In just a few days, the stage will be set for trends and innovations at the world’s leading trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry.
“We are delighted when visitors and exhibitors from all over the world come to iba – and find what they need for the future viability of their businesses,” says Susann Seidemann, head of iba.
What are the total musts to definitely see? Here are the most important tips…
Take this bucket list with you and you’re ready to go: starting Sunday, 18 May, at Fairground Düsseldorf, 983 exhibitors will present their trade fair highlights in seven halls, the best of the baking trade will compete for awards and the heads of the global baking industry will meet at lectures, award ceremonies and networking events.
1. Benefit from the bundled practical expertise of the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade
At the stand of the German Bakers‘ Confederation (Hall 14/A21) visitors can find out more about the Confederation’s work. At the iba.FORUM, they can benefit from the hands-on know-how of professionals – the programme changes daily. And at iba.ACADEMY, trade fair participants and trainees will benefit from practical insights. Promoting the next baker generation is a major concern for the Confederation. At the ‘Trainee Workshop’, trainees can learn about exciting new developments in the baking sector during daily tours of the trade fair and can take home new in-depth knowledge at workshops (Hall 14/A13) from 10 a.m. Monday to Thursday. The trade fair Sunday, 18 May, is dedicated to the bakery trade from dawn to dusk as ‘Bakers’ Day’.
2. World-class competitions – watching the best
Inspiration is provided by the industry’s top talents. They will be demonstrating their skills in front of an audience at the German Bakers Confederation stand (14/A11) in the show bakeries:
18 & 19 May: the best bakers from six countries will compete against each other for The iba UIBC Cup of Bakers.
21 & 22 May: the best confectioners from Korea, Albania, Italy, Germany, Mexico and Taiwan will fight for The iba UIBC Cup of Confectioners.
20 May: finalists of the German Championship of Master Bakers will compete against each other from the morning. Award ceremony: 5 p.m.
21 May: A premiere is the World Championship of Bread-Sommeliers, where 16 finalists from all over the world will be competing. Award ceremony: 5 p.m.
Further award ceremonies:
18 May, 11 a.m.: Honorary Award of the German Bakery Trade
20 May, 10 a.m.: Design Competition The Bakery of the Future
11 a.m.: iba.Award
12 p.m.: iba Trophy
3. Become a pretzel master with iba.ACADEMY
Anyone interested in learning artisan bakery is absolutely invited attending a workshop offered by the iba.ACADEMY (Hall 14/A13). Participants will dive deep into the secrets of original German pretzel making explained step by step by professionals: from ingredients to dough to forming the right shape. English language Master of Pretzels seminars are offered on opening Sunday from 2 to 4.30 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. All participants will be awarded a certificate. Please do make sure to register your participation early.
4. On-stage programme: best practice, panels, pitches and more
Presentations will take place on three stages: the iba.FORUM (Hall 14/A21) offers best-practice presentations and stage talks by industry experts in addition to the competitions. On the iba.STAGE (Hall 15), there will be 20-minute presentations on focal topics and ‘sum-ups’ by exhibitors every day from 10 a.m. onwards. In the iba.START UP AREA (Hall 13/D61), founders will pitch their business models on Sunday at 1 p.m. and Monday to Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
5. Networking: Ensuring contacts with people from all over the world
The international baking industry meets in Düsseldorf and for five days there are a lot of opportunities to network with inspiring people and to develop new business. At the exhibitor stands, on the fringes of competitions, award ceremonies, during or after panel discussions or at the evening events in the iba.EVENT AREA.
