The 11th edition of the ‘Indian Ice Cream Congress & Expo’ (IICE), South Asia’s premier ice cream event, took place in Kolkata from September 13th to 15th, 2023. Co-organized by IICMA & AIM Events, with HAIER India as the title sponsor, IICE 2023 brought together national and international players in the ice cream industry to showcase the latest trends and innovations in the field.
Inauguration
Dr. Shashi Panja, the Cabinet Minister of Industries, Commerce & Enterprises in West Bengal, inaugurated the event, signifying official support and endorsement from the government. This marked the beginning of a remarkable three-day ice cream extravaganza.
Welcome Address by Rajesh Gandhi
Rajesh Gandhi, MD of Vadilal Industries Ltd & Chairman of IICMA, extended a warm welcome to all attendees. He emphasized the significance of IICE as a platform for modernizing business operations, exploring new technologies, and fostering innovative ideas. IICE has consistently been a grand carnival for the Indian ice cream industry, uniting suppliers and industry professionals from India, East Asia, and European countries. Gandhi highlighted the increasing per capita consumption of ice cream and the growing demand for a variety of flavors, leading manufacturers to invest in capacity expansion and innovation. IICE, he stressed, plays a pivotal role in nurturing creative ideas and collaboration within the industry. Sudhir Shah, President of IICMA and MD of Scoops Ice Cream, discussed the rapid growth of the Indian ice cream industry, which has surged from Rs. 9,000 crores in 2016 to Rs. 12,000 crores in 2018, with an annual growth rate of 15-20%. He attributed this growth to improving cold chain infrastructure, rising disposable income, and evolving lifestyles in India. Shah also noted the increasing demand for highcapacity machines in the industry, encouraging manufacturers in remote areas to automate their processes and expand into tier 3 cities. Ashish Nahar, Joint Secretary of IICMA and director of Fun India Dairy, highlighted the rising consumer demand for innovative ice cream products, potentially attracting dairy manufacturers looking to diversify their portfolios. He emphasized the role of IICE in facilitating the growth of the Indian ice cream industry and helping it compete with Western countries in terms of technology. Seminars and Workshops The event featured informative seminars and workshops on the first two days, with speakers from various sectors of the industry. Topics included:
• India Becomes the Most Productive Ground for Global Machinery
• The Critical Importance of Technical Education and Knowledge in the Ice Cream Industry
• The Exciting Journey of Vegan Ice Cream as the Next Revolution
• The Innovative Methods Reshaping the World of Ice Cream Cakes
Exhibitors and Attendees
IICE 2023, in collaboration with event exhibitors like Bluestar, 2m Cocoa, Barry Callebaut, Morde Chocolate, Kerry Ingredients, TetraPak, Ice Make Refrigeration, VKC Nuts, attracted approximately 150 exhibitors, over 1,000 ice cream manufacturers and industry players, and 20,000 visitors from across India and around the world. The exhibitors encompassed freezing and handling machine providers, packaging companies, equipment suppliers, cone manufacturers, food ingredient producers, cold chain specialists, consultancy services, traders, and raw material suppliers.
The Outlook
Firoz H Naqvi, the show organizer and MD of AIM Events, expressed satisfaction with the growing interest of leading refrigeration companies and foreign participants in the event. He believes that the advanced technology shared at IICE will further benefit the domestic industry, potentially making the upcoming show a global leader in the ice cream industry. Naqvi also highlighted the increased attendance of visitors and exhibitors at IICE 2023 compared to previous editions, emphasizing that the success of such events serves as a barometer for industry growth. Below are testimonials from our esteemed partners and exhibitors:
Rituj Agarwal, Director of Commercial Refrigeration Products at Haier Appliances India Pvt Ltd, expressed his thoughts on Haier’s Title partnership with IICE 2023. He mentioned that Haier has been associated with the event for 8 years, serving as the Title Partner. The event has always been a vibrant and enjoyable experience, and we truly appreciate the wonderful ambiance it provides. Our journey began with a small stall, but over the years, the exhibition has grown significantly, with numerous stalls showcasing their best offerings. The display of products and services is truly magnificent, and we have received enthusiastic responses not only from India but also from our neighboring countries.
This exhibition provides us with a valuable platform to showcase our products. Typically, these products are not readily available for viewing in the market, but here, we can proudly present our freezers, new launches, and innovative creations to our clients. The response has been overwhelming, and organizing an event of this magnitude requires a dedicated team, which AIM Events has excelled at. IICE has transformed the industry from a small-scale event to a grand platform, and we believe that being a part of it is essential for our growth alongside the consumer market. This allows us to be a continual part of the show to enhance our product with the latest technology trends.
