In this issue we review BBQ WEEK 2022, among other things. Good food, the best drinks, music and the opportunity to finally meet again and celebrate together provided the perfect setting for a successful event to mark FIRE&FOOD's 20th anniversary. Thank you for being there, thank you to all exhibitors, sponsors and helpers. Please reserve May 18 to 20, 2023 today, because that's when the continuation will take place (from page 44).
Since gas prices have skyrocketed, electric grills have been getting even more attention. After the Sevo from Severin, the electric Beefer and the grill station from Landmann, other brands are already in the pipeline.
After a two-year break, spoga took place again in Cologne. It was heard everywhere that the rising material and logistics prices, but also the unstable supply chains, are posing major challenges for grill brands. In addition, customers are being cautious when buying grills due to rising prices, the sharp rise in inflation and the uncertainty about what the energy bill will ultimately look like at the end of the year. The pressure is particularly noticeable in the price range of 200 to 500 euros. Nevertheless, optimism is called for, most grill brands' sales figures are above the pre-Corona level. A review of spoga can be found on pages 74-75.
The strong pressure on pork prices, caused by export bans due to swine fever, but also due to rising feed prices, is forcing more and more pig farmers to give up their farms. Only the best quality meat will offer pork-producing companies a chance for the future. Fewer animals kept in species-appropriate conditions and regional processing bring the producers a higher and necessary added value. Even marketing must move closer to the farms again. This is the only way to avoid the sales and price problems that recently occurred with asparagus and strawberries. After we reported on the success story of the Swabian Hall Landschwein in issue 1/22, our focus in this issue is on the Bunten Bentheimer Schwein (from page 10).
New in this FIRE&FOOD issue are the presence pages of the GBA (German Barbecue Association eV) (pages 54–55). Together we are already looking forward to the 25th German Barbecue Championship, which will take place in Fulda from August 6th to 7th.
