However, she added, "French gastronomy needs more promotion among young American chefs, who are increasingly seeking menu inspiration in other countries, among them Peru."
All the more reason, then, for the Paris Region Economic Development Agency (PREDA) to sponsor a panel discussion entitled "The Fresh Take on Food & Hospitality," and
to promote international business development opportunities between US and Europe's food, beverage, packaging, and processing industries. The event took place at the International Culinary Center.
Jean-Luc Margot-Duclot, Senior Vice President of the Paris Region Economic Development Agency, kicked off the discussion by describing Paris as the perfect business platform for foreign investment and US business, and highlighted the importance of developing and strengthening the food and hospitality business relationships between France and the US.
Valérie Lobry, Managing Director of Agriculture & Food division at Comexposium, which organizes SIAL and other major trade shows in France, and Corinne Menegaux, Divisional Managing Director of Food and Hospitality at Reed Expositions France, discussed culinary globalization as one of the biggest trends in the industry. They stressed the different role it plays within the American and French food cultures.
As an example, Ms. Lobry touched on the rising popularity of food trucks in America and its expansion in Europe. Ms. Menegaux emphasized how these trends have been embraced by the fairs such as Equip'Hotel where a gastronomic street food bus will serve food from top chefs in the industry.
Parisian trade shows such as SIAL (Oct. 21-25), IPA (also Oct. 21-25), Equip'Hotel (Nov. 11-15) and Emballage 2012 (Nov. 19-22) were described as "great showrooms" to live the culinary globalization and get an insight into the breadth of growing trends, technologies, processes, and businesses in the industry.
The panel then addressed discussion health and sustainability, particularly LOHAS,(Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability).
Ms. Lobry talked about the impact it has played on the food and hospitality sector where consumer interest has shifted to one concerned on sustainable development and a healthy lifestyle.
Ms. Menegaux pointed out how the Equip'Hotel trade show has become a business opportunity for exhibitors and visitors to experience the growing concern on the environment and well-being.
The Paris Ile-de-France Region is the biggest region in the world that organizes international trade shows and Conferences, according to Mr. Margot-Duclot. The region welcomes over 10 million visitors each year at over 440 fairs involving 100,000 exhibiting companies.
Additional information about SIAL is available by logging onto www.sialparis.com). For further details about Equip'Hotel visit www.equiphotel.com. The IPA website is www.ipa-web.com, and the website for Emballage 2012 is www.emballageweb.com.
