The first signs of an industry recovery are emerging as it is announced that Germany’s top kitchen fairs – A30 Küchenmeile and LivingKitchen – will go ahead in September and January respectively.
Dubbed ‘The world’s biggest kitchen show’, the 10th edition of the annual A30 Küchenmeile trade fair will take place in the East Westphalia region of Germany as originally planned, from September 19-25.
According to the exhibition’s marketing committee, the majority of its member companies have confirmed they will be going ahead with their annual in-house exhibitions. The list includes key brands such as Nobilia, Hacker, Pronorm, Poggenpohl, Rotpunkt, Leicht, Nolte, Eggersmann, Ballerina and Rational.
While it is still unclear exactly how each individual open-house exhibition will be delivered, the trade fair’s marketing committee suggested that entry would be arranged by appointment – to help control the flow of visitors – and confirmed that each brand will follow current Covid-19 guidelines and adhere to safety and hygiene measures to ensure the well-being of visitors, exhibitors and staff.
Markus Sander, Häcker’s managing director for sales, marketing and controlling, said: “We have geared Häcker for the current situation, taken the right steps and still stand by our customers.
“I promise you a real ‘bang’ here and now – a product surprise that will enthuse and inspire our customers. This will make you curious to find out more, because there are always market-defining kitchen novelties in the Häcker family.”
One of the other big German kitchen events – LivingKitchen – has also confirmed that it will run in Cologne from January 18-24 2021.
“As a trendsetter and barometer of an industry, LivingKitchen is first and foremost the most important showcase for German kitchen producers. The world’s strongest and most productive kitchen industry does not turn out in greater numbers in any other location,” said Matthias Pollmann, vice president trade fair management at organiser Koelnmesse GmbH.
“Of course, that means that the trade fair is also vitally important to the German market,” he said. “Digital technology can take the place of some of a trade fair’s functions, but nowhere near all. In my view, the loss of trade fairs has clear negative consequences for the performance of companies in the sector. As industry partners, we are currently putting every effort into making LivingKitchen a reality in order to give a sector the ideal business platform and thereby do what we can to help it to restart successfully.”
While a list of current confirmed exhibitors is unavailable at this stage, Germany’s biggest kitchen manufacturer, Nobilia, has already confirmed its presence at the show.
Managing director of Nobilia, Dr. Oliver Streit said: “Although we’re still only halfway through the year, it’s already clear how much this extraordinary situation is challenging us in 2020 – and how much it will continue to challenge us.
“With this in mind, I have no option but to rejoice over every step towards a return to normal life, and I find it rather splendid that our sector has an opportunity to celebrate an international gathering in Cologne right at the start of the new year. I very much hope that, with this leading trade fair, we can secure a further milestone on our way back to our shared future.
“Even if we will still have to deal with the complexities of the crisis, which I fully anticipate, it’s a fantastic sign nevertheless.”