The French food and beverage industry, the country's largest industrial sector by turnover, has a trade show calendar built around a worldwide biennial flagship (SIAL) and a constellation of events specialised by industry segment or by market. The challenge for an exhibitor: deciding whether they are looking to win new export markets, to get their products listed in French large-scale retail, or to position their offering with the HoReCa channel (cafes, hotels, restaurants). Commercial logic dictates the choice of trade show.
The leading trade shows in France
SIAL Paris is the world's largest food trade show, held every two years in October at Paris Nord Villepinte by Comexposium. The 2024 edition brought together 7,500 exhibitors from 127 countries and 285,000 visitors (79% of them international, from 205 countries), with 400,000 products on display. Its vocation is resolutely international: buyers from large-scale retail, foodservice and specialist distribution worldwide come here to source. For a French manufacturer, it is the main window onto export. SIAL Summits offers premium conference programmes on global trends. Next edition: October 2026.
SIRHA Lyon is the world trade show for the food trades and foodservice solutions, held every two years in January at Lyon Eurexpo by GL events. It targets chefs, restaurateurs, caterers and players in institutional catering, and is the setting for the Bocuse d'Or and the World Pastry Championship.
Wine Paris is the trade show for vines and wine, held every year in February at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The 2026 edition ran from 9 to 11 February. It brings together winegrowers, merchants, importers and buyers from the global wine industry around master classes, innovations and meetings with producers from around the world.
Specialist and regional trade shows
The Salon du Chocolat (Paris, annual) is both a trade and consumer event. CFIA Rennes (March, annual) covers food industry technologies; its CFIA Toulouse spin-off completes the regional coverage. The Salon du Fromage et des Produits Laitiers (Paris) is the leading sector event for dairy. Vinitech-Sifel (Bordeaux, biennial) covers the wine-growing, arboriculture and market-gardening industries (see also the Agriculture sector). For the food packaging sector, All4Pack Paris (Paris, biennial) is the leading European trade show, covering packaging, materials, processes and logistics.
The major European and international trade shows
Anuga (Cologne, every two years in October, Koelnmesse) is the world's largest food trade show after SIAL, with more than 7,500 exhibitors and 170,000 visitors from 201 countries. More than 90% of exhibitors and 70% of visitors come from outside Germany. It is a global purchasing platform: the whole world buys here. Next edition: Cologne 2027.
Alimentaria (Barcelona, every two years, Fira Barcelona) is the leading food trade show for the Ibero-American market. It brings together players in food, beverages and gastronomy in a mixed trade and institutional format. It is the preferred gateway for French companies targeting Spain, Portugal and Latin America.
IFE London (International Food & Drink Event, London, every two years) is the leading food platform for the British market and English-speaking distribution channels. It is particularly relevant for French exporters targeting UK retailers and distributors.
TUTTOFOOD Milan (every two years, alternating with Alimentaria) is the food and gastronomy trade show for the Italian and Mediterranean market. Organised by Fiera Milano, it provides access to Italian distributors and buyers, a strategic market for the French food and beverage industry.
Fruit Logistica (Berlin, annual in February, Messe Berlin) is the global platform for the international fresh fruit and vegetable trade, with nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 90 countries and more than 70,000 trade visitors. It is the must-attend event for the entire fresh produce industry (fresh, export, logistics).
Seafood Expo Global (Barcelona, annual in April, organised by Informa Markets) is the world's largest seafood trade show, with more than 2,000 exhibitors from 90 countries and 40,000 trade buyers. It is the trading platform for the entire fishing, aquaculture and fish-processing industry.
Prowein (Düsseldorf, annual, Messe Düsseldorf) is the European reference for the wine sector on export. The American market is addressed via the Fancy Food Show (New York and San Francisco, Specialty Food Association).
Beyond the trade shows
Food and beverage is a sector where product listings are often decided away from the trade shows, during buyer meetings organised directly by the retail chains. Events such as the Trophées de l'Innovation, the FCD awards or international competitions (Sofi Awards at SIAL) are important complementary visibility levers.