ISM Snacks & Sweets 2027 at a glance

ISM Snacks & Sweets is Koelnmesse’s international trade fair for sweets and snacks. The organiser lists the 2027 dates as 31 January–3 February 2027 at Koelnmesse, Fair Grounds, Köln-Deutz, Cologne, Germany. The event is organised by Koelnmesse GmbH and is open to trade visitors. The organiser describes the fair as an annual event.

Cologne ISM is relevant to professionals working across finished confectionery and snack products, as well as ingredients, packaging and production equipment. The value of a visit depends on having a clear category or sourcing objective: the product range is broad, so buyers and suppliers may want to prioritise the segments most closely connected to their business.

Why Cologne ISM matters to sweets and snacks professionals

The official 2027 product-group index covers multiple parts of the sector, from consumer-ready products to manufacturing-related categories. That breadth can help trade visitors compare offerings across adjacent categories and consider how products, ingredients and equipment fit their commercial needs.

• Compare finished products: chocolate, sugar confectionery, fine bakery products and snack foods are among the listed categories.
• Explore specialist ranges: the index also lists natural and sugar-free snacks, ice cream and frozen confectionery.
• Look beyond the finished item: raw materials, ingredients, packaging, packing machines, production equipment, food safety and quality management are also represented.

The current product-group index is a useful starting point for deciding which areas to investigate. Its category counts are directory listings and should not be read as a count of unique exhibitors, since companies may appear in more than one category.

Who should visit Cologne ISM?

Retail and wholesale buyers

If you select products for retail or wholesale channels, use the fair to compare confectionery and snack ranges against your category plan. Consider which formats, price positions, pack sizes and supply requirements matter to your customers, then focus conversations on those criteria.

Importers and distributors

For importers and distributors, Cologne ISM can be a place to review product portfolios across chocolate, sweets, biscuits and snacks and to assess possible supplier or distribution fit. Prepare questions about target markets, product specifications, packaging, availability and the evidence needed for your own due diligence.

Product and brand teams

Teams responsible for product development, brand portfolios or category management may compare listed product segments and note where products differ in ingredients, format or intended channel. Treat observations as inputs to your own market and consumer research rather than as proof of demand.

Manufacturers and technical suppliers

Manufacturers and suppliers of ingredients, packaging or production equipment may use the fair to understand the range of solutions represented alongside finished products. Define the production or packaging problem your offer addresses and prepare concise technical information for relevant discussions.

Product categories at Cologne ISM

The organiser’s 2027 exhibitor product index lists the following groups:

• Chocolate and cocoa products
• Sugar confectionery
• Fine bakery products
• Snack foods, including trend and natural snacks
• Sugar-free confectionery and snacks
• Ice cream, frozen confectionery and raw pastes
• Raw materials and ingredients
• Packaging materials, packaging and packing machines
• Machinery, equipment, automation and related production services
• Food safety and quality management

Use the index to make a shortlist rather than trying to cover every category. For each priority group, note what you need to compare: product format, ingredient information, packaging, production requirements or supplier capabilities.

How to prepare for Cologne ISM

Set a specific objective

Choose a practical outcome for your visit, such as identifying a shortlist of potential suppliers in a defined product category or comparing packaging options for a particular range. A focused objective makes it easier to decide which conversations deserve time.

Build a category-based shortlist

Review the official exhibitor product-group index and group relevant companies by priority: essential to meet, useful to investigate and optional if time allows. The directory is a discovery aid; confirm company details and participation information through the organiser’s current channels.

Prepare product and supplier questions

For finished sweets and snacks, consider asking about ingredients, pack formats, product specifications, availability and the markets a supplier serves. For ingredients, packaging or equipment, adapt questions to the application, technical requirements, compatibility, documentation and after-sales support you need to evaluate. Ask for information rather than assuming that a product or solution meets your requirements.

Plan your follow-up

Keep a consistent record for each discussion: company, product or solution, why it may fit, information still needed and the next action. This makes it easier to compare options after the fair and distinguish a promising conversation from a verified supplier match.

