MEETINGS AND NEW PRODUCTS AT THE HEART OF GOURMET SELECTION
A passion forged by encounters
When asked what she loves about her job, Cathy's answer is immediate: meeting people. She speaks enthusiastically about these “wonderful artisans who are passionate about their products, about taste, and about what the earth gives us.” For her, each product is a reflection of the work, history, and person who has put their expertise at the service of taste.
Seeking out new products to meet customer expectations
Cathy emphasizes the importance of regularly finding new products. “Our customers are always looking for something new,” she explains. This constant demand pushes grocers like her to stay alert, discover new products, be open to original proposals, and analyze changing tastes.
The Gourmet Selection trade show plays a key role in this process. By visiting it every year, Cathy knows she will find what she needs: innovations, artisan creations, revamped ranges, and above all, people who can tell the story behind each product. For her, it's a way to enrich her offering and continue to surprise her customers.
The pleasure of reconnecting with long-standing partners
Beyond discovering new products, Cathy also enjoys reconnecting with partners she has been working with for several years. The trade show is therefore a double appointment: an opportunity to discover new products, but also a moment of loyalty, where existing collaborations are strengthened.
These reunions reflect the human dimension of her profession. For her, working with an artisan is not simply a matter of placing an order: it is about creating a relationship, understanding each other's values, and moving forward together. The trade show offers a lively, dynamic setting where bonds are forged year after year.
The Gourmet Selection trade show: appreciated for its richness and atmosphere
Cathy explains that she comes to the show every year, which she finds very enjoyable and, above all, very rich. This feeling reflects the experience of many professionals: the density of the stands, the diversity of the products, the proximity to the artisans, the direct exchanges—all of this creates a special atmosphere. Cathy comes not only for her professional purchases but also to feed her own passion for taste and discovery.
Non-alcoholic beverages: a move upmarket observed year after year
Among the sectors she mentions, Cathy spontaneously cites non-alcoholic beverages. “Year after year, we are moving upmarket,” she says. This observation reflects a clear market trend: non-alcoholic alternatives are constantly improving, both in terms of flavor profile and product positioning.
For a grocery store like hers, this move upmarket is an opportunity. Creators are multiplying their offerings, with new taste experiences and sophisticated recipes, enabling independent retailers to offer beverages that meet the expectations of a curious and rapidly evolving clientele.
In fact, at the Gourmet Selection trade show's Best Of 2025 competition, the exhibitor Divin vigneron was the winner in the non-alcoholic beverages category.
Gourmet discoveries
During her visits to the show, Cathy says she made some wonderful discoveries in the areas of chocolates and confectionery. These two segments occupy a central place in delicatessens, and trade shows are an ideal opportunity to compare, taste, and select the products that will end up on the shelves. To sum up her experience, Cathy uses three words to describe the show: exciting, very welcoming, and very gourmet. This trio reflects not only the atmosphere of the Gourmet Selection show, but also what she takes away from it each year: authentic exchanges, a warm atmosphere, and a world of flavors that nourishes her profession.
Meet all the professionals in the fine food and quality delicatessen sector at the Gourmet Selection trade show from Sunday, June 7 to Monday, June 8, 2026, at Paris Expo - Porte de Versailles Pavilion 7.2.