Exciting start to the year for the industry in France
28 January 2025
1st prize, Bocuse d'Or Gold: France, led by Chef Paul Marcon (© Nicolas Reynaud)
The Sirha (Salon International de la Restauration, de l'Hôtellerie et de l'Alimentation), which took place in Lyon from 24 to 27 January, is one of the world's most important trade fairs for gastronomy, the hotel industry and food in France. The trade fair takes place in Lyon every two years and attracts professionals from the HoReCa industry, including chefs, restaurateurs, food producers and suppliers, from all over the world. It serves as a platform for innovations, new products, trends and technologies in the food service and hotel industry.
With its various trade fair presences, METRO France was once again one of the largest exhibitors at the event this year. In addition to the large main exhibition stand, the delivery service (FSD) and digital DISH solutions for the catering industry were presented, for example, and the products of the barista own-brand Rioba were also sampled. In its own catering trade fair area, ‘Villages des Chefs’, METRO France welcomed VIP customers as well as national and international partners, and the presence was once again a highlight and a complete success.
One of the most well-known events at the Sirha is the Bocuse d'Or, the unofficial world championship of cooking, in which METRO is involved as the main sponsor and which is considered to be the world's most prestigious culinary competition: here, the most talented chefs of today and tomorrow are honoured. The finale brings together chefs from different continents and is the highlight of the format. This year, teams from France, Slovakia and Hungary were supported by the METRO national subsidiaries in those countries. The joy was therefore all the greater when the French team was declared the winner. The winners of this year's competition were:
- 1st prize, Bocuse d'Or Gold: France, led by Chef Paul Marcon
- 2nd prize, Bocuse d'Or silver: Denmark, led by head chef Sebastian Holberg
- 3rd prize, Bocuse d'Or bronze: Team Sweden, led by head chef Magnus Leonhardt
And yet another METRO country had reason to celebrate: Hungary, led by head chef Roland Kelemen, won the special prize for Best Platter Theme.
METRO and the Bocuse d'Or can look back on a long and successful partnership that has left a lasting mark on the world of top-class gastronomy. METRO first became a sponsor of the renowned competition in its country of origin, France, in 2005. Since 2013, METRO France has also been supporting the Bocuse d'Or World Final as an official ingredient supplier, and its expertise in the food and hospitality industry makes a significant contribution to the preparation and execution of the competition.
The Bocuse d'Or French Academy, one of the competition's central institutions, also counts METRO France among its most important partners. In addition, METRO has supported every European final of the Bocuse d'Or since 2012 – with the exception of 2020 – most recently the preliminary round in Budapest in 2022.
With their shared vision, METRO and the Bocuse d'Or are providing important impetus for shaping the future of top-class gastronomy.
Impressions
