Europain: 2008 the biggest event in the sector

Paris / FR. (ep) Europain, the French bakery exhibition, will become a biennial event in 2008, taking place every two years rather than every three. The 40th show, which is held at Paris Nord Villepinte from 29 March to 02 April, is targeting 600 exhibitors across eight product sectors including craft bakery, industrial baking, pastry-making, chocolate and confectionery and ice cream making. Approximately 80.000 visitors are expected.

According to Europain´s general manager, Jean-Paul Broutin, 380 exhibitors are booked to date and the event is looking to match exhibitor figures achieved in 2005, the last time the exhibition took place. Three years ago the show hosted 598 exhibitors with 37 percent from outside France. It attracted 78.537 visitors with 40 percent from outside France and the majority from Europe.

Of the French contingent, the majority of visitors to the show (60 percent) are craft bakers, reflecting the French bread market. Craft bakers account for 67,5 percent of the bakery market in France versus 47 percent in the rest of Europe. This structure is very different to – in example – the United Kingdom, where craft bakers have dwindled to fewer than 3.000 companies, Broutin explains.

Broutin says that despite the strength of the craft bakery sector, bake-off systems and franchise retail chains were growing in importance and there are now 5.600 of these registered specialist shops in France, which are not bakeries. «Craft bakers are declining and the number of bake-offs is on the increase», he said. Key chains include Paul, Brioche Doree, Pomme de Pain and La MieCaline.

Other highlights at the 40th Europain include the Bakery World Cup, where three international teams will be competing in the bakery cup final during the show. There is also a new competition for pastry, an innovation area and two paying conferences. A detailed brochure (19 pages | 471 KB) is to download at
Read more: https://www.europain.com/_docs/dossier_presse_europain_2008_2_en.pdf