LivingKitchen 2021: Can we dare to be optimistic again?

Two years after the end of LivingKitchen 2019 and after the cancellation of Eurocucina 2020, the Cologne trade fair will be the first kitchen event with global charisma. After the year 2020, which has proven to be challenging and in many phases unpredictable, the event will not only be the meeting point for an entire industry, but will also provide clear impulses toward normalisation and consolidation in the kitchen and electronic device industries, as well as in the kitchen and furniture trade, and will broadcast important growth signals at the start of the year 2021 (18-24 January).
Stand: nobilia, LivingKitchen, Halle 5.2

“Eight months prior to the trade fair duo of imm cologne/LivingKitchen, we can, despite all of the current imponderables and manifestations of crisis triggered by the spread of the corona virus, look to the coming event with a certain degree of optimism. There are indications that we can once again dare to be optimistic, although we still have an extremely difficult time ahead of us, with many problems,” Matthias Pollmann, Vice President Trade Fair Management at Koelnmesse, emphasises. He continues: “While it has not been possible to stop the corona virus in the present situation, various indicators in many places do point to a necessary and longed-for turnaround.”

“The year 2020 will go down in history as one of the most difficult and memorable“, Bernd Sanden, Director of LivingKitchen adds. “Positive results in the international furniture and interiors industry can hardly be anticipated in the present year. The cuts have been too deep for that. However, from an overall economic perspective, there are, especially for Germany, forecasts that are once again encouraging over the medium to long term, despite the currently adverse general weather situation. The five largest German economic-research institutes thus anticipate a reduction of German economic performance of 4.2% on the whole for this year. However, there should once again be an upturn in the coming year. Growth of 5.8% is predicted for 2021.” Stand: LUBE, LivingKitchen, Halle 4.2

LivingKitchen is taking place at the ideal point in time

The German kitchen industry will also profit from this positive development, as it is likely that a certain relaxation will also be recognisable in other countries toward the end of the year. “The upcoming LivingKitchen will thus likely take place at an ideal point in time. We presume that an increase in demand will become evident toward the end of the year, both in Germany and in many export markets“, Matthias Pollmann forecasts .

Against this background, LivingKitchen 2021 will be a decisive gauge of the extent to which the German and the world's leading kitchen industry can resume the successful business developments of the pre-corona period. In the past year, German kitchen manufacturers have been able to surpass the 5 billion Euro turnover threshold for the first time (5.013 billion Euro). 2.098 billion Euro were generated in the export business, which corresponds to an increase of 6.2%. The export share thus increased to almost 42%. Domestic turnover was slightly expanded from a high level. Kitchens and electrical appliances play a dominant role in the German interiors trade. 28% of the total turnover volume of 34.2 billion Euro was recently credited to these two product groups.Stand: nolte, LivingKitchen, Halle 5.2

The kitchen in all its facets

The LivingKitchen team is currently working intensely to realise the conceptual and organisational specifications, in order to thus create the optimal basic conditions for a successful trade fair.

The focus of the upcoming event will of course be on the exhibitors from Germany and abroad, who will present their latest innovations in Cologne. “However, the next LivingKitchen will once again be much more than a product show“, Bernd Sanden explains As LivingKitchen set outs to represent the sphere of kitchens, cooking, home living and food holistically, the event also reflects many social developments that are giving the interiors industry fresh momentum. An important component of LivingKitchen 2021 will be the themes of Connected Living and the Smart Home, which will be realised united under the name Connect in the new exhibition hall 1plus. “Cross-industry concepts for networked home automation in the context of lifestyle brands will be presented in the new attractive environment“Stand: PYRAM, Prime, Halle 4.1

Great international importance

A total of 149,000 visitors from 139 countries was registered in 2019 at the trade fair duo of imm cologne / LivingKitchen. Among the trade visitors, the number of foreign interested parties increased to more than 50,000, which corresponds to a share of 52% and thus underlines the great international importance of the event.

Source: Koelnmesse
Photos from LivingKitchen 2019
Top image: Stand Ballerina, LivingKitchen, Halle 5.2
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