BCB: bar industry ‘wont be defeated’

The bar industry “won’t let itself be defeated”, assured the director of Bar Convent Berlin (BCB) after the 2022 show was hailed “very successful”.

The 2022 edition of on-trade show BCB took place from 10 to 12 October.

The bar industry met in Berlin, at the Berlin City Export Centre.

A total of 12,505 visitors from 88 countries, and 533 exhibitors from 44 countries, travelled to BCB in Berlin.

Many trade visitors travelled from overseas, including from the UK, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and France.

This year’s ‘country of honour’ was Denmark, and there was a pavilion dedicated to Danish producers.

Petra Lassahn, director of BCB, said: “Our exhibitors have once again outdone themselves with their presentation and corresponding stand designs. You could see and taste how much effort and attention to detail had gone into them.

“You can really feel how the bar industry won’t let itself be defeated. Which is why we in the BCB team would like to thank all our exhibitors, partners and visitors for their fantastic commitment.”

BCB also expanded across the German city, where some of the top bars hosted evening events and guest shifts to showcase the best of Berlin nightlife.

A number of seminars were also attended throughout the three-day show, including a talk called ‘You vs the global bar industry’, led by Danil Nevsky.

Lassahn added: “We are very pleased that so many renowned bartenders from throughout the world have come to actively participate in this year’s BCB – whether at the exhibitors’ stands, as speakers in the education programme or at the evening guest shifts held in Berlin’s top bars.

“And all this despite the still many challenges facing the industry at present. We appreciate their commitment all the more and we are working together for a positive future for the industry.”

Producers from Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman to Diageo and Beam Suntory were full of praise for the event.

Maxime Chevalier, brand manager, Pernod Ricard SA, said: “BCB is a great experience because the whole international bar community meets here. It’s a fantastic place to showcase our new products imported directly from Cuba and we’ve received great feedback, which is always nice to hear.

“The hall where we opened our bar enjoys a high footfall so we are really happy to be here because a lot of customers come and we meet good partners here.”