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| It's January, and that means it's time for VinCenzo's annual trip to Cologne, Germany for Internationale Süsswaren-Messe Köln, the world's largest candy and biscuits show. 2003 marks VinCenzo's third appearance at ISM, and the third time we've managed to stuff ourselves with about every form of sugar imaginable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This also marks the end of a busy winter on the road for VinCenzo's European Sales Coordinator, Alesha Van Linda. "It's definitely been an exciting few months," explains Alesha. "October was Luxe Pack in Monte Carlo. Then we ran home to the states basically to change clothes before flying back to Paris for Emballage in November, and now ISM. Of course, we're here on a regular basis visiting customers, but this winter schedule has been a great opportunity to cover three of the largest European shows and really get a chance to further establish ourselves in the European market. A great number of our clients are confectioners, and ISM has always been a great show for us." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Two recent VinCenzo confectionery projects, cookies and apricots, on display at ISM.
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| As VP of Sales Joseph Marlovits explains, this year presented the opportunity to show off some particularly unique tins. "We're always looking to provide people with something new and unusual, and when we can display something like the ornament candy tin or the stacking cookie tin, it gives us the opportunity to show people the kind of unique packaging we're capable of." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Of course, part of what makes VinCenzo so unique is the unparalleled level of customization available. "We fill a niche that you just don't see in the European market anymore," explains VinCenzo's President, Keith Armato. "We develop new tooling for about 80% of our orders, and this typically adds just two weeks to our lead time. We offer our European clients the kind of flexibility they need to create unique packaging perfectly suited to their product." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jellies... a personal favorite of the Big Vincenz.
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| And a tasty product at that. Working ISM provides plenty of opportunity to munch on any of the (literally) tons of sweets set out for tasting. And when they're not working the show, the VinCenzo crew (eight or nine people strong for most European shows) is most likely to be found in a local Brauhaus, tucking away healthy portions of pork products... to say nothing of the brew. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Be warned... overzealous candy consumption can have some unfortunate (if colorful) results.
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