südback 2026 will showcase Italy’s strong influence on the bakery and confectionery trade, with more than 20 companies from Italy presenting their latest products and services in Stuttgart in October. Together with API (Association of Italian Pizzerias), südback 2026 is hosting a practical program sharing craftsmanship, material knowledge and process expertise.

API, the Association of Italian Pizzerias, will represent the Italian pizza-makers in the dedicated Pizza Area – supported by the family-owned Italian flour mill Molino Iaquone. Visitors can expect state-of-the-art techniques for making dough, long proofing times and key technical details for light, aromatic and digestible products. Products will range from the Pizza Romana to the Pizza al Tegamino (pan pizza), stone-baked pizzas, Pinsa Romana and pre-baked options.

Practical aspects of pizza-making will also be covered: pizza chefs will demonstrate how to make top-quality pizza reliably and cost-effectively, using the standard oven technology found in bakeries – on the Bakers’ Stage (Hall 9, Stand B56).

Italian confectionery is also on highlight, as CONPAIT (Confederation of Italian Confectioners) will showcase the variety of Italy’s patisserie live on the Confectioners’ Stage (Hall 7, Stand D71) throughout the exhibition. The focus here will be on chocolate artistry, mignons and modern desserts for the gastronomy sector.

The almond, a key ingredient in Italy’s confectionery tradition, will take center stage, with demonstrations showcasing its versatility (used in everything from the pastry to the decoration) and strong sensory impact.

From October 24 to 27, 2026, around 550 exhibiting companies will come to Messe Stuttgart for südback – from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and the Netherlands. In trade fair halls 5, 7, the Alfred Kärcher Halle (Hall 8), Hall 9 and the Paul Horn Halle (Hall 10), products, technology and trends for the future bakery trade will be presented across approximately 55,000 square metres.

Photo: Members of the Association of Italian Pizzerias (API) will be represented in the Pizza Area, providing live demonstrations of the latest trends. | Copyright: Frank Eppler / Messe Stuttgart