DISCOVER THE WINNERS OF THE BEST FRENCH FINE FOOD RETAILER IN 2025
The Best French Fine Food Retailer 2025
The jury for the competition, presided over by Fernando Medina Zenoff, Director of the show, met to select the winners for this year's competition.
Six winners were selected from among the 70 entries submitted!
Created in 2019, the Best French Fine Food Retailer competition showcases stores that promote fine food products and the expertise of artisans and producers through innovative and committed concepts. Beyond the quality of the products, the jury members evaluated each application according to strict criteria: originality of the concept, presentation of the products, responsible sourcing, local roots, digitalisation, sense of service and passion for the profession.
Spotlight on the winners of the Best French Fine Food Retailer 2025:
Gold Medal: BOTTEGA BASTIANO - Saint Cyr-sur-Loire (Centre Val de Loire)
Located in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire in Indre-et-Loire, Bottega Bastiano takes visitors on a journey to the heart of artisan Italy. Created by Bastien Guerche, a lover of Italian cuisine, this fine food shop celebrates Italian producers and the taste of well-made products.
The jury's opinion:
"After L'Épicerie d'ici et d'ailleurs, which showcased local produce in a trailer, the jury decided to award this year's prize to Bottega Bastiano. The fine food store, located in a medium-sized town (Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, population 12,000), illustrates changing consumer trends (the growing popularity of Mediterranean cuisine, changes in meal patterns and the increasing importance of aperitifs). We were impressed by the importance given to product selection (a very wide selection of pasta, with a focus on pinsa), which we felt deserved recognition." Alexis ROUX DE BEZIEUX
Silver Medal: HALMAHERA – Le Creusot (Bourgogne Franche Comté)
Born out of personal turmoil, Halmahera is the creation of Justine Bobin, an entrepreneur who is as resilient as she is passionate. After losing everything, she chose to rebuild her life around a project that is full of meaning: a fine food shop that celebrates taste, beauty and human connection.
The jury's opinion:
"A grocery store that takes us on a journey to discover other regions. While offering products from the Burgundy region, the aim is to introduce customers to exceptional products from all over France and the world. The jury decided to highlight Justine Bobin's dynamism with her many initiatives, such as gift boxes, monthly boxes combining exceptional products and travel journals, and active communication on social media." Fernando MEDINA ZENOFF
Bronze Medal: L’INSTANT DIVIN - Beaufort-en-Anjou (Pays de La Loire)
In Beaufort-en-Anjou in Maine-et-Loire, L’Instant Divin is a timeless place. Housed in a former 18th-century forge, this fine food shop was acquired in 2023 by Linda and Ludovic, who have restored it to its former glory while preserving its soul.
The jury's opinion:
"Imagine stepping into this old tuffeau stone forge with a coffee roaster taking pride of place in the centre of the shop, the aroma of which would have drawn us in... Take your time on sunny days in the Tuscan garden, sampling the delicacies prepared by Linda. Aperitif-concerts punctuate the summer season with a selection of platters and wines sourced by Ludovic and available for purchase in the shop. The community and charity activities, poetry afternoons and CSR approach are all assets that won over the jury." Michel GRANSEIGNE
Jury’s Coup de Cœur: MAISON PAULETTE - Le Mesnil-Saint-Denis (Ile de France)
Maison Paulette was created as a return to its roots, in every sense of the word. Located in Mesnil-Saint-Denis in the Yvelines region, in the former family home of Grandmother Paulette, this grocery store and coffee shop is reinventing local commerce with a bold and caring vision.
The jury's opinion:
‘Maison Paulette won the jury's hearts with its unique concept. It's a return to basics in a place steeped in history: the former home of Grandmother Paulette, now a grocery store and coffee shop where local farm produce is available every day. An inspiring model of conviviality, rural common sense and collective autonomy.’ Théo @thevoyageurgourmand
Best Newcomer: L’ÉPICERIE D’EMILIE - Grignan (Auvergne Rhône-Alpes)
In Grignan in the Drôme region, L’Épicerie d’Émilie is the expression of a rich journey, combining high gastronomy and local roots. Former Michelin-starred pastry chef Émilie Delouye has brought together her passions here: the right taste, artisanal know-how and sharing.
The jury's opinion:
Opened in July 2024 by a former Michelin-starred pastry chef, L'Épicerie d'Émilie has set itself an ambitious mission: to make fine dining accessible to all through sharing. To achieve this, Émilie offers pastry classes open to all in her shop. Her fine food store also offers a carefully selected range of local products, exceptional items and tableware.
With this award, the jury wanted to encourage this inspiring initiative.
Rural Grocery Award: L’EPICERIE BIEN & BON - Geüs-d'Oloron (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Rural grocery stores play an essential role in the vitality of local communities. In addition to promoting local products and the work of farmers, they provide essential local services and preserve social cohesion in sometimes isolated areas. To recognise this commitment, the jury has created a special award dedicated to rural areas. In Geüs-d'Oloron (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), a small village nestled between the Pyrenees and the Atlantic Ocean, the Épicerie Bien & Bon embodies a new rural dynamic .
The jury's opinion:
"Returning to her village to set up a grocery store that would do “good” for her local area: Anaïs has succeeded in her venture in Geüs-d'Oloron, a village of 262 inhabitants. Designed from start to finish by Anaïs herself, Bien & Bon is the result of total commitment and ticks all the boxes for keeping rural life alive. Bien & Bon is a friendly grocery store dedicated to local products, but that's not all: you can even buy fresh fish there, which is rare in the countryside. A showcase for producers, it is also a place for people to meet and share. A ‘lively’ fine food store that also offers cooking and baking workshops, strengthening the links between residents a little more every day.” Aurélien Bertrand
