British focus at 2008 European Sandwich & Snack Show

The 9th European Sandwich & Snack Show 2008 will be taking place on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th March 2008. Set in the surroundings of the Palais des Congrès in Paris - Porte Maillot, more than 260 exhibitors will be promoting their innovations and concepts aimed at the sandwich and snacking markets. New features include the “Innovations” area dedicated to all things British, showcasing Britain’s leadership of the snack market.

With a record 245 exhibitors present at the 2007 show and some 6900 visitors, the European appetite for snacking products continues to show healthy growth. The French snacking market as a whole has been valued at 23.5 billion Euros. In 2005, 1.23 billon sandwiches were sold (+ 31% since 2000) and the sandwich market was valued at 3.4 billion Euros. Despite this impressive growth, the French market is still a way behind its British rival; in UK 11.5 billion sandwiches are sold per year – or in round terms almost 200 sandwiches per year per inhabitant!

A new formula for 2008 – more demonstrations, more information

The next edition of the show includes a full programme of demonstrations and new purpose built areas:

• The Water Bar: a convivial area in which to discover and rediscover a range of waters from   all over the world.
• “Innovations”: an area dedicated to all things British; the occasion to discover the latest snacking trends from across the channel.
• 20 minutes to convince: a brand new demonstration area in which exhibitors are given the chance to present their innovations, products or services to a captive audience.
• Cookery demonstrations: a fully equipped theatre, to be used by both exhibitors and their chefs. The theatre will also be the back drop of creative snacking demonstrations, to be given by well-known names in cooking and patisserie.
• The 7th Délifrance Sandwich Cup: the best sandwiches will compete for this prestigious award.
• Conferences: to be held in the presence of leading personalities in the sandwich and snacking markets.

Some 20 British exhibitors were present at last year’s show, including: 5ème Saison – Crudi - Bakkavör, Advanced Food Technology, Colpac Ltd, Deighton Manufacturing UK Ltd, Eurobuns, Fresh, (FSM LLP), Grote Company, Innocent, Jackson’s, Leicester Bakery, Millitec Food Systems Ltd, Moy Park, Plastico, Robert’s Bakery, Rubicon Drinks Ltd, Single Source Ltd and TMI Foods. These exhibitors covered a wide variety of sectors: bread, crisps, cakes, snacks, sweeteners, fruit juices and other soft drinks, salad, vegetables, packaging, plastic cutlery, drinkware and accessories, machines for buttering, slicing and packing sandwiches.

The French snacking market

The French snacking market is worth 23.5 billion euros, split as follows :
- 28% in cafés
- 23% in fast-food chains
- 13% in concession (stadiums, multiplex, theme parks…)
- 12% in food stores (bakers, cake shops, butchers etc.)
- 10% in kiosks
- 8% in transport (motorway areas, train stations)
- 4% in petrol forecourts
- 2% in convenience food section of mainstream retailers

This market amounts to 240 000 establishments offering a range of food and drink for snacking and food on the move; or in monetary terms, a budget of 400€ per year per inhabitant. In 2006, snacking catering grew by nearly three times as much as traditional restaurant catering: snacking catering has grown by 13% in the last 30 years, while traditional restaurant catering has grown by only 5% in the same period.

To book your place at the European Sandwich & Snack Show 2008, contact Géraldine Hennion on ghennion@ffb.fr. To find out more about the show visit: www.sandwichshows.com

13 November 2007