Brussels eats with the big names at SIAL in Paris

hub.brussels represented the Brussels food industry at the world’s most prestigious food fair in Paris from 19 to 23 October. Our teams take 10 companies from the sector to each event. Their aim is to showcase the best that Brussels has to offer in terms of food in the land of good fare. Why is SIAL so vital for our companies? Let us explain! 

With over 310,000 visitors from more than 200 countries and 7,200 exhibitors from more than 120 countries, SIAL (Salon International de l’Alimentation – International Food Fair) is one of the world’s largest and best-known food fairs. Every two years in Paris, it brings together thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the food industry, including manufacturers, distributors and retailers.  

This event is a real platform for innovation, focusing on new trends and technologies in the food industry. The fair presents around 400,000 products every year, with a growing interest in delicatessen products.  

Ten Brussels companies take on the big European names

The Brussels companies that flew the good food flag this year were selected for their innovative approach to the production process, with new flavours, original packaging, ‘ethnic’ or revamped product segments, etc. 

The SIAL stand in Brussels hosted Didden and its organic sauces and confits, Drink-Drink ! and its organic beers, GR’EAT granola and its natural spreads, MAD LAB and its crackers made with brewers’ grains, Madn and its artisanal Indian chai, Manufacture Belge de Chocolats and its top-of-the-range chocolates, PEGI and its artisanal waffles, Rish and its fermented drinks, Sebahat and its traditional Turkish delight, and Superbon and its artisanal crisps.  

Chocolate and beer are popular in France and abroad

The food sector is the fourth most exported category of Brussels goods, worth a total of €487.5 million (compared with €230.6 million in 2022). Consistent with our reputation, the most exported food products are chocolate (€90.4 million), beer (€78 million) and bread (€52 million)¹. 

According to the FEVIA (Federation of the Belgian Food Industry), in 2023, the food sector in Belgium represented a turnover of €80.7 billion (more than 20% of the total of the manufacturing industry) and employed more than 100,000 people (the country’s largest industrial employer). The sector’s total exports amounted to €22.05 billion, mainly to neighbouring countries (20.63% to the Netherlands, 18.4% to France and 10.66% to Germany).