SIGEP World wants 1,000 top Buyers in Rimini this January, nearly twice the 502 it hosted in 2026. The 48th edition runs from January 23 to 27, 2027, at Rimini Expo Centre, with a sharper focus on retail chains, travel catering and luxury hospitality. The figure is a target, not a confirmed attendance count.
The numbers behind the program explain the ambition. In 2026, 502 top Buyers from 74 countries generated 5,851 business meetings. That works out to roughly a dozen meetings per Buyer across the program. It isn't a promise of an individual schedule, but it shows the scale of the business conversations already taking place.
Group FiftyOne is the U.S. Buyer Representative for SIGEP World 2027, identifying and qualifying American decision-makers for the hosted Buyer program. The aim is to bring the right purchasing responsibilities and sourcing needs into the room, not simply to add names to an attendance list.
For U.S. operators in gelato, pastry, coffee, bakery and pizza, five days in Rimini offer a concentrated view of ingredients, equipment and the companies behind them. The 2026 edition brought together 1,300 brands. For 2027, the opportunity is to compare products, see technology in action and discuss sourcing directly, including whether a product has American distribution and what would be needed to bring it to the U.S.
For European exhibitors, the value runs in the other direction. A pre-scheduled conversation with an American chain, operator or distributor on home ground is a practical first step toward the U.S. market. For a company still weighing its American plans, it can mean testing demand and asking specific questions before committing to a separate market visit. A first meeting doesn't replace the work of market entry, but it can help establish where that work should begin.
American Buyers interested in the hosted program can register for the SIGEP World 2027 Buyer program. For inquiries about participation and the program, contact Group FiftyOne at info@groupfiftyone.com. Applications are subject to qualification and organizer approval.
Sources: Italian Exhibition Group, September 14, 2026, Bake Magazine, October 5, 2026, and PAX International, October 7, 2026. Cover: pastry demonstration at SIGEP World 2026, event press photograph published by PAX International.
“A first meeting doesn't replace the work of market entry, but it can help establish where that work should begin.”
