IEG: A global SIGEP concluded in Rimini (ITALY)

Welcome back, Sigep the powerful! Excitement, commerce, exhibits, and innovation, the whole dolce foodservice sector has recovered its worldwide platform, and in terms of attendance, the record edition of 2020 is expected to be surpassed (which was then followed by the 2021 digital edition and a 2022 edition postponed until March due to travel restrictions).

The 44th edition of the International Trade Show of Artisan Gelato, Pastry, Bakery, and Coffee, organized by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group, along with the triennial AB Tech show, generated five days under the banner of concreteness, the encounter between knowledge and first-class training, and was teeming with business and networking within a panorama of a solid and innovative offer, prepared to support further development.

A Sigep of rediscovered confidence, with firms rediscovering the importance of partnerships and rekindling their zeal for presenting the ideas developed over the course of the past two arduous years. A Sigep that exuded a wonderful vibe that could be felt throughout the whole Rimini Expo Centre, which was completely filled out with over 1,000 firms using 28 halls and 130,000 square meters of exhibition area.

A industry characterized by extraordinary innovation, creativity, and export tendency. The made-in-Italy dolce food service disseminates technology and skill worldwide. An successful appeal was discovered at Sigep: guests from 155 nations came in Rimini. 77% from Europe, primarily Germany, Spain, Greece, France, and the United Kingdom; 12% from Asia and the Middle East, primarily Israel, Lebanon, India, Korea, and the Gulf Area; 7% from the Americas, primarily the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina; and 4% from Africa, primarily Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Nigeria.

Inaugurated by the national president of Confcommercio, Carlo Sangalli, together with local authorities and with the remote intervention, on the second day, of Minister Francesco Lollobrigida (Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry), IEG welcomed 450 top buyers from 78 countries thanks to the strategic partnership with ITA – Italian Trade Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the support of IEG's international office.

SIGEP 2023 represented the full return to its size as the world's largest exhibition for artisan gelato and one of the first for the pastry, bakery, and coffee industries. In addition to the quantitative statistics, its performance was primarily determined by the overall happiness of exhibitors and attendees.

A completely sold-out schedule of daily activities at Vision Plaza, the genuine hub of trends and economic information for the dolce food service industry, a vital participant in the 'out-of-home' sector, which is worth around one billion euros in Italy alone. The NPD Group's revenue increased by 3% following the pandemic-related halt and limitations, indicating a good comeback. Increasing acquaintance with travel will aid development. In its global Foodservice Market Monitor, Deloitte estimated global values of 2,525 billion euros (+14 percent from 2022). Italy ranks first in Europe in terms of market value for Full Service restaurants in 2022, with a total market share of 36 billion euros.

Gelato, Pastry, Choco, Coffee, and Bakery were all represented at the exhibition, with the Bakery supply chain being bolstered by the concurrent holding of AB Tech Expo.

Shows, programming, and contests in the six Arenas: Dolce, Gelato, Pastry, Chocolate, Bakery, and Coffee, in addition to the Start-Up Area and Digital Talks. A programming supplemented with more than one hundred presentations and two hundred speakers, including fifty foreign speakers, and more than twenty contests with thirty participating nations. More than a thousand activities hosted by exhibitors. All the major masters of Italian dolce culinary items were present at the exhibition.

Four international contests were highlighted: the Gelato Europe Cup, which chose the European countries for the 2024 World Cup, the Bread in the City-Bakery World Cup, The Pastry Queen women's pastry world championship, and the Junior World Pastry Championship.

Sigep and AB Tech captured the interest of Italian and worldwide media, resulting in 439 million total contacts. There were 655 accreditations in the press room, of which 70 were international.

Social profiles gained 137,000 followers, and professional operators saw 280,000 exhibitor profiles on the B2B platform TEO The Eating Out Hub throughout the days of the event.

The 45th Sigep is slated for January 20-24, 2024 at the Rimini Expo Centre.

But before to that, Sigep, the platform for the dolce foodservice community and the Italian way to experience it, is preparing for an ambitious new event: Sigep China. It will be organized by EAGLE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IEG, in cooperation with Cologne Expo, at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Centre in conjunction with Anufood China from the 10th to the 12th of May 2023.

From the 19th to the 22nd of February 2023, IEG's next appointment with the food and beverage industry will take place at the Rimini Expo Centre with Beer&Food Attraction.