The Comeback of the Year: Trade Fair Duo InterTabac/InterSupply 2022 in Dortmund 

InterSupply – a homegrown German success story

From 15 to 17 September 2022, InterSupply at Messe Dortmund will once  again be the focal point of the tobacco world. It’s a status that’s been well earned: in the last eight years, the international trade show has established itself as the foremost platform for the manufacturing end of the tobacco industry. Together with InterTabac, the leading show for tobacco products and smoking accessories, they cover the entire value chain in the tobacco industry.

This is where buyers, production managers, engineers and developers can track down crucial information on the latest products, services and machinery for the  production of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. 

It all started in 2014 in Hall 5 at Dortmund exhibition centre: Whilst InterTabac had already established itself decades earlier as the jewel in the crown of international  tobacco industry trade shows, the new complementary show took its first tentative steps and was soon to earn the attribute of being ‘one-of-a-kind worldwide’. For the first time, the astonished public was presented with state-of-the-art machinery for  processing tobacco, huge filling lines for raw materials and liquids, and the latest labelling machines in a separate exhibition area. Manufacturers of raw tobaccos and flavours of all kinds showcased their wares, while professionals were able to find out about smart software solutions for their businesses and learn about innovative packaging materials and designs. What was intended as a sidekick to InterTabac developed into the epicentre of the manufacturing tobacco industry within eight years: InterSupply.  

This success story will now be continued in 2022. After the twin trade shows had to  be cancelled twice due to Covid, Sabine Loos, Managing Director of Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe, the company behind operator Messe Dortmund, and her team are looking to the coming autumn with optimism: “The entire industry can hardly wait for these shows to come round.” The trade show team is already working on a programme that’s even more extensive than the last time the twin shows were held. This will see further expansion of the range of production equipment, packaging machines and raw tobacco, aromas and flavours for production on show in Dortmund. Numerous international industry leaders have already confirmed their attendance in the autumn. “The two flagship shows are once again going to cover the entire value chain within the tobacco industry. The range of products on offer in Dortmund will extend from raw materials and machinery to finished products. That makes it one-of-a-kind worldwide,” said Dortmund’s chief show organiser Sabine Loos. 

Using the right instinct to create an industry favourite

Looking back, Loos is extremely happy with the way InterSupply has developed into a homegrown Dortmund success story. InterSupply came about after she and her trade show team had taken a closer look at the exhibitors at InterTabac: “At the time, we were seeing how more and more InterTabac exhibitors were addressing stages further up the tobacco industry value chain. We came to the conclusion that we wanted to offer these companies a platform of their own at the exhibition centre.” 

As it turned out, Loos and her team showed the right instinct in offering the manufacturing businesses within the tobacco industry a new home in Hall 5. “Since InterSupply was born, the amount of interest shown in it has grown steadily. Last time, Hall 5 was fuller than ever – a brilliant success.” From a few dozen exhibitors initially, the list quickly accelerated to over 120 – from all over the world. Recently, companies from 35 countries exhibited their products, raw materials and machinery. Also in terms of visitors, InterSupply has been international right from the start, with around 42% of visitors currently coming from countries such as Spain, Italy, France, Russia and Turkey, and with a lot of trade visitors also travelling in from India, the United Arab Emirates and Australia. 

“Competing events look superfluous”

Visitors leave the three-day event feeling enthusiastic: “As an exhibitor from the very beginning, we’re convinced that the concept and the involvement of the tobacco supply industry have a great future that makes other competing events look superfluous. InterSupply creates an ideal meeting place for existing and potential new customers from all over the world to exchange information on current and future projects and on trends in the industry,” said Basir Baqi, responsible for Sales & Marketing at Hertz Flavors GmbH & Co. KG, when asked about InterSupply 2019. 

Graham J. Kayes, Executive Vice President of Alliance One International, was also full of praise following his last visit: “We come to Dortmund every year. InterSupply is probably the most important tobacco trade show we attend, and it’s extremely well organised. The facilities are good, and the customers are satisfied. We see all our business partners here,” he continued. InterSupply is an absolute ‘be there’ event in his diary. 

The success story continues

It is already clear that the 2022 show is set to continue to build on the success of recent InterSupply shows. Management says this is already reflected in the bookings. Sabine Loos commented: “Bookings are looking really good across all segments. Talking to individuals, we also hear that a lot of industry experts want to come to Dortmund again and are very excited about what the shows will have to offer this year.”

As a meeting place for the industry, and with many new and familiar faces among the exhibitors, InterSupply is thus the perfect starting point for trade visitors to cultivate existing business relationships and establish new ones. Anyone wishing to attend InterSupply as an exhibitor or trade visitor will find all further information at www.intersupply.de. 

InterTabac also has a lot to offer trade show visitors: This year, informative talks and seminars are planned that will address the political framework surrounding tobacco and e-cigarette production. Keynote talks and conference events offer traders opportunities to discover more about this and other key trending topics, and talk with others. Tastings and pairings complete the programme for a full insight into the world of tobacco products and e-cigarette products. Full information on InterTabac is available at www.intertabac.de.