HAMBURG, Germany – Three days, roughly 80 programme points and 110 speakers on the main stages in Cologne and Hamburg – the premiere of the IDX_FS International Digital Food Services Expo powered by INTERNORGA (IDX_FS Expo) offered information, inspiration and lively discussions. From 15 to 17 March, the industry of the entire foodservice and hospitality market came together virtually to expand networks and discover innovative solutions.
With the IDX_FS Expo, the three cooperating partners INTERNORGA, IDX Events and the Institute of Culinary Art presented a multifaceted and top-class programme which extensively highlighted the current topics in the industry and provided a space for intense discussions.
A total of 15,000 participants from 79 countries attended IDX_FS Expo over all three event days and followed the panels, talks, competitions, award ceremonies and video podcasts, as well as the exhibitors’ streams. Around 100 exhibitors and partners presented their products and services virtually.
Typical Internorga: innovations, trends and inspiration for the industry
Virtually this year and not face to face: in times of social distancing and travel restrictions, INTERNORGA, the Institute of Culinary Art and IDX Events developed an innovative digital platform with IDX_FS Expo – from the industry, for the industry. ‘As the major international trade fair for the entire foodservice and hospitality market, we are treading new paths with INTERNORGA, also in its 100th anniversary year, and have transported our physical event into the digital realm. We are looking back at an intensive time with many new experiences. IDX_FS Expo offered the community a valuable format for talks, inspiration and trends. We’re pleased that we were able to provide a modern platform together with our partners from the multifaceted industry, one which delivered amazing content. The latest challenges were discussed on a high level,’ sums up Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.
Michael Buck, CEO of IDX Events, says: ‘With IDX_FS Expo, we have created an innovative virtual format which enables a professional exchange between brands and customers. Despite the technical challenges, the platform has become the digital driving force for exhibitors, visitors and speakers. The foodservice industry profits from the latest thought-provoking impulses and is making a valuable step towards digitalisation with the expo.’
Programme of IDX_FS Expo stands out with its diversity and depth
A diverse range of discussion forums, panels, talks and competitions were presented on three live stages in Hamburg and Cologne simultaneously via streaming. These, together with a number of exhibitor sessions, made the IDX_FS Expo a first-class digital industry event.
Under the motto ‘Foodservice and gastronomy of the future’, the studio in Cologne offered live talks about the latest industry topics, such as the digitalisation of the industry. The stages in Hamburg scored big with new formats, amongst others, such as the video podcast series ‘INTERNORGA Insights’ with OMR founder Philipp Westermeyer and his celebrity guests, the ProVeg video podcast with Katleen Haefele, and the digital issue of the trend forum Pink Cube with food trend researcher Karin Tischer. The hospitality lounge, Café FUTURE Live, broadcasted a mix of daily deep dives and best practices on two days from Hamburg, as well as trends and topics which will affect both system and community gastronomy as well as hospitality in future.
Top-class speakers from the politics, business and culture, such as Olaf Scholz, Richard David Precht and Tim Mälzer, reflected on the importance, challenges and future outlook of the industry. The 39th International Food Service Forum – Europe’s largest congress for professional gastronomy – also offered a look outside the box. ‘Exceptional times call for exceptional measures. Against the backdrop of the corona pandemic, the International Food Service Forum moved to the virtual stage for the first time, streamed live from Hamburg. Big names in professional gastronomy talked about the past tough months, presented learnings, discussed intensely. Around 1,000 participants followed the forum on their screens from home. The feedback to this event was, despite the technical difficulties at first, extremely positive across the board – which is why we will certainly think about offering a hybrid event in future. But nothing replaces personal contact – and so we look forward to the 40th International Food Service Forum in 2022 in Hamburg as an in-personal event,’ sums up Boris Tomic, Editor in Chief dfv Hospitality Media.
Additional highlights were the awarding of the INTERNORGA Future Award for pioneering and sustainable gastronomy and technical concepts as well as the finale of the German Gastro-Gründer award for young, enthusiastic start-ups.
IDX_FS Expo: Optimal format in challenging times
“With IDX_FS Expo, we have launched an interacitve and innovative platform for exhibitors and visitors whose content is perfectly in tune with the industry. The latest trends, innovations and solutions could be discovered under a virtual umbrella in 3D. I’m very pleased that our concept was accepted so well by the visitors. IDX_FS Expo was and is absolutely necessary and imporant for dialogue within the industry. After a few bugs at the start, we discovered that we still have a lot to learn and optimise in terms of the technical details and digital competencies. I’m confident that we will excel with each additional digital event and become better and better,” sums up Gerhard Bruder, Patron and President of the Institute of Culinary Art.
The next INTERNORGA is taking place from 18 to 22 March 2022 in Hamburg, Germany.
All videos will be available shortly on the IDX_FS Expo platform via the programme view of the three main stages.
About Internorga
INTERNORGA has been the leading international trade fair for hotels, restaurants, bakery and confectionery for 100 years and takes place annually on the grounds of Hamburg Messe und Congress. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it cannot be held physically in March 2021. Instead, the first IDX_FS International Digital Food Services Expo powered by INTERNORGA is taking place digitally from 15 to 17 March 2021.
