Event highlights outlined for iba 2025 showgoers

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Event highlights outlined for iba 2025 showgoers

9 May 2025

Maddie Lambert

Maddie Lambert is a copywriter and editor from Joplin, MO. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English – literary studies. When she’s not poring over the magazine or lost in the pages of a new novel, you can find Maddie exploring her local bookstores, spending time with her husband, or sharing her latest literary discoveries with fellow book enthusiasts.

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY — Among the myriad baking trends and innovations to be deeply covered at iba 2025, set for May 18-22 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the association highlighted an ‘ultimate bucket list’ for showgoers.

Come the first day of the event, 983 exhibitors will present their trade fair insights, and the heads of the global baking industry will attend award ceremonies, networking events and informative lectures.

Check out the show’s top 10 highlights.

1. Collective expertise of the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade

At the German Bakers’ Confederation stand, visitors can find out more about its work and benefit from the hands-on know-how of professionals at the iba.FORUM. At iba.ACADEMY, trade fair participants and trainees will glean practical insights and learn about new developments in the baking sector during daily tours of the trade fair and receive in-depth knowledge at workshops.

2. World-class competitions

Top industry talents will demonstrate their skills in front of a live audience. Bakers from six countries will compete for the gold in the iba UIBC Cup of Bakers, and the best confectioners from Korea, Albania, Italy, Germany, Mexico and Taiwan will fight for the iba UIBC Cup of Confectioners. The World Championship of Bread-Sommeliers will take place on May 21 and feature 16 finalists from all over the world.

3.Pretzel mastering with iba.ACADEMY

Visitors interested in artisan baking can attend a workshop offered by the iba.ACADEMY and dive into the original German pretzel making process, explained in step-by-step detail by professionals. From ingredients to dough to forming the right shape, the Master of Pretzels seminars are offered on multiple event days.

4. On-stage program: Best practice, panels, pitches and more

Presentations will take place on three stages: The iba.FORUM will offer best-practice presentations and stage talks by industry experts in addition to the competitions. On the iba.STAGE, there will be 20-minute presentations on focal topics and ‘sum-ups’ by exhibitors every day starting at 10 a.m. In the iba.START UP AREA, founders will pitch their business models on Sunday at 1 p.m. and Monday to Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

5. Networking: Ensuring contacts with people from all over the world

For five days, members of the international baking industry will have opportunities to network with other professionals and generate new business, whether it be at the exhibitor stands, competitions, award ceremonies, panel discussions or at the evening events in the iba.EVENT AREA.

6. Experience diversity throughout the show floor

Featuring demonstrations and new products, iba covers the baking industry’s entire spectrum: from automation, production and artisan bakery to snack ideas and food trends. Visitors can draw inspiration for the future of their businesses from this wide range of exhibits.

7. Global solutions in seven halls

Nearly 1,000 exhibitors from 46 countries will present their solutions, including artisan bakery, production, process optimization, packaging, raw materials, logistics, sales, digitalization and finished products. The seven halls are organized according to different focus areas. The iba.DIGITALISATION AREA will highlight the bakery of the future’s visionary possibilities and how employees can be unburdened by the implementation of modern technology.

8. Focus topics: Digitalization, artisan bakery and food trends

The top focus topics at iba are artisan bakery, digitalization and food trends and will run as a common thread through the exhibition, competitions and presentations.

9. TOUR: Tours of the trends

Guided tours through the halls offer attendees an introduction to the wide range of exhibitor themes and the latest trends in the bakery sector from company consultants on 2-hour tours. The free iba.TOURS start daily at 1 p.m.

10. Evening celebrations at the iba.EVENT AREA

The iba.EVENT AREA will house food and entertainment. Events include the iba.BÄCKER PARTY, iba.NETWORKING NIGHT and BAKERS-NIGHT and provide an exclusive networking event for decision-makers in the baking industry and all trade fair participants.

For more information and a complete list of halls, visit the iba wesite.

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