Round up: Internorga 2022
What was the hottest topic this year?
Five days, around 950 exhibiting companies from 27 nations and lots of innovations, trends and solutions for the catering industry - that was INTERNORGA 2022. On the Welbilt stand the topic that raised the most interest was technology – from operating controls and networked appliances to AI based cooking.The artistic performances of our baristas and chefs also got many visitors excited.
After three years, the leading international trade fair for the entire out-of-home market was great reunited in the Hamburg exhibition halls from 30 April to 4 May. According to the trade fair company, all visitors and exhibitors were enthusiastic about the numerous opportunities to network, exchange idea, try things out and set the course for their future business, thanks to their visit to the fair.
Meetings, exchange, networking
"We are incredibly happy and also very proud that INTERNORGA is finally back on the right track and has been able to offer the entire out-of-home market such an important and valuable platform," sums up Bernd Aufderheide, Chairman of the Executive Board Hamburg Messe und Congress. All those involved were aware that 2022 would be a different trade fair to what they were used to in previous years. "However, one thing has now become even clearer: Meeting people, exchanging ideas, networking and, above all, testing, tasting and feeling cannot be digitised in this sensory sector, and that is a good thing. The leading trade fair has an innovative character, current trend topics were taken up and communicated. The result is satisfied players on all sides."
Hans Werner Schmidt, Managing Director and VP Central and Eastern Europe Welbilt Germany, can only agree: "The Welbilt team and the trade fair visitors clearly enjoyed having face-to-face discussions with each other again and seeing and experiencing the innovations live, which we were only able to show virtually in the last two years. The discussions with visitors were more detailed than in the past and there was a great deal of interest in networking solutions and technologies that simplify and automate work processes."
Frank Höck, Sales Manager Welbilt Germany, also draws a more than satisfied conclusion: "We did not expect to welcome so many visitors to our stand. The frequency was only very slightly below the level of 2019!" Höck emphasises the quality of the trade visitors. "We were able to present our innovations to specialist dealers, specialist planners and end customers. Particularly pleasing are the discussions with potential new customers, which we would not have reached without Internorga 2022."
The response to the unity of the operating controls visible for the first time on the Convotherm and Merrychef appliances was particularly positive.
"This is a major competitive advantage in times of a dramatic shortage of skilled workers," Höck emphasises. "The networkability via LAN or WLAN included in each device not only enables documentation, but also other functions such as recipe management." Welbilt was also able to underline its market-leading position in the combi oven sector with the AI-based ConvoSense.
"The new Merrychef-ConneX was perceived as the next generation of quick cooking systems and will break further sales records," Höck is convinced, and continues: "In the beverage sector, the FreshBlend concept was a real visitor magnet in addition to the new crem-EX3 models with the barista presentation. Overall, the entire sales team is happy with the interesting discussions and the chance to meet existing customers and partners in person."
"Despite the cancellation of a whole series of manufacturers, the trade fair was well attended and a complete success for Welbilt," says Hans Werner Schmidt, summing up the successful new start. "We are already looking forward to Internorga 2023!"