On 26th October in Türkiye and 28th October in Germany, the international roadshow will connect Italian Foodservice sectors with industry professionals in two strategic markets.
- In Türkiye, imports from Italy in 2026 reached USD 18.4 million for coffee and USD 1.6 million for gelato. In Germany, imports of bakery and pastry products (EUR 367.8 million, +5%), coffee (+28.4%) and gelato (+10.5%) increased in the first seven months of the year.
Rimini, 26 October 2026 – From the prospects offered by the Turkish market to the growth of Italian imports into Germany, Istanbul and Munich are the next stops on SIGEP Meets the World, the international roadshow organised by SIGEP World, the trade show of Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA). Scheduled for 26 and 28 October, the events aim to strengthen relationships with local industry professionals and develop new business opportunities for Italian Foodservice companies.
ISTANBUL: THE POTENTIAL OF COFFEE AND GELATO
The Turkish market offers promising prospects for several of the key sectors represented at SIGEP World. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, Turkish imports from Italy reached USD 18.4 million for coffee and approximately USD 1.6 million for gelato. Alongside finished products and ingredients, trade with Türkiye is particularly dynamic in semi-finished products, pastry and bakery mixes, and technologies, confirming the country as an important partner for the sector’s industrial and commercial growth. The Istanbul event represents a valuable strategic opportunity to explore local market dynamics and showcase the expertise of Italian companies.
“Türkiye’s gastronomy and restaurant scene is thriving, with remarkable dynamism and a steady emergence of successful new formats. To keep pace with this growth, local operators are showing strong interest in Italian expertise and technologies, which can deliver efficiency and high standards. SIGEP World is the natural platform for bringing the two sides together. The work of ITA Istanbul is focused precisely on unlocking these opportunities: bringing high-level delegations to Rimini means fostering strategic partnerships and strengthening the presence of Italian exports in the country,” says Marco Pintus, Director of ITA Istanbul.
GERMANY: GROWING DEMAND FOR ITALIAN PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES
In the first seven months of 2026, German imports of coffee from Italy reached EUR 350.5 million, up 28.4% compared with the same period in 2025. Food preparations also performed well, reaching EUR 149.5 million (+25.7%), as did gelato at EUR 44.8 million (+10.5%) and bakery products at EUR 367.8 million (+5%). Germany’s strategic importance is also clear from the official figures for the latest edition of SIGEP World: the country ranks second overall among international visitor markets, accounting for 6.6% of visitors, just behind Spain, and is also among the leading countries of origin for international exhibitors.
For the 2027 edition, SIGEP World aims to increase participation by retail chains, travel catering businesses and luxury hotels through international delegations, an International Pavilion and business matchmaking programmes. Among the new features, Vietnam will be the Guest Country, with a government delegation and qualified buyers expected in Rimini. As the world’s second-largest coffee producer and leading exporter of Robusta, Vietnam will create further opportunities for dialogue and development for companies across the supply chain.
“Although the German Foodservice market is experiencing a challenging period, marked by significant price increases and a resulting tendency among consumers to favour more affordable options, demand for sustainable, high-quality products remains a distinguishing feature. In this context, Made n Italy is recognised as a benchmark for authenticity, excellence and added value. Germany is, in fact, Italy’s leading trading partner in the agri-food sector and one of the main importers of Italian Foodservice machinery.
SIGEP therefore continues to serve as a strategic platform connecting Made in Italy with German buyers in the sector, offering an excellent opportunity to develop new business relationships,” says Dr Ferdinando Fiore, Director of ITA Berlin.
SIGEP WORLD 2027: FOODSERVICE LOOKS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
The international stops on the SIGEP Meets the World roadshow form part of the lead-up to SIGEP World – The World Expo for Foodservice Excellence, taking place at the Rimini Expo Centre from 23 to 27 January 2027. For its 48th edition, the event aims to welcome more than 1,000 international buyers, further strengthening its global reach. “International markets offer different opportunities, which require an understanding of local contexts and the ability to build relationships with industry operators. Through SIGEP Meets the World, we are working precisely in this direction, bringing the expertise of Italian companies into contact with qualified counterparts and gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of the various sectors. Our aim is to turn these exchanges into tangible development opportunities and help companies explore new business prospects, also through SIGEP World’s international network,” says Ilaria Cicero, Global Exhibition Director of IEG Group’s Food & Beverage Division and CEO of IEG Asia in Singapore.