Europain, the international exhibition aimed at the bakery, pastry, chocolate, and ice cream sectors, to be held on 5-9 February, is firmly committed to taking an in-depth look into changing trends in the artisan bakery sector in the world. This has been made known this week at a press conference in Barcelona by the organizers, led by the director of the Salon, Marie-Odile Fondeur.

First, Europain will gather a full range of over 800 French and international exhibitors who have the latest ideas and technology for innovation. They will also set up four different areas in which to discuss and show where dynamic sectors such as micro bakery business, chocolate-making, and patisserie are heading. On the one hand, two separate bakery and pastry workshops; on the other, a catering area connected to bakery; and finally a “baker’s restaurant “. In these last two spaces, increasing synergies and hybrid business models that offer food from a bakery will be reflected.

Marie-Odile Fondeur reflected on the need for bakeries to find new motivations to attract consumers daily, “because bread alone is no longer sufficient for daily activity.” Collecting these new trends is one of the main tasks of the next edition of Europain.

But additionally there will be many other attractions, counting over 150 activities scheduled. Of these we are particularly looking at the Mondial des Arts Sucrés, which this year has 16 combinations formed by pairs of men and women pastry chefs. Another championship will also count on a lot of attention will be the Coupe du Monde de Boulangerie, whose teams represent 12 different nationalities, arriving in Paris after winning their continental qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Intersuc, the old fair dedicated to pastry, chocolate and ice cream, bringing together these sectors, will continue this time as a space within Europain. There, important companies, corporate stands of French guilds, or the mythical Rue des Ecoles (the street of schools) are not to be missed. The main French schools will be living their own special peak, as mentioned during the press conference, thanks to the popularity of these trades in all kinds of TV game shows, for example. Another event that will deserve the visitor’s attention is the Festival Sens & Chocolat, which will star chocolate through tastings and many other activities. Venezuela and its cocoa will be the special guest for the occasion.