Launched by Gourmet Selection and Le Monde de l’Épicerie Fine, the Business Initiatives Award was presented for the first time at the 2026 edition of the trade show. Florence Hardy, founder of Maison Médelys and Chair of the judging panel, looks back on this inaugural edition and shares her vision of entrepreneurship, balancing high standards, adaptability and a passion for the product.
Published on Sep 24,2026 at 8:40 AM | Updated on Sep 24,2026 at 9:18 AM

An award that looks at the business as a whole

Co-created by Gourmet Selection and Le Monde de l’Épicerie Fine, the Business Initiatives Award recognises producers whose approach goes beyond mere product innovation. Responsible sourcing and manufacturing, a socially conscious business model, brand positioning, relationships with retailers, and local, environmental or social commitment: the jury assesses a company’s vision as a whole. The award is aimed at organisations with a structured and distinctive entrepreneurial project, whether they are start-ups or established businesses, and whether or not they are exhibiting at the trade fair. The jury, comprising exclusively industry professionals, met on 28 May ahead of an official awards ceremony on Sunday 7 June, at the close of the first day of the 2026 edition, on the stage of the Expert's Agora.

Florence Hardy, a pioneer of the Rungis International Market

To chair the jury for this inaugural edition, Gourmet Selection and Le Monde de l’Épicerie Fine called upon an iconic figure from the gourmet sector. Florence Hardy is the founder and director of Maison Médelys, a specialist in gourmet products for the professional sector. The company, founded in 1987, now has nearly 4,000 active product listings for over 6,000 clients in France and around the world, and remains the only company at the Rungis International Market to have been founded by a woman who still runs it.

Nearly forty years on from her beginnings, the director maintains a clear-eyed perspective on her journey. “When I started out, I really didn’t think it would turn out to be such an adventure,” she confides. “People talk about business growth, but what’s most interesting from my point of view is everything to do with human relationships, because ours is, above all, a business built on the human connections we’ve forged over the years with customers, suppliers and, of course, our teams.”

Florence Hardy attributes this longevity to a constant ability to adapt, rooted in steadfast convictions. “From the very beginning, like all businesses, we’ve had to adapt a great deal. We have strong values centred on quality, high standards, but also a passion for the product. Overall, the company’s journey has been one of constant adaptation, whilst remaining firmly true to its DNA and values.”

“Pain mixed with passion”

When asked about the significance of the Business Initiatives Award, the Chair of the jury expressed a firm belief: entrepreneurship deserves to be passed on and celebrated. “Being an entrepreneur is demanding; it’s hard. There are many constraints and many difficulties too. I often say that entrepreneurship is suffering combined with passion.”

In her view, highlighting this reality means doing justice to those who keep the sector alive on a daily basis. “Highlighting entrepreneurship means highlighting all the men and women who, behind the scenes, work to set up businesses, ensure their long-term viability, and act as key players in a vibrant sector – promoting French products, whilst also playing a vital role at a local level.”

Her approach aligns precisely with the spirit of the award: to judge a business venture, not just a product. “Of course, the product must be good. But a business is a whole process centred on that product: a social approach, an environmental approach, a strategic approach; it’s also about knowing how to adapt to changing consumer trends. People often say: ‘You’re an entrepreneur, you had an idea.’ Yes, but the idea is just the starting point. In fact, sometimes it isn’t even very good; sometimes it’s excellent. But above all, it’s about the entire journey you undertake, and about constantly taking the initiative.”

A list of winners that embodies this 360-degree vision

Given the quality of the entries received, Florence Hardy emphasises how difficult the deliberations were. “All the companies had strong qualities, and I really do thank them for that. What we were looking for was either an element of innovation or a 360-degree approach – that is to say, innovation across several parameters and criteria. ”

Remise de Prix

A list of winners that embodies this 360-degree vision

The prize was awarded to La Plantation, a family-run business specialising in Cambodian spices, including the famous Kampot pepper. The company, co-founded and run by Nathalie Chaboche, employs 150 full-time staff, with a further 100 to 150 people joining the workforce during the five-month Kampot pepper harvest. “These were delicate and difficult choices, but I think it’s fully deserved, given the company’s very strong commitment to social responsibility, to the product, to expertise and to what it does on a day-to-day basis,” commented the Chair of the jury. “It’s a company that’s constantly evolving, like all businesses that survive, but which also upholds strong values in everything it does. ”
The jury also awarded a ‘Coup de Cœur’ to PureCake, an artisan biscuit maker in Saint-Nazaire, producing 100 per cent plant-based, gluten-free and lactose-free products. An approach that Florence Hardy enthusiastically applauds: “It’s a very forward-thinking vision, and above all one that requires a great deal of courage. We, as consumers, tend to compartmentalise our consumption. Starting from market demand and addressing specific constraints, they’ve created ‘free-from’ products that have become ‘plus’ products: for consumers with allergies, intolerances or specific dietary requirements, whilst retaining the indulgent quality and enjoyment of the product, which means that conventional consumers are also drawn to try these products. I think it’s a fantastic, all-round approach.”
Pure Cake

Write the next chapter of the story in 2027

Florence Hardy sends a message of encouragement to the winners and to all entrepreneurs in the quality food retail sector: “Carry on with great courage; keep adapting to the market – that’s what you’re already doing every day. You have to have faith in entrepreneurship. People often say: ‘It’s not me who makes the path; it’s the path that makes me.’ Keep following that path, because it’s a beautiful one.”

This path also involves professional networking. The next edition of Gourmet Selection will take place on 13 and 14 June 2027 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

Learn more about the competition Exhibit at the show