The concept

As today, the concept of ISM was already at the time very clear: Producers and importers present a virtually comprehensive overview of the global offer of sweets. Exclusively end products destined for sale in retail outlets are exhibited. Attending the trade fair is limited exclusively to trade visitors from the industry.

That is how it all started in 1971: Simple stand walls provided by Koelnmesse, plain furnishings - the 351 exhibitors of the early days came from 14 countries and took up 16,500 m² of gross exhibition space. Anyone, who takes a look at the old black and white photos, sees pretty boring stands at which serious-looking people in grey suits are holding discussions about products that are arranged in a tidy, discrete manner. The first trade fair was a success. "ISM turned out to be a first-class European ordering location" - according to the final report of Koelnmesse. And further: "Lively foreign activity that surpassed the expectations".