The world’s premier bakery and confectionery exhibition, iba 2025, will transform Düsseldorf into a global hub for baking innovation from May 18-22, 2025.
Spanning over 98,000 square meters, the event will dedicate nearly 20% of its space – 19,000 square meters across Halls 13 and 14 – to artisanal bakery, showcasing everything from hybrid shop concepts and mobile tiny stores to energy-efficient ovens.
The trade fair’s emphasis on artisanal baking reflects its deep connection to the German Baker’s Confederation (Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks e.V.), the event’s organizer. The Confederation represents more than 9,200 bakeries employing approximately 240,000 workers, with the German baking industry generating an impressive 17.55 billion euros in turnover, positioning it as a cornerstone of the German economy.
“We are committed to the strong future of the baking industry in Germany,” says Roland Ermer, President of the German Baker’s Confederation. Ermer particularly emphasizes the pressing challenge of skilled labor shortages amid demographic shifts, noting, “That’s why the issue of promoting young talent is particularly important to me.”
The Confederation has launched several initiatives to address these challenges, including the innovative Azubi Campus (Trainee Campus), introduced in January 2025. This digital platform, part of the ‘Bake your future’ (Back dir deine Zukunft) campaign, provides apprentices with comprehensive exam preparation resources. During iba, the Confederation will host a four-day Azubi Werkstatt (Trainee Workshop), offering young professionals hands-on experience in artisanal baking.
The event’s educational component extends to all visitors through the iba.ACADEMY in Hall 14, where attendees can master pretzel-making techniques and earn certificates. The program also features curated bakery tours throughout Düsseldorf and its surroundings, providing insight into local baking traditions and innovations.
Find out more at: https://www.iba-tradefair.com/en/