Over 4,700 exhibitors are expected at Ambiente, the international consumer-goods fair in Frankfurt am Main, from 7-11th February 2014. The last edition of the world’s leading trade fair for the sector attracted around 140,000 visitors from 143 countries. The event offers a spectrum of products impressive in breadth, depth and internationality.
Moreover, Ambiente is a go-to business, innovation and trend platform of the consumer-goods sector. Visitors to Ambiente 2014 can look forward to a show of superlatives in keeping with the motto of the fair, ‘Ambiente – the show’.
With around 2,200 exhibitors, the Dining section of Ambiente is distinguished by the world’s biggest selection of products for the table, kitchen and household segments. Thus, visitors will find major brands, exciting designs and innovations on the entire eastern part of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre.
Hosting the Giving and Living sections, the western part of the exhibition centre offers an optimum opportunity to order promising supplementary assortments. “One of the main reasons Ambiente is so important as a business platform is the trade-oriented complementary programme with special shows and awards, which gives buyers the vital opportunity to expand their horizons. An attractive assortment is the key to success in the coming season and is becoming increasingly important as a means by which specialist retailers can distinguish themselves from their competitors”, says Thomas Kastl, Ambiente director for the Dining section.
For buyers, the clearly-structured product groups in the Dining section represent the best possible setting for obtaining a comprehensive overview of the market and placing the right orders for a successful season.
Kitchen Trends (Halls 1.1/1.2)
Halls 1.1 and 1.2 stand for creative ideas and high-grade design between modern cuisine and tableware. Kitchen accessories, table and kitchen textiles, paper napkins and bar and drinking utensils are young and trendy. The exhibitors taking part in Kitchen Trends include Guzzini, LotusGrill, Joseph Joseph, Peugeot and Salt & Pepper.
Kitchen (Halls 3.0/3.1)
Strong brands for home chefs: Hall 3 is characterised by a broad spectrum of cooking, roasting and frying utensils, as well as cutlery, knives, kitchen appliances and machines. Hall 3 is where buyers find the leading consumer brands of the premium market segment from companies such as Alfi, Ballarini, Fissler, Fiskars, Le Creuset, Silit, WMF and Zwilling. A constantly growing number of manufacturers of small electrical appliances with brands such as Gastroback, Graef, KitchenAid and Severin present a wide variety of products for the modern kitchen. In the fascinating segment of juicers, mixers and blenders, market leaders such as Blendtec, Hurom, NUC Electronics and Vitamix present their latest products. In other words, Ambiente offers an international overview of innovations from this field.
Table (Halls 4, 6.2 and 6.3)
Buyers will find the wide variety of products for the dining table on all three floors of Hall 4 and in Halls 6.2 and 6.3. The spectrum to be seen ranges from glass, porcelain and ceramic, via silver and fine metal ware, to modern design in plastic. In Hall 4.0, visitors will find presentations by major brands including Alessi, Blomus, Iittala, Kosta Boda, Koziol, Leonardo, Ritzenhoff, Stelton and Rosendahl under the heading ‘Table Contemporary Design’.
Back again at next year’s Ambiente after a break will be Georg Jensen and Royal Copenhagen. In the hall above (Hall 4.1), high-grade manufacturers and suppliers, such as Dibbern, Lladró, Moser, Robbe & Berking, Villeroy & Boch and Zwiesel Kristallglas, represent the premium segment in ‘Table Prestige’.
For the first time, the renowned Manufacture de Porcelaine de Monaco as well as the traditional porcelain manufacture Richard Ginori, which has been part of the Gucci fashion group for several months, will present their select product ranges at Ambiente. In the ‘Table Daily Life’ in Halls 4.2 and 6.2, international brand-name companies, such as Arcoroc, Bohemia Cristal, Bormioli Luigi, Bormioli Rocco, Libbey, Paşabahçe, Ritzenhoff & Breker and Seltmann Weiden, present their latest innovations in the glass, porcelain and ceramic segment.
The extensive range of products for the up-market Horeca segment is also being expanded with the inclusion of the Schönwald brand, which will represented at Ambiente for the first time. For visitors wanting to place large-scale orders, the ‘Table Top Trade’ segment in Halls 6.2 and 6.3 has a tailor-made range of products to choose from.
