On 7 and 8 June 2026, Gourmet Selection brought together 5,500 industry professionals at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for its first summer edition. Producers, artisans, buyers and specialist retailers gathered there to celebrate high-quality food, in a more intimate setting that encouraged interaction and led to a wealth of new discoveries.
Published on Jul 17,2026 at 1:34 PM | Updated on Jul 17,2026 at 2:04 PM
Over two busy days, the trade show reaffirmed its position as a key meeting place for the professionals who produce and distribute premium grocery and fine food products, both in France and internationally. Competitions, special events, and emerging brands punctuated an edition that further strengthened its appeal among industry professionals.

Visitor numbers boosted by co-location with the cheese industry

With 5,500 trade visitors, 270 exhibitors and 360 brands represented – 50% of whom were new exhibitors – this first summer edition confirmed the momentum of Gourmet Selection. Holding the event jointly with the Cheese and Dairy Products Show, broadened the pool of visitors, without detracting from the unique identity of the premium grocery trade fair.

Its international appeal has also grown. 22% of visitors came from 72 countries, with the number of international visitors having doubled since 2024. The show also benefited from strong digital visibility, with a total reach of 5.13 million people across all its social media channels (source: Kolsquare, from 1 October 2025 to 15 June 2026). These figures reflect the event’s established standing as a long-term fixture that now extends beyond the circle of French buyers alone.

Best Of: the awards ceremony celebrating taste and know-how

One of the highlights of the two-day event, the Best Of competition recognised exceptional products, remarkable craftsmanship and inspiring concepts – all of which help to revitalise the sector and inspire the entire industry.
Award winners and jury members posing with a certificate and a bottle in the Gourmet Selection exhibition area.

The jury selected the following winners:

  • Best of Best: Pellorce & Jullien, Marrons Verveine Gift Set
  • Jury’s Favourite: Bricelet Maison Orset, Savoie Bricelet with Beaufort AOP cheese as an aperitif
  • Condiments, oils and vinegars: Douga Douga, Premium XL Kabylie Olive Oil Gift Set
  • Seafood: La Falaise qui Rougit, Smoked Herring Rillettes, Mustard Seed Pickles
  • Savoury: Territoire de Provence / Maison Bremond, Croccanti Dried Olives
  • Charcuterie, Cured Meats & Delicatessen: visan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ibericos Revisan / Don Agustín, Chorizo Cular Extra Ibérico de Bellota Naturel Artisan, Superior Quality
  • Sweet treats: Territoire de Provence / Confiserie du Roy René, Box of 20 Henri Bardouin Pastis calissons
  • Jams & Honeys: www.confiture-parisienne.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Confiture Parisienne, Lotus redcurrant jam
  • Chocolates: ueux.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maison Vertueux, Gift set of 5 dark chocolate rochers
  • Alcoholic drinks: Maison Bocquet, Bernard
  • Non-alcoholic drinks: Wright Tea, Sparkling Tea Pinky
  • Hot drinks & herbal teas: orman.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Flore Norman, ‘Pays d’Auge’ Apple, Pear, Caramel & Calvados Herbal Tea
  • Non-food: avons.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Milhe et Avons, Cartogratin Gift Set

For the second year running, Gourmet Selection has partnered with Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet to offer several winners of the Best Of competition a prime showcase within the Parisian department store. This represents a concrete opportunity for these artisans to introduce their creations to an audience of discerning gourmets. Selected brands include Chiki Bam (Thaï Max), lafalaisequirougit.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">La Falaise qui Rougit, .fr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Le French Biscuit, Maison Vertueux, La Plantation, eliers.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Deux Béliers, " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marou and Maison Orset.

The Best French Fine Food Retailer honours five outlets

The Best French Fine Food Retailer competition honoured five retailers that embody excellence in their trade across France:

Eric Benchetrit talks about what attracts him to the show

Gold Medal winner Le Comptoir Corrézien has been built since 1986 around a simple conviction: sourcing the finest products directly from French producers. Its carefully curated selection includes homemade foie gras, wild mushrooms, seasonal truffles, and Aquitaine caviar, all renowned for their freshness and authenticity.

Since 2007, Laurent Delacotte has carried on this legacy, maintaining the same uncompromising standards of quality while making expert advice, personal service, and conviviality the hallmarks of a business that has become a reference point for both private customers and professional chefs.

This commitment to product origin and craftsmanship has also earned the company recognition as a quality artisan-producer by the Collège Culinaire de France , an association bringing together more than 3,000 restaurants, producers, and artisans committed to offering an alternative to the standardization of food.

Nurturing the talents of tomorrow

Beyond its products, Gourmet Selection has shone a spotlight on the women, men and businesses driving the forward momentum of quality food retail. This ambition was exemplified by the launch of the Business Initiatives Award, the first edition of which recognised La Plantation for its socially responsible business model. A family-run business founded in 2013 in Kampot, Cambodia, it grows and processes fair-trade spices through a short supply chain – starting with the famous Kampot pepper (PGI) – drawing on a network of family farms and an ambitious social and environmental project. PureCake, for its part, was awarded the jury’s ‘Coup de Cœur’ prize.
Group of award winners posing with their certificates in the Gourmet Selection 2026 exhibition area.

This commitment to showcasing talent was evident throughout the show. The Experts’ Agora sparked discussion on the sector’s major challenges, while the Discovery Trail and the Trading Post Square put the spotlight on a new generation of brands. The programme reaffirmed the show’s mission: to bring to the fore the players who will shape the future of quality food retail.

What exhibitors and visitors had to say

For the exhibitors, the outcome lived up to expectations. La Cour d’Orgères highlighted the opportunity to connect with its core target audience and particularly appreciated the tasting sessions, which allowed them to directly showcase the quality and craftsmanship behind their products.

The Portuguese producer Fausto Sea Artisans praised the organisation of the fair and the calibre of the visitors they met – professionals who were genuinely interested in the products and attentive to both sourcing and innovation.

From the buyers’ perspective, Clémence Le Tannou, FMCG Purchasing Manager at La Grande Épicerie de Paris , described the event as invaluable for her sourcing work, providing an ideal opportunity to discover new brands and identify emerging trends, at a trade fair on a manageable scale where the quality of discussions met expectations.

For Fernando Medina Zenoff, Director of Gourmet Selection and the Cheese and Dairy Products Fair, this edition highlighted a fundamental trend: "The premium food retail sector is constantly reinventing itself, driven by entrepreneurs, expertise and products that have real meaning." The co-location with the Cheese and Dairy Products Show created excellent synergies between the two sectors.

See you on 13 and 14 June 2027

Buoyed by the success of this first summer edition, we look forward to seeing you on 13 and 14 June 2027 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. A new opportunity to continue building connections, discover the year’s hidden gems and, over two days, bring to life a sector that continues to reinvent itself.


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