Rimini, March 23, 2026 – Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) is taking a new and strategic step in its international growth journey: SIGEP USA will make its debut in Las Vegas, from tomorrow through March 26, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, alongside International Pizza Expo (IPE), the leading U.S. event dedicated to the pizza industry, organized by Emerald.
With its entry into the United States, SIGEP World – The World Expo for Foodservice Excellence further strengthens its position as a global benchmark platform for foodservice professionals, consolidating an international network already active across Europe, China and Singapore. The project expands the brand’s presence across the key sectors of out-of-home dining: artisan gelato, pastry & chocolate, coffee, bakery and pizza.
Following the success of the 2026 edition of SIGEP World in Rimini, which confirmed the show as a global hub for foodservice excellence, the launch of SIGEP USA marks a strategic milestone in the brand’s evolution, increasingly focused on creating connections among companies, supply chains, technologies, business formats and new business models on an international scale.
SIGEP USA: A New Hub for Professional Foodservice in the American Market
The debut of SIGEP USA in Las Vegas is not simply a new trade show, but the concrete extension of an industrial and exhibition vision aimed at high-potential markets. The United States is, in fact, one of the world’s leading hubs for professional foodservice, product innovation, premium formats and the enhancement of gastronomic excellence.
Entering the U.S. market allows IEG to establish a presence in one of the most strategic geographies for the sector’s growth, connecting producers, distributors, chains, independent operators, chefs, pastry chefs, gelato makers, coffee roasters, bakery specialists and international buyers.
“With its U.S. debut, SIGEP’s international network is strengthening its presence in the most dynamic markets of global foodservice,” said Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG. “In 2026, we will also hold SIGEP China, with a roadshow scheduled for spring in Shanghai, and SIGEP Asia, from July 15 to 17 in Singapore. The Las Vegas event completes a strategy that gives us a foothold in some of the world’s most strategic areas for the sector’s development.”
A clear strategy: to transform SIGEP into a global ecosystem for business, innovation and networking across all the supply chains of foodservice excellence.
IEG Strengthens the SIGEP Brand in the United States After the Success of Rimini
The first edition of SIGEP USA arrives at a particularly favorable time for the brand. The January 2026 Rimini edition confirmed the show’s growing internationalization, reinforcing SIGEP World’s role as a meeting place for industry, advanced craftsmanship, technologies, ingredients and new out-of-home consumption trends.
Also highlighting the strategic value of the initiative is Ilaria Cicero, recently appointed Global Exhibition Director of IEG’s Food & Beverage Division:
“With SIGEP USA, we are taking an important step in the international development of the SIGEP brand. After the success of Rimini and the consolidation of our events in Asia, landing in the United States will allow us to build an increasingly integrated network among companies, professionals and markets, promoting worldwide the excellence of the gelato, pastry, coffee and chocolate supply chains.”
This positioning is especially significant for the Italian artisan gelato sector, which in the United States continues to benefit from growing demand for premium, authentic and high-margin products.
Why the United States Is a Key Market for SIGEP USA
Today, the U.S. market is one of the most attractive for international foodservice players, especially in segments linked to:
- premium desserts
- gelato and Italian-inspired frozen desserts
- specialty coffee
- artisan and semi-artisan bakery
- quality pizza
- high-profit hybrid formats (gelato shop + café, dessert bar, bakery café, pizzeria with premium desserts)
In this context, gelato continues to stand out as a category with extremely high potential.
According to Grand View Research, the U.S. gelato market was valued at approximately $3.58 billion in 2024 and could reach $5.04 billion by 2033, driven by growing demand for artisan, premium desserts inspired by Italian tradition. The research also highlights rising interest in clean-label, natural, plant-based products and products with strong perceived value.
Again according to Grand View Research, the segment’s growth is being driven by several key factors:
- increased focus on natural and authentic ingredients
- expansion of boutique gelato shops and dessert concepts in major U.S. cities
- rising demand in the foodservice channel
- growth of vegan and dairy-free offerings
- demand for premium products supported by strong territorial and cultural storytelling
For industry professionals, gelato therefore confirms itself not only as an iconic Made in Italy product, but also as a high-profit commercial lever, capable of:
- increasing average ticket value
- boosting consumption frequency
- enhancing out-of-meal purchasing occasions
- complementing the offering of restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries and cafés
- improving margins through premium positioning
SIGEP USA and International Pizza Expo: A Strategic Synergy Between Two Symbols of Made in Italy
One of the strongest elements of SIGEP USA’s debut is its placement within a trade show context of exceptional value: its simultaneous staging with International Pizza Expo, the benchmark event in the United States for the pizza sector.