Making useful comparisons during the fair

When reviewing products, compare like with like. For retail-ready items, record category, format, packaging, ingredient or specification information and the channel for which the product may be suitable. For production or packaging suppliers, capture the application, technical details to verify, installation or service questions and any documentation required by your business.

Do not rely on memory when reviewing several similar products. Ask permission to retain relevant product information, note the contact responsible for follow-up and identify any claims or specifications that require independent verification before a purchasing decision.

For exhibitors and product suppliers

Companies considering a stand or other participation can use the fair’s product-group structure to clarify how their offer fits the sweets-and-snacks supply chain. A strong preparation plan begins with a defined objective: introduce a product range, assess distribution interest, present ingredients or packaging, or explain a production solution. Identify the professional buyers or technical decision-makers most relevant to that objective and prepare product information that supports a substantive discussion.

The organiser’s current pages provide the official exhibitor information and application route. Check those channels for the applicable participation conditions, deadlines, costs and service details; these can change by edition and are not stated here.

After Cologne ISM: turn notes into decisions

Sort contacts and product information soon after the fair. Separate immediate opportunities from longer-term possibilities and general category observations. For each shortlisted supplier, verify specifications, ingredients, packaging, pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, compliance documents and commercial terms directly before making a commitment. For equipment or ingredient options, compare technical fit and support requirements against your own production process.

For exhibitors, follow up with the contacts and market segments that match the objective set before the fair. Record which questions remain unanswered and agree on a clear next step. A structured review helps teams make evidence-based decisions without treating a brief meeting as a guarantee of business.

Is Cologne ISM worth visiting?

Cologne ISM is most relevant to trade professionals whose work connects with sweets, confectionery, snacks or their ingredients, packaging and production systems. Retail and wholesale buyers may use its range to compare products; distributors can assess supplier fit; manufacturers and technical suppliers can explore the adjacent parts of the supply chain. The fair’s value for any individual visitor depends on selecting relevant categories, preparing focused questions and following up on information that still needs checking.

Cologne ISM 2027: event details

Make your Cologne ISM visit purposeful

Before you go, decide what you need to compare or learn. During the fair, record product and supplier details consistently. Afterwards, verify the information that matters to your decision and follow up with a clear next step. Discover. Compare. Evaluate. Follow up.

Confectionery and snack opportunities in Germany

Market size and trade

The German confectionery association BDSI reported that sweets production in Germany reached 4.168 million tonnes and €19.071 billion in value in 2025. Production volume was 3.7% lower than in 2024, while value was 11.5% higher. BDSI also reported 2025 imports of 1.767 million tonnes (€11.962 billion) and exports of 2.334 million tonnes (€16.680 billion). These figures describe a substantial production and cross-border trade base, but the volume changes caution against assuming uniform growth across categories.

Commercial opportunities and considerations

For confectionery and snack brands, distributors and buyers, the reported import and export flows make it reasonable to investigate how product ranges and supplier portfolios fit Germany’s trade channels. Cologne ISM’s product categories offer a setting to compare chocolate, sweets, bakery goods and snacks alongside ingredients and packaging. This is a possibility to assess, not evidence of guaranteed buyer demand or an easy route to market; competition and category-specific commercial conditions still need to be checked.

Food-information requirements

The European Commission identifies Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 as the EU framework for food information to consumers. It covers responsibilities of food business operators and, among other provisions, mandatory food information and allergen emphasis for prepacked foods. Companies evaluating products for Germany should confirm the current requirements applicable to their products, packaging and intended sales channels.

What this means for exhibitors and visitors

Exhibitors may use the fair to test the fit of their ranges, ingredients or packaging with buyers and partners active in this production and trade environment, while preparing relevant product and compliance information. Visitors may compare domestic and imported options and evaluate suppliers against their own specifications, channel needs and regulatory checks. Neither a market statistic nor a fair conversation guarantees a commercial outcome.