Cologne’s toy industry is best represented at the renowned Kind + Jugend trade fair, which arrives every year at Koelnmesse. The trade fair is broadly geared towards the baby and children market, but has dedicated space for toy manufacturers to step into the foreground. It’s a major avenue for Cologne’s brands to meet their audience. Thanks to its precision in identifying groundbreaking trends and innovations in the sector, Kind + Jugend enjoys high attendance rates – over 15,000 trade visitors. The atmosphere at the fair was electric, marked by a palpable sense of excitement and enthusiasm among exhibitors and attendees alike. Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, expressed immense satisfaction with the event’s outcome, stating all goals were achieved and the fair sent a clear signal to the entire industry. Indeed, Kind + Jugend reaffirmed its position as the premier platform for unveiling, discussing and marketing cutting-edge products and ideas in the sector. Jörg Schmale, Director of Kind + Jugend, echoed this sentiment, describing the trade fair as a phenomenal success and heralding a significant breakthrough for the industry. Across three busy days, the exhibition halls buzzed with activity as participants engaged in dynamic networking and business interactions. One of the standout features of Kind + Jugend 2023 was its solid international representation. With exhibitors hailing from 46 countries, and visitors from 113 nations, the event showcased the global nature of the baby and toddler industry. Notably, the United States, Taiwan, China and the United Arab Emirates were among the countries well-represented at the fair. Europe remained a key hub of activity, with visitors coming in from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Poland and Italy. On an even more positive note, the significant increase in domestic visitors, up by 31% from the previous year, signaled a stable growth of Germany’s baby, children and toy industries.