Housewares & Storage (Halls 5.0/5.1/6.0/6.1)
In this product segment, trade buyers will find the complete spectrum for the household: household aids, utensils and storage vessels, measuring devices, cleaning appliances and utensil and plastic articles. Exhibitor names such as ABM Italia, Brabantia, Curver, Fackelmann, Hailo, Koopman, Leifheit, Metaltex, Rosti Mepal Rotho and Westmark illustrate the spectrum of products to be seen.
An important role is played by small electrical appliances in this segment, too. Back again after a period of absence, Fakir will make a presentation alongside companies such as Jupiter, Ritterwerk and Rommelsbacher in Hall 5.1. In the case of Hall 6, it can be said that innovativeness is not only to be found inside the hall. As part of the process of modernisation, the façade has been given a new, architecturally elaborate and modern look.
Sourcing for the volume business (Halls 10.2/10.3/10.4)
As the biggest sourcing platform outside China, Ambiente provides buyers with optimum conditions for the volume business thanks to the clear structure of the Passage segment. Short walking distances between the various product groups in this segment permit efficient, supra-segment ordering. The presentations in the ‘Passage Table & Decoration’, ‘Passage Table & Kitchen Select’ and ‘Passage Dining & Housewares’ product segments are made by international suppliers for the volume business.
Solutions for furnishing commercial premises and Horeca
Products and solutions for furnishing commercial premises and the HORECA segment (Hotel Restaurant Catering) are covered by Ambiente with a package of measures entitled ‘Contract Business’. More than 250 exhibitors from around 30 countries offer their expertise and tailor-made solutions from this field, which are aimed at professional buyers, furnishing specialists, interior architects, restaurateurs and premium hotels. For professionals, a matchmaking platform provides an opportunity to find suppliers and make appointments in advance of the fair. Additionally, guided tours of selected top hotels in Frankfurt are planned and will offer fascinating insights into professional interior-design concepts.
Highlights at Ambiente 2014
The main trends for the table, kitchen, living and giving segments will be presented at Ambiente 2014 for the seventh time in Galleria 1 under the motto ‘Sovereign Composure’. The four trend worlds – ‘stunning temper’, ‘subtle spirit’, ‘serene nature’ and ‘striking mind’ – of the Trend Show have been researched and interpreted by trend bureau bora.herke.palmisano. The show will be supplemented by daily guided tours and lectures.
Japan is the Partner Country at Ambiente 2014. After Denmark and France, Japan is the third Ambiente Partner Country and the first from Asia. In planning is an extensive programme with a themed day on the Monday, a special presentation in the foyer of Hall 4.1, activities and events. The Project Ambassador is designer Yukio Hashimoto.
For the third time, Ambiente will turn the spotlight on innovations in the table, kitchen and household sector with Solutions. Sebastian Bergne, product designer and curator of the special show, will once again illustrate the special aspects of the selected innovations with brief films in the foyer of Hall 4.0 – the optimum platform for new materials, techniques and design features.
With the Talents programme, Messe Frankfurt provides designers at the beginning of their careers with a free platform from which they can present their products and ideas. For many years, this promotional programme has helped young people present their work to an international audience of discerning trade buyers and make contacts. This paves the way to greater professionalism and gives the sector the chance to discover new perspectives and different conceptual approaches. In the Dining section, the Talents area is located within the ‘Table Contemporary Design’ product segment in Hall 4.0.
The renowned Design Plus Award has been a valuable orientation aid for trade visitors for more than 30 years. Every year, numerous exhibitors from the Table and Kitchen segments enter the competition with innovative products distinguished by special design qualities. The award-winning products are put on show at a special exhibition in Galleria 1 throughout the fair.
With the Kitchen Innovation of the Year consumer award, the LifeCare Initiative honours particularly consumer-friendly products. The presentation is held on the Saturday of the fair, in the foyer of Halls 5.1 / 6.1. Held annually, this consumer award has four product categories: ‘kitchen furniture and equipment’, ‘large and small electrical appliances’, ‘cooking and kitchen utensils’ and ‘kitchen accessories’.
Stars on Stage: exhibitors present stars of the international cooking scene, outstanding pastry chefs, wine experts and other prominent guests at a variety of events. These celebrities give tips and demonstrate their tricks and successful recipes.
