Bakery and Pizza supply chains.
The event took place against the backdrop of a foodservice sector worth €71 billion in Italy alone (source: Circana), highlighting its strategic relevance for the national and international economy. The presence of Francesco Lollobrigida, Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry – following the participation of Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities – together with Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE-Agency, underlined the central role of foodservice and human capital development in driving global competitiveness.
Global Figures: International Supply and Demand from 160 Countries
The 2026 edition of SIGEP World marked a significant expansion of its international dimension, recording a +33% increase in foreign exhibitors from 45 countries, alongside a strong and highly qualified Italian presence. New participating countries included Canada, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Ecuador, Estonia, Serbia, Singapore, Nepal and the Czech Republic, reinforcing the event’s truly global profile.
This broad international offer met equally strong global demand. SIGEP World welcomed professionals from 160 countries, with nearly one visitor in four coming from abroad, confirming attendance levels from the previous edition. The top six foreign visitor countries were Spain (8.9%), Germany (6.6%), Romania (4.9%), France (4.1%), Greece (4.0%) and Poland (3.8%).
Among the fastest-growing markets by continent were the United States (+2%), Argentina (+40%), the Philippines (+78%) and Serbia (+29%). Several African countries attended for the first time, including Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Guinea, further strengthening SIGEP World’s role as a global reference point for emerging markets.
Top Buyer Program: Business at the Core
A decisive contribution came from the Top Buyer Program, developed in strategic collaboration with ICE-Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI). The initiative brought 500 top buyers from 75 countries to Rimini, particularly from the United States, India, Canada, China, Brazil, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.
The result was 5,650 structured business meetings, confirming SIGEP World as a highly operational platform for international business development.
India was the Guest Country 2026, represented by a delegation of 50 top buyers, institutional representatives and specialized exhibitors, reflecting the strong momentum of the Indian foodservice and hospitality market.
The event also recorded a significant increase in international media presence, with 802 accredited journalists, many of whom traveled from dozens of countries worldwide.
Dialogue with International Markets and National Pavilions
SIGEP World strengthened its global dialogue through the presence of National Pavilions and collective exhibitions, including Saudi Arabia (making its debut after the Guest Country project in 2025), China and Ukraine. This ecosystem enabled ingredients, technologies and foodservice formats to interact beyond geographical boundaries, reflecting an increasingly hybrid, interconnected and global foodservice industry.
Artisan Gelato: A Strategic Lever for Global Foodservice
A cornerstone of SIGEP World’s identity, artisan gelato once again proved to be not only a symbol of Made in Italy excellence, but also a strategic business lever for global foodservice. In 2026, gelato confirmed its ability to generate profitability, differentiation and new business opportunities across diverse markets and formats.
With Gelato Meets Chains, SIGEP World developed a dedicated project for international restaurant chains, hotels, coffee shops and bakeries, supporting the integration of gelato into global menus. This vision was further reinforced by the international campaign “What is Gelato?” and the guide “Gelato Means Business”, providing data, business models and case studies demonstrating gelato’s high margins, consumption de-seasonalization and rapid return on investment.
Luxury Hotel Food Experience: Food as the New Language of Hospitality
Strong focus was also placed on the Luxury Hotel Food Experience, which explored the growing convergence between hospitality and foodservice. At SIGEP World, this dialogue found one of its most complete expressions through the evolution of breakfast, now considered a true benchmark of contemporary hospitality.
In the Pastry Arena, breakfast was presented as a fully immersive experience, capable of becoming a powerful economic lever and a key differentiation factor for hotels and international hospitality brands.
Sustainability District: Supply Chains, Origins and Innovation
Sustainability moved from theory to practice through the Sustainability District, which hosted an international discussion on cocoa, coffee and the future of sustainable food systems. The area connected producers, cooperatives, institutions and companies across the entire value chain, giving a voice to countries of origin alongside technological solutions, energy innovation and new cooperation models.
From Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania and Kenya) to Latin America (Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic), the district showcased supply chains increasingly oriented toward transparency, market access and social responsibility.
Cross-Sector Projects: Increasingly Connected Supply Chains
SIGEP World clearly demonstrated how modern foodservice no longer operates in isolated segments but through integrated and interconnected supply chains. Cross-sector projects such as the Kitchen Equipment Hub, Frozen Product Hub and Digital District highlighted how equipment, frozen solutions and digital technologies are now essential drivers in format design, operational efficiency and international growth strategies.
SIGEP Giovani: Investing in the Next Generation
Education and talent development remained central through SIGEP Giovani, the training and competition program of SIGEP Academy dedicated to schools and professional institutes. The initiative involved 53 Italian schools and universities from 14 regions, engaging more than 2,750 participants.
The international dimension continued to grow, with delegations from Serbia (five vocational institutes from Belgrade and over 360 participants) and Slovenia (115 participants from universities and vocational programs). SIGEP Academy also hosted 10 sold-out educational events, with a total of 270 participants.
International Championships: A Consolidated Success
The narrative was completed by the success of major international competitions, from the Gelato World Cup – won by Singapore, followed by France and Argentina – to the Junior Pastry World Cup. These events further strengthened SIGEP World’s role as a global stage for talent, skills and future professionals, reinforcing the link between education, excellence and innovation.
SIGEP World’s Global Expansion Strategy
SIGEP World’s international profile extends well beyond Rimini through a clear global development strategy. Upcoming events include SIGEP USA, scheduled from March 24–26, 2026 in Las Vegas, the SIGEP China Roadshow in Shanghai (Spring 2026) and SIGEP Asia, taking place from July 15–17, 2026 in Singapore, targeting some of the most dynamic foodservice markets worldwide.
Enhanced Air Connectivity and Optimized City Mobility
The event’s growing international reach was supported by improved accessibility and logistics. New direct flights to Rimini were activated from Munich and Madrid, alongside a partnership with Lufthansa Group, offering preferential fares to Bologna Airport from over 310 global destinations.
On the urban mobility side, extended pavilion opening hours (10:00 am to 6:00 pm), redesigned traffic flows and optimized public transport services – in close cooperation with the Municipality of Rimini – significantly improved visitor circulation and reduced peak-time congestion.
Italian Exhibition Group now looks ahead to the next edition of SIGEP World, scheduled to return to Rimini Expo Centre in January 2027, further strengthening its position as the global hub for foodservice excellence.