Review of FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK 2025
Sunny weather, pleasant temperatures, and a good atmosphere accompanied the FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK at MOTORWORLD in Cologne from September 5th to 7th, 2025. While Friday was exclusively a gathering of professionals from the grill and BBQ industry, the trade fair was open to all grill enthusiasts on Saturday and Sunday.
FIRE&FOOD publisher Elmar Fetscher succeeded in creating this year's BBQ WEEK in Cologne as a unique meeting place for anyone who enjoys sharing their passion for grilling and barbecue with others – or who wants to discover it for the first time. A large part of the grilling industry was represented as exhibitors, enabling visitors to interact with each other and present their products in a relaxed atmosphere. Appetizing aromas of smoke and roasting lured visitors to the MOTORWORLD grounds on all three days of the trade fair and event for an exciting journey of experience and discovery. The weather provided perfect (grilling) conditions and extended the summer. Friday was reserved specifically for industry professionals to provide a communication platform for the B2B sector. The discussions not only focused on the latest trends, but also included a significant exchange of ideas about the future of the grilling and barbecue industry. There is agreement that the key now and in the future is to inspire new target groups for the various variations of outdoor cooking, and ideally, to acquire and retain them as new customers. Customer loyalty is the key to long-term success – and this includes, for example, the increasingly popular barbecue seminars, which teach how to use the equipment and the appropriate accessories, while also allowing participants to learn a wide variety of outdoor cooking techniques. What this can look like could be experienced in the masterclasses offered at FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK, which were open to all interested parties.
The masterclasses were a highlight of BBQ WEEK.
Inform, try and enjoy
An entire youth soccer team was at the ticket counter on Saturday to sign up for one of the free barbecue courses. These courses were reserved specifically for children and young people aged eight to twelve, who, under expert guidance, could try out the barbecue tongs for themselves and learn a lot about food preparation. Overall, the two public days scored highly with their friendly atmosphere. Freshly prepared delicacies were available to sample at most of the exhibitors' stands, while inquisitive visitors met knowledgeable speakers for a deeper insight into the subject. The culinary highlight of BBQ WEEK was the exclusive BBQ NIGHT. Here, stars of the fiery barbecue and cooking scene, such as Heiko Antoniewicz, Hawk Blackburn, Christina Becher, and local hero Darrek Carter, demonstrated their skills. The internationally renowned darts player Max Stefan Hopp, known as "Maximiser," provided entertaining dart training sessions, while live music from Dead Beatz and EES ensured a great atmosphere.
"The concept of combining B2B and B2C at one trade fair on different days, thereby generating a high level of visitor quality, was very well received by exhibitors," says Elmar Fetscher, publisher of the European BBQ magazine FIRE&FOOD and organizer of BBQ WEEK. "Everyone involved in BBQ WEEK succeeded in creating positive momentum."
The FIRE&FOOD BBQ WEEK, the grill and BBQ trade fair, will take place again in Cologne in 2026. A large number of exhibitors from the grill industry and trade have already confirmed their participation for 2026. Since we expect to have some international exhibitors in 2026, registration is recommended early, as space is limited. A new feature is the Dealer Day, which will take place on Monday, September 7th. Preparations have already begun. Anyone with comments or suggestions for improvement regarding the previous event is welcome to contact FIRE&FOOD at any time. We look forward to hearing from you!
