Wallonia Showcases Its Flavours at Gourmet Selection 2025
Belgium, and Wallonia in particular, are familiar territory for Gourmet Selection. Every year, the quality food fair welcomes several participants from Wallonia. Loyal visitors to Gourmet Selection have been enjoying the sweet treats of Biscuiterie Namuroise, Dolphin Chocolats, Choc and Co and Les Maîtres Confiseurs for many years.
Not to mention Gili drinks and the delicious Cambodian spices from La Plantation, which, contrary to what its products suggest, is actually a Belgian company. Chocolate and biscuits play a major role in Wallonia's gastronomic reputation. And rightly so!
According to the Walloon Agency for Export and Foreign Investment, Walloon exports of food and beverages fell slightly by 1.2% in 2024.
However, this decline is much less pronounced than for Walloon foreign trade as a whole last year (-3.2%).
This means that food and beverages now rank third among Wallonia's most important export sectors, accounting for 7.5% of the total, ahead of chemical products (7.0% of the total) and electrical and industrial machinery and equipment (5.8% of the total). Particularly noteworthy are the positive developments in exports of beverages (+2.3%) and frozen vegetable preparations (+1.8%) (source: Awex – Wallonia.be).
It is therefore not surprising that the Wallonia region has decided to invest heavily in Gourmet Selection with its own pavilion. The initiative was taken by the Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency (AWEX), a public interest organisation in Wallonia created in 1998.
It is a comprehensive partner for any Walloon company wishing to expand internationally and is also the single point of contact for any foreign company interested in setting up in Wallonia or expanding its existing activities.
Beer, biscuits, chocolate, butter and ravioli
Eight brands will be present, each showcasing one of Wallonia's gastronomic specialities.
Beer, undoubtedly Belgium's most iconic drink, will be represented by Brasserie des Légendes and Ferme de Bertinchamps.
The former offers a selection of ten craft beers that are 100% local! The company is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. This is an opportunity to meet its representatives and sample one of their ten beers, including their first Pilsner, called Légendaire. All with moderation, of course!
The second offers a dozen beers, including a Bertinchamps delicately flavoured with grapefruit and another flavoured with passion fruit, which is also alcohol-free. L&L Plaquette is recognised as one of Europe's finest butter producers. The butter is sold in the classic block and slab formats and, more surprisingly, in 10-gram candy-style pieces. The brand plays the fusion card by combining butter with beer malt, white truffle, onion and ginger, and even jalapeño pepper. That's 16 different flavours!
L&L Plaquette guarantees that its butters are made with cream and milk from regional Ardennes cheese dairies. Le Comptoir des épices offers a whole range of flavours in the form of savoury and sweet spices, herbs, blends, chillies, teas and infusions, and even cocoa. More surprisingly, La Ferme des 7 Fontaines has become a specialist in ravioli... and foie gras. The ravioli come in around thirty flavours, including classics such as scallops, sun-ripened vegetables and ricotta/asparagus, but also surprising textures and combinations such as sole/grey shrimp, young partridge with sesame seeds and even chocolate ravioli.
In the chocolate and biscuit section, the pavilion will welcome Generous, which offers flavourful organic and gluten-free biscuits. Eleven biscuit flavours are complemented by three different types of granola.
He is the official Ambassador of Belgian Chocolate and proudly flies the flag for Wallonia's gastronomy: Jean-Philippe Darcis is the creator of the brand of the same name. This pastry chef is now renowned for his soft macarons and chocolates with their delicate yet powerful flavours.
Have you ever heard of cuberdon? It's to sweets what speculoos is to biscuits in Belgium. This treat made from gum arabic, gelatine and sugar comes in a cone shape with a traditional raspberry flavour. You can try it at the Wallonia pavilion at Gourmet Selection with Sweet Cuberdons. This brand brings back the colours and flavours of this iconic little sweet. What's more, the recipe uses only natural flavours and colours and no animal gelatine. Its delicate taste earned Sweet Cuberdons a ‘Superior Taste Award’ in 2022, three stars from the International Taste Institute in Brussels.
Come and discover these Walloon gastronomic treasures at the next edition of Gourmet Selection on 21 and 22 September. Wallonia welcomes you with open arms...