At the event, the Kap Group proudly served as the Platinum Partner, and we’d like to share the perspective of its Managing Director, Puneet Duggal. “The Kap Group encompasses a diverse range of products and services, including printing and packaging, ice cream cones, laminate tubes, conemaking, and food packaging machinery and equipment. We take pride in offering an extensive array of products and services, all crafted with 40 years of expertise, utilizing state-of-the-art machinery”. “Participating in this event provides us with the opportunity to connect with our valued clients and introduce ourselves to promising startups. We extend our support by offering training and sharing our expertise in ice cream production, machinery, and the associated infrastructure required for successful operations.
We invite each of you to approach our company by this platform for any knowledge or assistance we can
provide. Your success is our priority, and we are here
to help you thrive”.
Nalin Sharma, MD, Lotus Enterprises, representing the Chinese company called Hong Kong Starland Group has been another prime Platinum Partner at IICE 2023. Hong Kong Starland Group is a Hong Kong based enterprises that specializes in manufacturing various ice cream-related products, including sugar cones and wafer cones, as well as offering an automatic rolled sugar cone production line. When speaking to the editorial team at the floor, Nalin spoke passionately about the ice cream event. “This show has been pretty good for us as we have met many friends from the ice cream industry. We have also made some good deals at the show as well. And we look forward for the next year participation”.
The show also had Morde Foods as its Gold Partner. Headed by Chandrakant & Harshal Morde, the MORDE legacy, with over 35 years in the FMCG industry, speaks for itself. MORDE FOODS sources cocoa from Ghana, Ivory Coast, and India, offering a comprehensive range of chocolate products including chocolates, fillings, creams, compounds, cocoa products, decorations, inclusions, chocopastes, and choco-dips. As always, this platform remains true to its word, bringing together the entire ice cream industry under one umbrella all at once. We stand with IICE, no matter which city we are in. One of the exhibitors, Palsgaard, is a hundred-yearold Danish company that has developed emulsifiers and stabilizers, and they are now introducing them to the Indian market. Cai Clemen Christensen, Managing Director for India, and Surender Kumar, Head of Sales for India, were present at the event and shared their perspectives.
India offers a vast playground for the ice cream business, and we are thrilled to be a part of this event. We recognize that the industry is growing by leaps and bounds every year. This exhibition provides us with a platform to connect with the entire ice cream industry and its allied sectors. Our goal here is to showcase our offerings and support the industry in any way we can.
We applaud the organizers for their exceptional effort in hosting this unique exhibition, which we believe is unparalleled in Asia. The presence of industry leaders and their willingness to share their knowledge and expertise is a testament to the collective commitment to boost this thriving industry.
Amrit Rudrapal, representing Godrej, expresses great pleasure in being part of this event. We are one of the oldest brands in the chest freezers lineup, glass top, and deep freezers, and we have received positive responses and promising leads. This event will facilitate our outreach to both current and potential customers who require our products, establishing our reputation as a premium player in the cold chain industry, offering solutions for frozen food items. The impressive atmosphere here leaves us eager not to miss the upcoming event in Gandhinagar in 2024.
Bhupindra Singh Sobti, Director of Guru Laminators, shared, “I have been participating in this show for the past 4 years, and it has consistently delivered wonderful returns. It’s a valuable opportunity to explore various machinery, merchandise, innovations, and new ingredients. Whether as an exhibitor or a visitor, attending this show provides an enriching experience. I have gained a lot from my past four participations, and I look forward to continuing to benefit from this exhibition in the future.”
Hailing from Jaipur, Raakesh Kulwal, MD of Jhandewalas Foods Limited (Naman Ghee), made his debut appearance at IICE 2023. Raakesh expressed his immense pride in being a part of the 11th edition of the IICE show. He enthusiastically shared, “Our experience in Kolkata has been nothing short of WOW, exceeding our expectations. We’ve had the privilege of connecting with key industry players and delving deeper into the intricacies of the ice cream business. This remarkable experience was made possible by Firoz and his dedicated team, who put in tremendous efforts to ensure the show’s success. We extend our heartfelt thanks for organizing such a dazzling event and providing exceptional media coverage.”
End word:
IICE 2023 in Kolkata served as a spectacular platform for the ice cream industry to come together, share knowledge, and explore new possibilities. With impressive growth and technological advancements, the Indian ice cream industry is poised for a bright future. The announcement of IICE 2024 to be hosted in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, further fuels anticipation for even greater accomplishments in the years to come.