The number of exhibiting companies was also higher than ever before: The 820 exhibitors from 41 countries (80 per cent from abroad) at the fair represented an increase of more than five per cent compared to the previous event.

"Kind + Jugend has been providing the sector with momentum for the past 50 years and is continuing to impressively strengthen its position as the world's leading trade fair for baby and toddler outfitting products," said Oliver P. Kuhrt, Executive Vice President of Koelnmesse GmbH, with visible satisfaction.

A total of 163 exhibitors from Germany and 656 from abroad presented their innovations to an international trade audience at this year's Kind + Jugend. The suppliers included numerous key accounts as well as smaller companies that exhibited at the fair for the first time. For example, 15 companies took advantage of the "Newcomers" offer, which gives young, innovative companies from Germany an opportunity to receive funding from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) for their participation at Kind + Jugend. Two of these newcomer companies won a Kind + Jugend Innovation Award, which was presented in seven categories this year. "This funding makes it easier for the young and creative SME segment to enter foreign markets by participating in international trade fairs in Germany. The two start-up companies Twinkle Kid and Juka 9 took good advantage of this opportunity," explained a ministry spokesperson.

Companies from all segments reported that they made good contacts and that business was excellent. "The trade fair is even more international than in the record year of 2009. We completely achieved our targets," said Thomas Koch, Managing Director of Sterntaler GmbH. This assessment was also confirmed by Dieter Meise, CEO of Meise Möbel GmbH & Co. KG, who said: "We are very satisfied with the results of the fair. We have made many excellent contacts, which is exactly why we decided to take part in Kind + Jugend." A first-time exhibitor at the fair, Meise Möbel GmbH & Co. KG attracted visitors' attention with an emotive marketing concept, and the company is already making plans for next year. The fair's increased strength also impressed Robert Anslow, Managing Director of the Baby Product Association (BPA), which came to Cologne from the UK with 30 participants this year. "Our members are very satisfied," he said. "The trade fair is even better than last year, which is why Kind + Jugend is now a must event for our sector." An Italian media representative exclaimed that "the trade fair's development has been really great. The diverse range of exhibitors and mix of offerings is fantastic. What I really like is that the exhibitors have further upgraded their trade fair presentations this year, thus contributing to the fair's overall level of quality."

Exhibitors once again praised the visitors' excellent credentials and high level of decision-making competence. "We're highly satisfied with how the fair went. Besides registering an increase in the number of contacts, we were also very impressed in every respect by the high level of the visitors' decision-making authority," emphasised Heinz-Werner Mangelmann, Managing Director of baby & family GmbH, who not only met suppliers and trade partners at the fair, but also won over new customers. "Kind + Jugend is simply the sector's most important marketplace," he added. This assessment is also confirmed by the initial results of the visitor survey, which showed that more than 91 per cent of the trade visitors said they played either a key role or a supporting and consulting role in purchasing or procurement decisions at their respective companies. At the same time, 85 per cent of the survey participants said the product range on display at Kind + Jugend was good or very good. A total of 84 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their visit to the fair. Wilhelm Weischer, Managing Director of BabyOne Franchise- und Systemzentrale GmbH, also came to the conclusion that the trade fair was a success. "We have regularly visited Kind + Jugend ever since BabyOne was founded 22 years ago," he said. "The fair's broad range of offerings has always provided us with lots of ideas and we have always found innovative new products and suppliers. In this way, Kind + Jugend has made a dynamic and customer-orientated contribution to enhancing our range of products."

Presentation of the Kind + Jugend Innovation Award - the trade fair's quality seal
The Kind + Jugend Innovation Award's importance at the national and international levels is also confirmed by the number of products submitted by the participants competing for the coveted trophy, which in 2010 rose once again, this time to a total of 213 products. The entries accepted for the competition were all newly developed or enhanced products that are unlike items already available on the market in terms of form, appearance, material properties, ease of use, and/or technology.

The winners of the Kind + Jugend Innovation Award 2010 are:
- World of Moving Baby (prams and travel systems)
Babyzen, RECARO GmbH & Co. KG
- World of Travelling Baby (children's car seats)
Cybex Pallas-fix plus Isofix connect, Columbus Trading Partners GmbH
- World of Moving Baby & Travelling Baby Accessories (accessories for prams, travel systems and children's car seats)
Free Rider, Phil and Teds
- World of Baby Safety at Home (safety-related products for babies and toddlers at home)
Juka 9, Struck Handelsgesellschaft mbH
- World of Baby Textiles (home textiles, baby and toddler clothing etc.)
Twinkle Kid UG
- World of Baby Care (hygiene products and electrical appliances)
iiamo Go, iiamo Aps
- World of Baby Furniture (children's furniture and accessories)
Angel 2010, Baby Dan A/S

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