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Diversity, Family, Business: Bar Convent Berlin plays host to the bar world
Diversity, Family, Business: Bar Convent Berlin plays host to the bar world
There was a great deal awaiting discovery in the exhibition halls at Station Berlin and the neighbouring Kühlhaus: 446 exhibitors from 48 countries presented some 1,200 brands, including spirits, sparkling wines, beers and fillers. The list of the top product groups was headed by gin once again this year, followed by liqueur, rum, vodka, tequila/mezcal, bitters and aperitifs. The BCB, which will be taking place at Berlin ExpoCenter City from 2020, grew yet again this year, with the number of visitors topping 15,000 for the first time (2018: 14,416) – Station Berlin was practically bursting at the seams.
“There is simply no way to fully comprehend the special spirit at this event without being here,” says BCB Event Director Petra Lassahn. “Friendships are established here between people from around the globe. All the industry’s knowledge can be found at this show, and it is also the most important business gathering for the spirits industry.”
The international make-up of the Bar Convent Berlin – with half of its visitors hailing from outside the country – not only demonstrates the importance of the trade show, but also highlights the strength of an industry whose innovations and outstanding quality are impressing cocktail enthusiasts all over the world.
Responsibility for people and the environment
Be it at exhibitors’ stands, in the supporting programme or as part of countless talks all over the BCB, the topics of conscious consumption and social and ecological responsibility were a frequent area of focus. The bar industry often sees itself at the forefront when it comes to the most urgent questions of our time. “We are also continuing to build on the idea of our power in the social sphere, in diversity and sustainability. We realized that we have a wonderful platform and are using it,” says BCB Director of Education Angus Winchester. Numerous presentations at the show dealt with the industry’s social responsibility towards its customers and employees. “Combating racism and sexism are paramount,” says Winchester. In all, the BCB featured some 120 hours of instructional content on eight stages, including presentations and tastings. Speakers and presenters representing a cross-section of the global industry came to the event from India, Singapore, the USA, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Spain, Nigeria and elsewhere to share their expertise and national bar cultures with BCB visitors.
Next station: Berlin ExpoCenter City
Next year, the global community will be heading to Berlin ExpoCenter City. Following stays in Berlin’s ‘Glashaus’, the ‘Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof’ and ‘Station Berlin’, the BCB is moving to its new home beneath the Funkturm. This was a necessary change, as it gives the event more room without sacrificing the Bar Convent Berlin’s special flair. Petra Lassahn has this to say about the new location: “The new venue boasts the Golden Twenties in the Funkturm, the 1930s look in the exhibition hall architecture, and the charm of the 1950s in the Palais – this atmosphere is very important to us.” With ‘City Life Spirits’, the BCB also has a new concept for 2020, when the event will be delivering the urban spirit of Berlin and other cities directly into the exhibition halls. The new concept will serve as a unifying theme that can be seen in the architecture, content and interaction at the trade show. Every exhibition hall will be transformed into a hub of activity with hotspots and special shows, reflecting the trends of big-city life. Many exhibitors will become a part of this world, and visitors can look forward to a very special spirit in 2020.
Bar Convent Berlin 2020
The next Bar Convent Berlin will be taking place over three days, from 12 to 14 October, at Berlin ExpoCenter City. It will be preceded by two events outside Germany – Bar Convent Brooklyn on 9 and 10 June 2020 and Bar Convent São Paulo on 15 and 16 June 2020.
Please note: Figures for visitors, exhibitors and exhibition area at the BCB are calculated and certified according to the standard definitions of the Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics (FKM).
Exhibitor testimonials
“It felt like there was even more happening this year than last year. We had excellent talks and the visitors were of very high quality. The BCB 2019 was outstanding.”
Petra Nagel, Managing Director, Moët Hennessy Deutschland
“2019 marks the ninth successful Bar Convent Berlin for us. 60 percent of our visitors now come from outside Germany, and we have responded to our international audience by inviting top bartenders from the world’s 50 best bars to do a guest shift at our stand. Jesse Vida from the Atlas Bar in Singapore and Sebastian Sandvik from Himkok in Oslo are but two of those who heeded our call.”
Sigrid Bachert, Director of Sales and Marketing, Thomas Henry
“This year's BCB went very well for us. It is always the place to be, both in Germany and internationally, and we once again met with many of our colleagues from Europe and Asia. No other event gives you the chance to meet all your most important contacts in one place. The trade show has also become increasingly international in recent years. The event has a great atmosphere, and we're glad to have been a part of it once again.”
Mélaine Adam, Sales and Marketing Assistant, Giffard Deutschland
“The BCB is a very important trade show, and not only for big brands, but also especially for start-ups like us. We took part for the first time this year. Our main goal was to increase our brand awareness and to find new contacts – and we did. We have been able to establish valuable contacts with representatives from UK, Italy, Denmark and Germany. The good feedback we received is proof that we have good products. Next year we will take part at the new location with a bigger booth.”
Tarvo Jaansoo, Co-Founder & Partner / Brand Ambassador, Juniperium Distillery (Estonia)
“This year's show drew a huge turnout, and the very people we are looking for were here – visitors from the catering trade, bars, specialist suppliers and others in the industry from Germany and around the globe. We are very satisfied with the BCB 2019 and are happy to have been here.”
Torben Jansen, Head of Marketing, Henkell & Co. Sektkellerei KG
“The BCB is very important for Barceló, and we're delighted that it is becoming more international on a yearly basis. We welcomed visitors from an amazing number of countries – not only from all over Europe, but also from Asia, including China and India.”
Stijn Bracke, International Area Development Manager EMEA, Barceló
“We are really pleased by the internationality of the BCB. The trade show is practically a family reunion, and there is a great deal of interaction. This is where on-trend products are introduced to the market. We encountered the right target group for our Kevita Kombucha product at the right time, and we’ve received very good feedback. We are proud to have taken part in the show.”
Pascale Hagin, GM Future Brands Germany, PepsiCo
“The BCB went very well for us – we are more than satisfied, and welcomed a good group of visitors in a good atmosphere. This is my eleventh BCB, and it feels like a class reunion. We look forward to seeing what the future holds. The concept looks like a good one, and the worlds, rooms and areas that have been planned promise to provide new opportunities for brand placement. This will raise the event’s quality even further. Naturally we hope that the BCB’s special flair is not sacrificed, but we are looking forward to 2020.”
Axel Klubescheidt, Global Brand Ambassador, Black Forest Distillers / MONKEY 47
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