Show Director Guido Hentschke shares how ProSweets Cologne drives innovation and collaboration, working seamlessly with ISM to unite the confectionery industry
Can you introduce yourself and give our readers a brief background on ProSweets Cologne history?
My name is Guido Hentschke, and I have been the Director of ProSweets Cologne since 2021. This fair is the world’s only supplier fair focussing on the confectionery and snack industry and it was established to serve as a vital platform for the suppliers, complementing the ISM, which focuses on finished products. So we say that ISM and ProSweets Cologne take place as part of Sweet Week and represent the entire value chain of the confectionery and snack industry.
Over the years, ProSweets Cologne has grown into a premier event for manufacturers of machinery, packaging, ingredients, and other essential components, bringing innovation and collaboration to the forefront of the industry. Our aim is to be the Europe-wide content and event platform for the sweets and snacks industry.
How has ProSweets Cologne evolved over the years to become a key event for the confectionery and snack industries?
ProSweets Cologne has continually evolved by staying closely aligned with the needs of the industry and adapted to meet the changing needs of our industry. Over the years, we’ve expanded our content to cover more relevant industry topics, such as digitalisation, sustainability, rising raw material prices, shortage of skilled labour and more. We’ve also restructured our halls to create clearly defined thematic areas, making it easier for attendees to navigate and find solutions tailored to their needs.
The fact that we are taking place parallel to the ISM has been a critical part of this evolution, creating valuable synergies between the supplier side and the finished products sector. Matchmaking is a key priority for us. We aim to facilitate meaningful connections between suppliers and manufacturers. By continuously refining the event based on industry feedback, PSC has become an indispensable platform for innovation, networking, growth and business opportunities.
For 2025, what can visitors and exhibitors expect in terms of new opportunities at ProSweets Cologne?
In 2025, visitors can look forward to the best ProSweets Cologne edition yet thanks to our revised event concept: we have improved the hall structure, created theme worlds for a better overview, integrated the Lab5 by ISM into our exhibition hall 10.1, put together a high-quality stage programme on the Expert Stage and Sweet Week Talks & Tasting and launched the Sweet Week Production Summit. The Sweet Week Production Summit, taking place for the first time, will bring together exhibitors and visitors from both trade fairs on 3 February 2025. First-class best-practice examples will be presented that demonstrate the use of AI tools for cost-efficient and future-orientated production. This will be complemented by short pitch sessions from suppliers of ProSweets Cologne exhibitors and a subsequent matchmaking forum in the networking area to initiate concrete solutions and business relationships. There will also be a DLG Careers Day for the first time.
Are there any specific innovations or industry trends you’re excited to see on display?
I am particularly excited about the innovations in the fields of digitalisation, AI and automation that will be on show, especially with regard to the optimisation of production processes. Sustainability will also be a key topic, with solutions involving environmentally friendly packaging and energy-efficient machines.
Could you share more about your conference stages? What are the key topics being addressed?
Our stages, including the Expert Stage and the Sweet Week – Talks & Tasting Stage, will cover a wide range of relevant topics. From the latest in digitalisation and AI-driven production methods to sustainability and ingredient innovations, we aim to provide practical insights that attendees can immediately apply to their businesses. We’re also hosting exclusive tastings that explore new flavour profiles and trends. The Sweet Week Production Summit will be a highlight but also our special show ingredients which is a special area. Together with our partner, the future agency Haute Innovation, we will be presenting and discovering the latest and most exciting ingredients and raw materials with selected start-ups.
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Editor, International Confectionery
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