This year saw record figures for Internorga with 1,200 exhibitors from 27 nations attracting upwards of 95,000 visitors to witness innovations, trends and complete solutions for the out-of-home market. Also apparent was a marked increase in the number of international visitors to the Hamburg Trade Fair Centre who comprised 7% of the total number, up from 4% in 2013.
First launched in 1921, Internorga remains the key industry event for the Germanic-speaking region as well as being an important show for foodservice professionals across both Western and Eastern Europe. A plethora of new products were showcased across 89,000 square meters of space, guaranteeing a complete market overview for those in the hotel, gastronomy, catering, bakery and confectionary industries.
Compelling interactive displays coupled with the high professionalism of those attending (the intake is based solely on the eligibility of trade visitors) provided an indispensable platform for quality conversations between manufacturers and decision-makers.
Reports from the CREST consumer panel of npdgroup Deutschland concerning growing consumer spending in the German out-of-home market for the fourth consecutive year led Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress to positively conclude that “this year, the conditions for Internorga are especially good.”
“Internorga remains a pivotal event for FCSI members, as well as being a key show for the whole industry,” says Frank Wagner FCSI, chair of FCSI Germany-Austria. “It was great to meet so many visitors here who have travelled from so many different countries.
“This year’s event demonstrated some innovative new products and is a great way for professional members and allied members of FCSI to network and keep on top of new developments in the market.”
Running alongside the main exhibition, the supporting programme continued to go from strength-to-strength, with the addition of innovative new concepts such as the Newcomer’s Area, the LiquID Bar and special sections of the show dedicated to innovative and gastronomic wine concepts (The Wine World), ice cream and gelateria (The Ice Cream World) and bakery and creative cake making.
Elsewhere the ‘Pink Cube’ area of the show hosted sessions dedicated to exploring trends of the future and international, innovative restaurant concepts. Café Future Live boasted an environment for members to enjoy and indulge in while the DEHOGA Forum afforded attendees the opportunity to exchange views with colleagues in a modern, relaxed atmosphere.
The night before the opening day of Internorga saw an event focusing on the theme of sustainability with the presentation of the Future Prize to companies distinguishing themselves by setting exceptional standards in environmental awareness. This year, an independent expert jury led by Dr. J. Daniel Dahm reviewed a record number of applications before awarding prizes in the following categories:
- Trendsetter company category: the South African Hotel Verde in Cape Town
- Trendsetter food & beverages product category: Herbafood Ingredients for its versatile plant-based texturiser, “BASIC textur”
- Trendsetter technology & equipment product category: ECOLAB Deutschland for its innovative dish-washing programme in block form, “APEX-System”
The next Internorga event will take place between 13 -18 March 2015 at the Hamburg Trade Fair Centre.
Lucinda Richardson
