EFCEM at HostMilano 2025: an interview with Martin Ubl
Discussing topics from tariffs to long-term foodservice equipment trends , Martin Ubl , president of EFCEM , spoke with Michael Jones on the FCSI booth at HostMilano 2025 to address challenges and opportunities for the European foodservice equipment sector
EFCEM had a busy – and extremely productive – HostMilano show in Italy in October 2025. As well as staging its Extraordinary General Assembly and National Associations of Producers (NAP) Committee Meeting, plus a hugely successful Global Exchange meeting – also attended by NAFEM, NAFES, FCSI and CFESA – board members of EFCEM took part in several interviews with industry media at the show.
One of these saw Martin Ubl, president of EFCEM, join Michael Jones of FCSI's Foodservice Consultant magazine at the FCSI Europe, Africa, Middle East (EAME) booth for a live, on-stage interview addressing the challenges and opportunities for the European foodservice equipment sector.
Market uncertainty
The discussion took in the thorny issues of US trade tariffs on European goods, additional geopolitical pressures on the industry that are creating market uncertainty – including energy costs and inflation – plus, long-term trends shaping the industry.
“There's a lot of uncertainty in the membership of EFCEM,” says Ubl, regarding the subject of US trade tariffs. "As far as we all see and know [the tariffs] are still not decided. They are still in the phase of negotiation. That's not good – having a waiting phase. Manufacturers don't know exactly what will happen," he adds.
"I'm sure there will be further negotiation, so there will be some changes, but it's definitely not a good situation at the moment, because it's poison for investment and making business decisions. For all of us, including for the Americans, it's not the best situation, and we hope that there will be a solution and a final clarity of the situation."
Elsewhere the interview addresses how global equipment supply chain lines are being redrew, and how EFCEM is stepping up to the plate to ensure its members have a voice and representation at the table in Europe.
Watch the full interview here