HostMilano 2023 brings sustainable innovation to the forefront

Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

From AI-based intelligent interfaces and automation to robots, up to responsible and sustainable solutions with an eye on the circular economy. Diverse formats meeting the consumer’s need for meaningful experiences, in line with their lifestyle.

Sustainable innovation in all its facets is back in the spotlight at fieramilano in Rho from 13 to 17 October with HostMilano, the world’s reference event for professional hospitality, out-of-home and retail. Some 1,826 exhibitors are registered to date, 40% international from 50 countries: the USA is among the most represented non-European areas alongside the traditional presence of European manufacturers and in particular, in order - in addition to Italy - from Germany, Spain, France, the USA, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK, joined by Turkey and China.

In addition to thousands of professional operators from all over the world, Italian and international exhibitors will meet buyers selected and profiled directly by Fiera Milano from 63 countries, particularly from Canada, the USA, Central and South America and the Gulf countries, and with a comeback of Asian countries. A scouting and selection effort that was made even more effective this year thanks to ongoing collaboration with the ITA/ICE Agency.

Such a vibrant environment reflects the increasingly positive trend in professional hospitality, from out-of-home consumption, which is close to touching new records, to machinery and technology production for professional kitchens and laboratories: recent research by Future Market Insights estimates that, for food service equipment alone, the value of the global market will reach $44 billion this year and will achieve $76 billion in 2032, thanks to a CAGR of +5.6 %. As for Italy, according to the ANIMA-Assofoodtec Study Office, food service equipment Made in Italy ended 2022 at 4,560 million euro, +4.5 %.

Data confirming the pivotal role of Italian products, which alone accounts for as much as 10% of the entire global food service equipment market.

Three macro areas: The exhibition concept has been consolidated, combining a comprehensive overview of professional hospitality as a whole with vertical insights into individual sectors, with a layout in three macro areas that enhance supply chain affinity across specialized industries: Food Service Equipment-Bakery, Pizza and Pasta; Coffee-Tea, Coffee Bar-Vending Machines, Gelato-Pastry; Furniture-Technology and Tableware.

Specifically, the sectors pertaining to the bar and the coffee shop world together make up SIC, the historic International Coffee Exhibition where all the Italian and foreign companies in the supply chain are present, from raw coffee to roasters to alternative extraction methods, and to machines for transforming the finished product into an infinite variety of solutions to satisfy customers who increasingly look at the ‘black beverage’ as a terroir, transforming it from a commodity to a true specialty, with knowledge on its origin, history and sustainability.

Sustainable innovation is also the focus of more than 800 events, addressing market needs ranging from show-cooking to training for architects. The Smart Label - Host Innovation Award, promoted by HostMilano and Fiera Milano in partnership with POLI.design and sponsored by ADI - Industrial Design Association, features 157 nominations from Italy and abroad this year. International competitions, conferences and show-cooking events are also numerous. Of particular note is Luxury Pastry in the World organized by Iginio Massari, a hub of the most creative and innovative pastry that will host demonstrations, tastings and talks with more than 20 among the most important pastry chefs on the international scene.

In addition to the sustainable content of products and designs featured at the exhibition, HostMilano also promotes sustainability in its organization as part of Fiera Milano’s ESG strategy. Specifically, the strategy includes initiatives to use renewable energy, reduce water and energy consumption, and recover materials used in exhibition installations, and a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 in line with the UFI - Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s Net Zero Carbon Event initiative.