Review BBQ EXPO in Paris

Elmar Fetscher was at the first BBQ trade fair in Paris! It's no secret that the French have a penchant for good food and are willing to dig deep into their wallets for it. But it's all the more exciting that this nation has only been dealing more intensively with the intricacies of barbecue in recent years and that a scene like ours is only slowly establishing itself. Now, from March 18 to 20, 2022, the Barbecue Expo at the Paris Event Center was the first trade fair in France to be entirely dedicated to the world of barbecues.

It was an event where well-known players from the international grill and BBQ world and national big names in the industry met to present themselves and their products to an interested French audience. FIRE&FOOD was also there to meet long-time companions and take the opportunity to make new contacts.

Exact figures are not yet known, but we estimate that around 10,000 visitors attended the new trade fair. We liked the overall rich, B2B and B2C-friendly and varied trade fair concept, where everyone got their money's worth. The large range of charcoal products was particularly striking; instant packs in all variations seem to be in demand among the French. There were also interesting manufacturers in the plancha and outdoor kitchen segment that are less well known here.

Overall, it can be said that the French market is about 10 years behind the DACH countries in terms of development. This means that it offers interesting potential that the barbecue industry should not miss. FIRE&FOOD is excited to see what happens here in the next few years...

More information about the BBQ EXPO in Paris can be found HERE.