Business News: Conclusion on FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK
After a successful debut in 2025, the FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK was once again held this year as a BBQ trade fair. To increasingly attract end consumers, a Plancha European Championship was organized in cooperation with the WBQA. The aim was to raise public awareness of the plancha as a versatile grilling and cooking device. At the suggestion of several companies, Monday was also offered as an additional trade day for the first time.
After the significant decline in exhibitor and visitor numbers at spoga in Cologne, FIRE&FOOD was asked to host a trade fair at the earlier spoga date. The September date seemed more suitable for both retailers and some BBQ brands. For FIRE&FOOD, this request also had a special significance: 25 years ago, we were represented at spoga in Cologne for the first time.
Much has changed since then. The BBQ trade has evolved, sales in the BBQ segment have continuously increased, and grilling and BBQ experienced a sustained boom that peaked during the Corona pandemic. With a broad product range generated from the offerings of numerous BBQ brands, the BBQ specialist trade is an important link between manufacturers and consumers. Manufacturers largely agree on this point: the supply of high-quality BBQ equipment requires an efficient BBQ specialist trade. However, this sector is increasingly shrinking. Price-aggressive online retail and consumers' persistent reluctance to buy mean that many BBQ specialist shops can no longer operate profitably. Some are closing their businesses, others are being taken over.
FIRE&FOOD is ready to counteract this development. With the InterGrill association, currently in formation, we aim to establish a joint purchasing and marketing platform for the BBQ specialist trade. The challenges involved became clear during the FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK. Although retailers urgently need such an association, and other industries show how successful cooperation can work, the BBQ specialist trade has so far only been conditionally cooperative. Should the current downward trend in specialist retail continue, there will only be a manageable number of BBQ specialist shops in Germany in a few years. A large part of the BBQ industry and its brands also views this development with concern. It is all the more regrettable that, despite great efforts, only a few companies were willing to engage in exchange at the FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK. The particular commitment of BBQ brands such as Kamado Joe, Rösle, BSTRD, LotusGrill, and Santos is worth highlighting.
Consequences for the Future
Looking back at the FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK, we must conclude that relying solely on the support of the BBQ specialist trade is not enough. Therefore, we will make a clear offer to the specialist trade to participate in InterGrill. At the same time, FIRE&FOOD Magazine will reposition itself after 25 years, as will the FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK. We will further develop the concept and align it more closely with the requirements and wishes of the BBQ market.
