INTERNORGA 2024 unrivalled highlight for entire foodservice and hospitality market Industry event braves strikes to inspire attendees

03/12/2024

The aroma of food trends and innovative products for the catering, hotel and baking industries fills the Hamburg air. From 8 to 12 March 2024, the Hanseatic city once again became INTERNORGA Town and brought the entire foodservice and hospitality sector together by the Alster and Elbe. In line with the motto ‘All together.’, attendees at the international trade fair for the catering, hotel, bakery and confectionery industries were once again treated to exhibitors from all over the world, an extraordinary supporting programme with high-quality congresses and exciting competitions, and plenty of time and space to network.

INTERNORGA 2024 once again lived up to its reputation as the leading international trade fair for the sector, bringing the entire industry together and offering a varied programme that included a competition for up-and-coming chefs, informative sessions on the numerous stages and around 1,200 exhibitors from almost 30 countries. ‘We noticed how hotly anticipated INTERNORGA was over the past few months, not only internally but also among exhibitors and visitors,’ Claudia Johannsen, Business Unit Director of Hamburg Messe und Congress says in summary. ‘We focused our event on a lot of dialogue and information because that is what the industry really needed.’

Start-ups and artificial intelligence are now established elements of the industry
INTERNORGA has always provided a platform for industry trends and innovations. This year, the Newcomers’ Area once again demonstrated the fresh and inspiring ideas that newly established companies can bring to the market. The community discovered the most exciting new products there, while What The Food! – by foodlab provided networking opportunities. The leading trade fair once again gave the topic of artificial intelligence its own area this year with the AI CENTER for innovative start-ups. New formats and specials such as the HOOSY Hackathon, a programming competition taking place for the first time, and The Social Kitchen for influencers and creators complemented the rest of the trade fair and showed that INTERNORGA remains the undisputed trendsetter that always tailors its supporting programme to the needs of those in the industry. ‘INTERNORGA reflects the fast-paced developments in the catering and hotel industries,’ says Matthias Balz, Director of INTERNORGA. ‘The diversity of the exhibiting companies, their products and the innovative solutions and concepts were highly impressive.’

Exclusive to INTERNORGA: Nonstop diverse and high-quality programming
All five days of INTERNORGA 2024 offered opportunities to enjoy food for thought and interaction, to learn from experts and to network, in the Hamburger Messehallen trade fair halls and beyond. Major players in the industry, trend researchers and insiders provided insights into the catering and hotel industries of tomorrow on the Open Stage. The largest and most important industry congress, the International Foodservice Forum, was once again a success that brought together an international who’s who of the industry on the day before the trade fair. ‘Every day in Hamburg you could feel that special atmosphere that only INTERNORGA can create. Everywhere you go, you meet interesting contacts, have inspiring conversations and gain fresh insights,’ says Christian Strootmann, Chairman of the INTERNORGA Trade Fair Advisory Board and Managing Director at United Tables. ‘As exhibitors, especially considering the challenging conditions this year, we are fully satisfied with the INTERNORGA 2024.’

The OFF THE RECORD Afterwork Lounge rounded off each day of the exciting trade fair again in 2024. ‘In keeping with the INTERNORGA motto “All together.”, we are proud to have been able to host the entire out-of-home market,’ summarised Heiko M. Stutzinger, CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress. ‘Despite various rail and air strikes, we brought together the industry not only in the CCH and at the trade fair centre, but throughout the city. The atmosphere was fantastic, the attendees were impressed by what INTERNORGA had to offer, and I’m already looking forward to next year.’

That impression is also confirmed by the results of a survey by an independent market research institute: over 90% of those surveyed were very satisfied with what the trade fair offered, and 95% would recommend the trade fair to others. With around 80,000 visitors, INTERNORGA 2024 once again demonstrated its importance as a leading international trade fair.

The next INTERNORGA will take place in Hamburg from 14 to 18 March 2025.

The figures provided are based on an extrapolation from the last day of the trade fair, as of 12 p.m., and are provisional. Statements from selected INTERNORGA exhibitors can be found from 15 March March under Exhibitor opinions.

Press material for download: https://hmc.canto.de/b/VFUO9