50 years of ISM

50 years of sweets and snacks trade fair

The international sweets and snacks trade fair celebrates its 50th anniversary. Discover the highlights and trends of the confectionery and snacks industry at the anniversary event of ISM 2020. Since the first sweets trade fair, decision-makers of the industry present innovative ideas at ISM and thereby influence the colorful and delicious world of sweets. Travel back in time with us to the year 1971 and take a look at the beginning of ISM’s success story. The international sweets and snacks trade fair has been and will be the most important ordering and information platform of the international confectionery and snacks industry. We invite you to enter the sweet and colorful world of ISM!

1971:The beginning of ISM’s success story

In 1971, the international sweets trade fair in Cologne took place for the first time. It was the beginning of the trade fair’s 50-year-long success story as well as a big breakthrough for German sweets and snacks producers on the international market!

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The unmatched ISM concept

A trade fair especially for producers and importers of the industry – this has been the concept of ISM ever since the beginning. Trade visitors get exclusive insights into the latest product developments of the industry!

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Development of ISM

ISM started as a spin-off of ANUGA – today, it is more successful than ever. Approximately 38,000 trade visitors come to ISM every year to discover international sweets and snacks. The products’ high quality and diversity are also reflected in ISM’s unique stand design!

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The road to success of the sweets and snacks trade fair

Concept and design of the trade fair have captivated trade visitors from the beginning. The flashy colors in our new logo reflect the character of the trade fair. Find out more about our logo and see which exhibitors have been ISM ‘regulars’ since 1971. ISM has been making history in the sweets and snacks industry for 50 years!

ISM logo – eye-popping, pink, recognizable

Did you know that our logo has not always been as bright and as sugar-sweet as it is now? From 1971 to 1986, the ISM logo was orange and always featured the year of the event. Only since 1987, the ISM logo has been strikingly pink and without the date. Now, the design of the ISM logo reflects the unique characteristics of the sweets and snacks trade fair!

50 years ISM catalogue covers (.pdf)

ISM exhibitors for 50 years

Unbelievable yet true: 28 companies share 50 years of history with ISM. Since 1971, leaders of the confectionery production industry have been an inseparable part of ISM. These include Aachener Printen- und Schokoladenfabrik Henry Lambertz GmbH & Co. KG, Coppenrath, Eichetti Confect, Frankonia, Genuport Trade GmbH, Trolli, Riegelein, Rübezahl, Zentis and many more. For 50 years, ISM has presented the latest product developments of high-class producers in the confectionery and snacks industry. In 2019, Prof. Dr. Hermann Bühlbecker, owner of the Aachener Printen- und Schokoladenfabrik Henry Lambertz GmbH & Co. KG, received the ISM award for outstanding achievements in the industry.

The foundation of two foreign satellite events

The foundation of two foreign satellite events abroad are also part of ISM's history. In 2004, the first Sweets China was held in Shanghai.In 2017, the Sweets Middle East in Dubai followed, which is now called yummex Middle East.

ProSweets parallel to ISM

ProSweets Cologne is THE international supplier trade fair for the sweets and snacks industry. It took place for the first time in 2006. With the combination of a supplier trade fair and a products trade fair, ISM and ProSweets Cologne represent the entire value chain of the sweets and snacks industry. Discover exceptional raw materials, new technologies, innovative packaging and trendy ready-for-sale products in one location. ISM and ProSweets Cologne – the perfect synergy for exhibitors and trade visitors!

ISM today

With new exhibition spaces for young companies, trend-orientated topics and innovative product developments, ISM has its finger on the pulse of the industry. In 2019, ISM added hall 3.1 to the exhibition area in order to have more space to present the numerous products and events in a more enjoyable and comfortable way to the visitors. ISM is organized by Koelnmesse and sponsored by the Task Force for the International Sweets and Snacks Trade Fair (AISM).

ISM Cologne – Everything the heart desires

ISM tomorrow

Today’s sweets and snacks business is facing major changes, comparable to those which led to the establishment of ISM in 1971. While it was the increasing replacement of traditional corner shops by self-service supermarkets and the formation of the first discounters then, today’s keywords are digitalisation, artificial intelligence and big data. ISM with its concentrated expertise of the world’s key players is the platform to exchange ideas and get new insights, e.g. in the scope of our innovation congress on ISM-Tuesday.