SHERIDAN, WYOMING - January 31, 2026 - Koelnmesse will rename ProSweets Cologne to ISM Manufacturing starting in 2027, positioning the supplier and production-side trade fair more tightly under the ISM brand family. The move consolidates ISM, the new ISM Ingredients format launching in 2026, and the future ISM Manufacturing into a single, unified architecture intended to represent the full sweets and snacks value chain in Cologne. For exhibitors and trade visitors, the rebranding is framed around clearer orientation, more efficient planning, and stronger networking across raw materials, production technology, packaging, and finished product stakeholders.
A Brand Architecture Designed Around the Full Value Chain
Koelnmesse is aligning its sweets and snacks trade fair portfolio under the ISM umbrella to create a consistent international brand family. Under this structure, ISM continues to represent finished products, ISM Ingredients addresses raw materials, ingredients, and semi-finished products from 2026, and ISM Manufacturing will cover production-related supplier segments from 2027.
The stated strategic outcome is a "worldwide unique constellation" where all stages-from raw materials and technology through packaging to finished goods-are represented within one coordinated trade fair environment. Leadership continuity is maintained, with Sabine Schommer continuing as Director of ISM, while Guido Hentschke remains responsible for ISM Ingredients and ISM Manufacturing.
What Changes for Exhibitors and Visitors From 2027
The rebranding is positioned as more than a name change, with Koelnmesse linking it to workflow simplification and a more connected planning experience for participants. The intent is to reduce friction across separate event components by introducing shared digital and organizational touchpoints.
Planned elements mentioned in the source include:
- A joint website presence and ticket shop
- A central trade fair app
- Uniform networking and communication platforms
Operationally, this is meant to support better preparation, faster coordination across teams (procurement, R&D, engineering, packaging, and commercial), and more structured interaction across the supplier-to-brand-owner chain.
Response to Market Demands and Tighter Industry Interlinking
Koelnmesse is explicitly linking the realignment to shifting market demands and increased interdependence across the sweets and snacks production chain. The source emphasizes that processes are now more strongly interlinked-from ingredients and raw materials to production, packaging, and final product commercialization.
From a B2B decision-maker perspective, this framing matters because supplier selection, innovation cycles, and process upgrades increasingly require cross-functional alignment. A trade fair structure that clusters raw materials, process technology, packaging systems, and finished category outcomes can support faster partner discovery and more complete evaluation of solution stacks-provided the integration actually reduces complexity rather than adding another layer.
ProSweets Content Pillars Will Continue Under the New Name
Koelnmesse states that the format's core supplier focus remains intact. ProSweets Cologne has served since 2006 as an independent platform for suppliers, machine manufacturers, packaging technologies, and production processes in sweets and snacks, and ISM Manufacturing is positioned as a continuation and strategic development of that role.
The four central theme sections will continue to define the scope:
- Packaging Materials
- Packaging Technology
- Production Technology
- Operating Equipment & Auxiliary Devices
The key structural change is that these areas will be more strongly integrated into the overall ISM portfolio, which may increase visibility and cross-traffic between supplier segments and finished-product stakeholders.
ISM Ingredients Launches in 2026 as the Raw Materials Platform
ISM Ingredients will start in 2026 as a dedicated platform for raw materials, ingredients, and semi-finished products within the ISM environment. According to the source, it bundles the former "World of Ingredients" segment from ProSweets Cologne and targets manufacturers, suppliers, and trade visitors from across the sweets and snacks sector.
The focus is set on high-quality raw materials, innovative ingredients, and sustainable solutions-positioning ISM Ingredients as the upstream complement to the production and packaging emphasis of ISM Manufacturing and the finished-product showcase of ISM.
Registration Timing and Commercial Planning Implications
Koelnmesse notes that registration for ISM, ISM Ingredients, and ISM Manufacturing 2027 is open now, with an early bird phase ending on March 31, 2026. For exhibitors, this creates an early decision window for budget allocation, booth planning, and internal resource scheduling-especially for companies that historically split participation across finished-product and supplier-side events.
For visitors, the integrated setup implies a potentially more efficient show week planning model, where scouting can cover ingredients sourcing, process upgrades, packaging solutions, and finished-market benchmarking in one coordinated calendar.
To register or learn more about the ISM brand family in Cologne, visit https://www.ism-cologne.com/