The leading international consumer goods fairs Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld joined forces for the first time from February 3-4 to 7, 2023 – with 4,561 exhibitors occupying the entire Frankfurt exhibition center. Organisers Messe Frankfurt tell us a whopping 154,000 global retailers and buyers visited the show with exhibitors from more than 170 nations.
“With an overwhelming participation and tremendous internationality, we have made an incredible comeback for the global consumer goods world after two years of pandemic. Frankfurt has strengthened its leading position and is the comprehensive inspiration, ordering and networking event. Our new concept One-Stop-Shop is working,” says Detlef Braun, member of the executive board.
The high level of internationality exceeded all expectations: 70 percent of visitors came from abroad. In addition to Germany, the strongest participating nations included Italy, France, the Netherlands, the USA, Great Britain, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Greece and Poland. “It’s gigantic and the visitor frequency super international – even far more than expected and far more than in 2020 before the pandemic. We are overrun, nobody expected that and we are very happy. The combination of Christmasworld, Ambiente and Creativeworld is proving to be a very fortunate solution for exhibitors and trade buyers alike, and one that should definitely be maintained,” stresses Lars Adler, chairman of the board EVL (European Lifestyle Association). The entire spectrum of German and international retail trade was on site. In addition, the mega event attracted the who’s who of major international buyers such as Amazon, Illums Bolighus, Galeries Lafayette, El Corte Ingles, KaDeWe, John Lewis, E. Leclerc, Marks & Spencer, Museum of Modern Art, Rinascente and Stapels.
Moreover, major distributors of hotel and restaurant supplies from around the world, as well as hotel chains such as Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels, also attended. The fact that the trade sees Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld as its new platform for success is also confirmed by Messe Frankfurt’s visitor survey. The satisfaction ratings are at a very high level and currently stand at 94 percent.
DEHOGA Hessen, Frankfurt am Main District Association, was also pleased that the launch of the Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld 2023 consumer goods fairs in Frankfurt has set the signals back in the right direction. It is extremely important to the hospitality industry association that Frankfurt is strengthened as a MICE destination in national and international perception. “After the crisis years, which hit the hotel and catering industry in particular, it is extremely important that the trade fairs and congresses boost business travel tourism again,” emphasizes Robert Mangold, chairman of DEHOGA Frankfurt. “The trade fairs are an important economic factor for the city’s image as well as for the overall structure of all tourism profiteers in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region.”
The topic of sustainability was omnipresent at all three trade shows with innovative products – according to the Zukunftsinstitut, it is increasingly in demand among consumers and is becoming a decisive purchasing criterion. “More than 70 percent of people worldwide still prefer to shop in stores. However, they want to do so more locally, more sustainably and more collaboratively. Every crisis generates resilience, courage and creativity, and changes create new opportunities and potential for retailers. Here, it is important to set the course early on and consistently put on the consumer’s glasses,” suggests futurologist and retail expert Theresa Schleicher from the Zukunftsinstitut.
Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld will continue to be held simultaneously at the Frankfurt exhibition center – Ambiente/Christmasworld will run from 26 to 30 January 2024 while Creativeworld will run from 27 to 30 January 2024.
