Internorga 2025 has further consolidated its position as the leading trade fair for the restaurant and hotel industry. From March 14 to 18, around 85,000 visitors came to Hamburg – an increase over the 80,000 who attended last year. The trade fair offered a comprehensive overview of innovations, future concepts, and sustainable developments in the out-of-home market. The approximately 1,200 exhibitors also included representatives from the fruit, vegetable, and potato sectors.
Clear trend towards convenience products
In particular, Friday, Sunday, as well as Monday were all well attended, whereas the last day of the fair on Tuesday was weaker, according to Elbtaler GmbH, a subsidiary of the Heilmann Group. "There was also some interest from abroad. Potential customers from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia were interested in our products with a long shelf life (3 months) and will receive offers. For the second year in a row, we presented our potato pancake and gratin for tasting as a trade fair highlight. We also demonstrated a Leasing Hummus machine with a business partner. We sell the cooked chickpeas with a one-year shelf life, and he sells the machines. This innovation was very well received by visitors. Our core business, however, remains potatoes, whether conventional or organic, fresh or cooked. Every year, we acquire new customers at the fair," said Chris Bastian, who represented the company at the event.
The Heilmann Group team represented the subsidiaries Elbtaler, Grocholl, and ibuss Kartoffelcenter.
"The mood at the fair was overwhelmingly positive," continues Bastian. "The catering industry is still hesitant when it comes to processed products. However, due to staff shortages and cost reasons, they are increasingly resorting to them. It also remains to be seen how the economic situation in Germany will develop. Short-time working and waves of layoffs are not exactly going to put more cash in people's pockets. For many people, gastronomy is still considered a luxury, and it will certainly feel the effects of this. Catering and large kitchens continue to do very well. Here, too, there is a tendency towards processed goods. After all, these areas also have to put more and more quantity on plates at the lowest possible cost."
Positive mood in the catering industry
Nienburg-based fresh-cut and salad expert Frikoni was also present at Internorga for the sixth year in a row. This year, the company was also located in the Genussgarten. "In our opinion, the trade fair was again better attended than in previous years, and the general mood in the restaurant and catering industry is much more positive overall than it was a few years ago. We presented our high-protein bowls and the relatively new ready-to-eat items, i.e., fresh vegetables with a side dish that satisfies your appetite, as highlights of the trade fair. Both product lines have been particularly well received by the specialist audience at the fair," says Lukas Frese, Key Account Manager at the company.
© Hugo Huijbers | FP.com
For 35 years now, Frikoni has been devoted to the production and marketing of fresh-cut products of all kinds. About 80 percent of the total turnover is allotted to the food service, and in addition, the food retailing industry is also supplied. In both areas, convenience continues to show an upward trend. Frese: "The ubiquitous topics of conversation on site included, among other things, reusable packaging and to-go cutlery. So far, we still lack a sophisticated reusable concept. Furthermore, the demand for high convenience in (system) catering is gradually increasing, which in turn is due to the shortage of staff."
Right: Frikoni's exhibition stand at this year's Internorga.
For more information:
www.internorga.com/
https://mein-elbtaler.de/
https://frikoni.de/