The collaboration with Emerald, organizer of IPE, creates a particularly effective synergy between two categories that symbolize Italian gastronomic culture worldwide:
This combination opens up new opportunities for the entire supply chain, especially at a time when the market increasingly rewards integrated formats and cross-category offerings. It is no coincidence that in the United States, business models combining the following are growing rapidly:
- pizza and premium desserts
- coffee and pastry
- bakery and gelato
- casual dining and high-quality sweet offerings
For Italian companies, SIGEP USA can therefore become a concrete platform for export, networking and business development, helping them connect with operators interested in products, ingredients, machinery, furnishings, technologies and business concepts.
Strategic Partnerships: ITA and Emerald Alongside SIGEP USA
The first edition of SIGEP USA is also made possible thanks to high-profile partnerships that strengthen the project’s credibility and market penetration.
Among them, the collaboration with ITA – Italian Trade Agency stands out as a strategic partnership in the international promotion of Italian companies and in enhancing Made in Italy across foreign markets.
This is complemented by the partnership with Emerald, a leading player in the U.S. trade show landscape and organizer of International Pizza Expo, the top U.S. event for the pizza industry.
The integration of these players positions SIGEP USA not as a simple international spin-off, but as a high-value strategic exhibition asset, designed to foster:
- qualified incoming buyers
- B2B meetings
- SME internationalization
- opening of new distribution channels
- launch of Italian formats and brands in the North American market
Gelato Takes Center Stage in Las Vegas with the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale
Confirming the central role of gelato within the SIGEP world, the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale will also take place during International Pizza Expo—the prestigious international competition that brings together the best gelato makers from around the world.
The event will serve as an additional draw for professional audiences and buyers, while further strengthening the narrative of artisan gelato as:
- an iconic Made in Italy product
- a growing premium category
- a differentiation tool for foodservice
- a technical, cultural and entrepreneurial excellence
SIGEP is a strategic partner of the project alongside Carpigiani, demonstrating the strength of a supply chain that integrates trade shows, international competitions, training, technological innovation and global sector promotion.
Leading Companies in Las Vegas and the Debut of the SIGEP Club
At SIGEP USA, leading companies from the following sectors will be present:
- gelato
- pastry
- chocolate
- coffee
The U.S. debut will also be the occasion to launch the SIGEP Club, the recognition dedicated to brands participating in multiple events across the SIGEP global network.
The Club brings together an elite group of companies united by an international vision and by the willingness to invest in a continuous presence in the most relevant global foodservice markets. This is particularly interesting from a strategic perspective, because it transforms trade show participation into a multi-market international positioning path, with advantages in terms of:
- global visibility
- relationship continuity
- commercial presence
- supply-chain reputation
- brand consistency
Why SIGEP USA Could Become a Growth Accelerator for Italian Artisan Gelato in the U.S.
For the Italian artisan gelato sector, SIGEP’s arrival in the United States carries a meaning that goes beyond the trade show itself.
It can represent:
1. An accelerator of product culture
It helps distinguish true Italian artisan gelato from imitations or broadly “Italian-style” versions.
2. A driver for machinery, ingredients and know-how
Not just finished product sales, but the promotion of the entire supply chain: machines, display cases, ingredients, bases, flavor pastes, training, consultancy and concept stores.
3. A lever for hybrid formats
In the U.S., formats such as the following perform particularly well:
- gelato shop + café
- gelato + bakery
- gelato in premium pizzerias
- dessert counters in Italian restaurants
4. An opportunity for horeca and premium retail
Gelato, sorbets, affogatos, plated desserts and grab-and-go offerings can broaden the assortment of restaurants, hotels, bakeries and coffee shops.
5. A strategic foothold for Italian positioning
At a time when the market rewards authenticity, storytelling, perceived quality and premiumization, Italian artisan gelato has all the right elements to grow.
SIGEP USA Marks a New Phase in IEG’s Global Expansion
With SIGEP USA in Las Vegas, Italian Exhibition Group opens a new phase in its international strategy. The U.S. debut strengthens SIGEP’s transformation into a global trade show brand, capable of connecting markets, operators and supply chains across foodservice excellence.
After Rimini, China and Singapore, the arrival in Las Vegas reinforces the brand’s presence in one of the world’s most dynamic and competitive areas—precisely where demand is growing for authenticity, quality, premium desserts and business formats inspired by the Italian lifestyle.
For the sectors of artisan gelato, pastry, coffee, chocolate, bakery and pizza, SIGEP USA is poised to become not only a new international showcase, but a true hub for commercial and cultural development of Made in Italy in global foodservice.