On January 14–15, 2026, the international trade fair MARCA by BolognaFiere & ADM took place in Bologna, Italy. The event is recognized as one of Europe’s leading exhibitions dedicated to private label products and store brands. Traditionally, MARCA brings together manufacturers, suppliers, retail chains, importers, and food industry professionals from around the world.

This year’s edition reached record-breaking figures. More than 1,500 exhibitors participated in MARCA 2026, while the number of professional visitors exceeded 25,000. Participants included representatives of leading retail chains, manufacturing companies, ingredient suppliers, packaging providers, and technology solution developers for the food industry.

During the exhibition, the delegation of the Union of Baking Centres explored the latest European market trends, held meetings with partners and manufacturers, and examined new development opportunities within the HoReCa, bakery, and food production sectors.

Among the key trends that attracted particular attention were:

• Growing consumer demand for products with natural ingredients and clean-label formulations;
• The continued development of premium private label brands;
• Increasing demand for ready-to-use and semi-finished solutions for the HoReCa sector;
• The implementation of sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions;
• The active use of innovative ingredients and functional food products.

Particular interest was generated by solutions for bakery and confectionery manufacturers, frozen desserts, gelato, sauces, fillings, and fruit-based products. The exhibition clearly demonstrated that the European market continues to move toward higher product quality, optimized production processes, and the creation of products with greater added value.

An important part of MARCA 2026 was the MARCA Tech area, which showcased the latest innovations in packaging, logistics, ingredients, and production technologies. These innovations are increasingly becoming key factors in maintaining competitiveness within the European market.

Participation in international industry exhibitions enables the Union of Baking Centres to continuously monitor global trends, strengthen partnerships, and bring the best European practices to the Ukrainian market.

We remain committed to ensuring that Ukrainian manufacturers have access to modern technologies, innovative products, and proven solutions from leading international companies.