Gourmet products from Aragon conquer the hearts of Paris

Taste Spain France, an exhibition of gourmet foods, wines, and Spanish beverages organized by ICEX at the Meliá Paris Vendôme hotel, featured the participation of ten Aragonese companies. This participation was supported by Aragón Exterior, Aragón, Alimentos Nobles, and the Chambers of Aragon.

This event, aimed at finding distributors in France, took place in a showroom format, with each exhibitor having an individual table to present their products to importers, distributors, food and wine retailers, gourmet retailers, the Horeca channel, culinary school teachers, as well as critics and opinion leaders.

The event brought Aragonese and Spanish companies together with local distributors to introduce their products to the French market. It served as a showcase to promote the presence and awareness of Spanish gourmet foods in this market and, through presentations and tastings on Spanish gastronomy, strengthen the image of quality, prestige, and variety of Aragonese and Spanish foods.

“France is a natural market and the main destination for Aragon’s agricultural and food products, but in the gourmet sector, it’s a mature, complex market with many unique characteristics, where our quality is unique and we must know how to seize opportunities to be present,” explained Javier Camo, managing director of Aragón Exterior. “Through this initiative, we are reaching out to French professionals with the unique features required to consolidate this important destination for our companies.”

The showroom format has provided an exceptional opportunity to present Aragonese agri-food products positioned in the gourmet segment, including those with a designation of origin or organic certifications: Teruel DOP ham, olives and pickles, black truffles and truffle products, extra virgin olive oil, organic wine, saffron, creams and sauces, pomegranate juice and coconut products are some of the delicacies that have represented Aragon in Paris.

Ten Aragonese companies participated in the event: Arilo Fruit, Rokelín, Venta d’Aubert, Amanida, Azafrán La Carrasca, Truffal, Botularium, La Tartufería, Agroalimentos la Redonda, and Genuine Coconut. The six companies from the province of Teruel received additional financial support from the Chamber of Commerce and the Provincial Council of Teruel.

SPAIN AND FRANCE

Spain is the leading supplier of agri-food products to France, accounting for 18% of Spanish exports to the neighboring country. France is also the leading destination for Aragonese agri-food exports, with €508 million in 2024, mostly products destined for mass consumption, such as meat, cereals, and dairy products.

The French gourmet market, highly demanding in terms of gastronomy, is characterized by a marked preference for domestic products. However, consumers are increasingly open to products from other markets, so the neighboring country has become a market with potential for unique products from around the world. This is a moment of opportunity to position itself in the high-end food segment.

The next Taste Spain events, in which Aragón participates, will take place in June in Zurich, London, and Dublin, with the aim of continuing to promote commercial alliances between the region’s agri-food producers in these markets. They will once again have the support of AREX, the “Aragón, Alimentos Nobles” (Aragon, Noble Foods), the Chambers of Commerce, and the DPT (Department of Tourism).