Bar Convent Berlin made a triumphant return at Berlin ExpoCentre City on 11-13 October as the meeting place of the international bar industry, following a forced break on account of the global pandemic.
“We fought long and hard for the BCB 2021, and we are absolutely delighted that it has been a success,” says BCB Director Petra Lassahn. “Our goal was to strengthen the industry after a very difficult period and get business moving again, which we achieved to great effect in many places.”
Around 8,000 visitors travelled to the trade show to experience the BCB in its new home at Berlin ExpoCenter City.
Bar Convent Berlin is traditionally a very international trade show, and 2021 was no different as the event once again succeeded in bringing the global industry together in a single location with visitors from 58 countries.
In spite of the challenges currently facing the hospitality industry, the excitement in the exhibition halls was tangible. The industry is ready and able to do business, something that was made abundantly clear by all the product debuts and new bar concepts being showcased.
A total of 210 exhibitors presented approximately 1,000 brands of spirits and fillers – among the most prominent were numerous gin varieties, followed by liqueurs, bitters, aperitifs, rums, vodkas and vermouths. Moreover, this year’s event saw smaller and newer brands playing a bigger role than ever before.
The presentation programme not only focused on major social and societal issues impacting the bar industry, but also supplied practical knowledge for individual bartenders. Once again, Angus Winchester was responsible for curating the programme, which will remain available online even after the event is over.
Winchester recounts: “We had practical and informative sessions on critical issues like sustainability and gaining greater insight into overlooked or marginalised communities such as LGBTQIA+ as well as understanding the business of bars and what is common sense is not always practice.”
The event lent visibility to numerous trends from the scene, including ‘low and no’, an area that saw copious product debuts. Food pairing as well as the combination of drinks and food was another area of focus. Sustainability in bar operations was also a big theme, here the focus was on the recyclability of food, among other things.
“All in all, the BCB 2021 was a success,” comments Lassahn. “These three days and the many happy faces I’ve seen have been the highlight of the year for me. We are already looking forward to 2022.”
Bar Convent Berlin will return to Berlin ExpoCentre City next year from 10-12 October 2022.
