best young confectioners in the world will join iba for the first time. Trade fair visitors can look forward to seeing what the highly-gifted new talents from Brazil, China, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Spain, and Taiwan have to offer at the UIBC Junior World Championship of Confectioners on the 19th and 20th September. The best bakers in Germany will determine their champion at the 4th German Championship of Master Bakers on the 18th September. This year’s motto is “Europe.”

Success factor 7: Find desired products and exhibitors very easily

iba is also offering its visitors a tailor-made digital service. Through the online marketplace, visitors will be able to prepare for the trade fair more quickly and in a more targeted way, as well as finding corresponding offers and contact partners to suit them. Thanks to the new search option for finding “solutions”, you can, for example, quickly access solutions in the areas of catering offers, digitisation, energy efficiency, or ingredients that are shown at iba. The tool allows for orientation tailored exactly to individual visitors’ needs. Additionally, visitors will be able to contact exhibitors directly and arrange meetings with them. Simply follow the direct link: www.marktplatz.iba.de/en/exhibitors.

Success factor 8: Participate in bakery tours and seminars

The guided bakery tours offer an exclusive glance behind the scenes. A number of bakeries in and around Munich are opening their doors for international visitors and will introduce them to the variety of recipes for German bread and baked goods. In addition, visitors can take part in trade seminars at the Akademie des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks (Academy of the German Baking Trade) in Lochham, where international visitors can learn more about the preparation of wholemeal and mixed bread. And in Hall B3, iba is offering international visitors new baking workshops in English. Under expert guidance, visitors will learn how to make German classics hands-on. Be it pretzels or cheesecake – the experts of the Akademie Deutsches Bäckerhandwerk will reveal all their important success secrets twice a day.

Success factor 9: Cultivate and expand your network

Visitors and exhibitors can exchange ideas, network, and enjoy a memorable evening in a relaxed atmosphere in the exclusive iba.OKTOBERFEST TENT directly on the fairground at Hall A6. There, they can already immerse themselves in the special “Wiesn” atmosphere as part of iba a week before the start of the most famous fair in the world, which begins on the Theresienwiese on the 22nd September. This year, Wiesn host Able will take care of the guests with music and Bavarian specialities to finish the trade fair in a relaxed way. Reservations can be made from mid-May: www.iba.de/en/messe/events/iba-oktoberfest.

Further information about iba is available at www.iba.de/en.