‘Encounters lead to business’: area30 brings together key players from the European catering industry in Löhne

The area30 kitchen trade fair, which took place last week from 19 to 24 September 2026, was once again characterised by face-to-face meetings, existing business relationships and new contacts. The trade fair’s motto, ‘Encounters lead to business’, captures a key aspect of the event: manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and other stakeholders in the kitchen industry used the six days of the fair to engage in direct dialogue, showcase new products and prepare for the coming financial year.

At the 15th edition of the kitchen trade fair, around 180 exhibitors and brands presented their latest innovations to a specialist audience from the retail and manufacturing sectors, as well as other areas of the kitchen and interior design industry. It was clear to every visitor that quality took precedence over quantity in the presentations.

Confirmed once again as the industry’s meeting place: the kitchen community is gathering at area30

Around 10,500 trade visitors from some 60 countries attended area30 2026 this autumn. Around a third of the visitors were senior executives from their companies, whilst another third were decision-makers from the purchasing and sales departments.

In particular, during the trade fair days from 20 to 22 September, in-depth discussions and a lively atmosphere characterised the event. The focus was on direct dialogue between the retail sector, industry and other market participants. Although a number of brands had decided to pursue other avenues in the run-up to this year’s event, this did not detract from the trade fair’s relevance.

Going beyond the traditional trade fair format, area30 once again provided a forum in 2026 for professional insights and discussion on current industry topics. On stage and during the ‘folding rule day’, topics included artificial intelligence, demographic trends and the shortage of skilled workers. Experts from industry, retail, planning, the commercial property sector, architecture and the skilled trades engaged in discussions with trade fair visitors during various presentations and panel discussions.

More than just a product presentation: interaction, innovation and business

The next generation was also represented at area30. Around 25 students from the Cologne School of Furniture Design took advantage of their visit to East Westphalia to gain first-hand insight into companies, products and the latest developments in the kitchen industry. Once again, the event was organised by trendfairs. The excursion also offers participating exhibitors the opportunity to make contact with potential future employees. Furthermore, the Löhne Training Factory was represented at the trade fair for the first time, and Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences took the opportunity to showcase university spin-offs and innovative products. This highlights the growing importance of education within the context of recognised industry gatherings.

The trade fair also welcomed around 20 new exhibitors in 2026. These included, amongst others, Granberg and the kitchen manufacturer Rempp, who were exhibiting at area30 for the first time. Matthias Rempp of Rempp Küchen sums up his company’s experience as follows: “(…) area30 was a successful start to the autumn kitchen season for Rempp Kitchens and a good platform for new encounters and partnerships.”

The cube30, featuring Team7, complemented the trade fair programme. Across 160 square metres, the Austrian solid wood specialist presented its vision of the interplay between kitchens, furniture and living spaces. Managing Director Stefan Emprechtinger explains: “The response from the kitchen trade to our first appearance at the Küchenmeile was excellent. This confirms that we have chosen the ‘cube30’ as the right location for our permanent presence in Löhne. Kitchens, dining and living are becoming increasingly intertwined; the kitchen is becoming the heart of the home.”

Long-standing exhibitors such as Amica, Häfele, Horst Vogt, SHD, Strasser, Systemceram, Quooker and Naber also used area30 to engage with their retail partners and showcase their new products. Lasse Naber, CEO of Naber, explains: “area30 has been (...) a fixed fixture in our calendar for many years – and our participation in 2026 was once again well worth it. We met many of our trade partners, made new contacts and were able to present our new products to a highly focused audience of industry professionals.”

Visitors from Germany and key European markets

77 per cent of visitors came from Germany. Nine per cent of visitors travelled from the Netherlands, whilst Austria and Belgium each accounted for around 2.5 per cent. Visitors from France, Italy and Switzerland were also present at area30.

In terms of company profiles, kitchen showrooms and specialist kitchen retailers accounted for the largest group of visitors, at over 50 per cent. The furniture, home furnishings and electrical goods sectors, as well as trade associations, accounted for around 15 per cent of visitors, as did the manufacturing industry. Tradespeople made up five per cent of the total. Architects, interior designers, contract designers and project planners accounted for just over four per cent of visitors – and this figure is on the rise.

The visitor profile thus demonstrates area30’s broad reach within the kitchen sector and related fields – from specialist kitchen retailers, through industry and the skilled trades, to design, architecture and the contract sector.

area30 2027: Further development in partnership with the industry

The next area30 will take place from 18 to 23 September 2027. Planning has already begun, and many companies have taken advantage of the pre-booking opportunity, thereby underlining the relevance of area30 to the industry as an established B2B event. In the run-up to the next edition, the format will be aligned even more closely with market needs in collaboration with exhibitors, visitors and partners.

Christopher Boss, Managing Director of trendfairs GmbH, sums it up: “The feedback we have received from our exhibitors is both fantastic and valuable, and shows that we are on the right track with the changes and adjustments we have made. Together with the industry, we are continuing to work actively on how to further develop area30.”

Kevin Göbel, managing partner at Systemceram, also emphasises the importance of face-to-face interaction: “For us, area30 2026 was once again a resounding success. The response to our stand and our product range exceeded our expectations. (...) For us, area30 demonstrates once more just how important face-to-face interaction is for successful business relationships. We are delighted with this positive development and look forward to continuing this success story.”

Further information is available at www.area-30.de

Image Data
The link below leads to a selection of images from area30 2026. The photos may be used as press photos with the following copyright notice: Copyright© area30/saschabartel — reproduction is free of charge. Please send us a copy for our records.

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