Vinexpo CEO: ‘I don’t want to be the biggest trade show, but the most inclusive’

Closing today, the Vinexpo Paris trade show (13-15 February) saw a 41% spike in visitor numbers on its opening day, but Vinexposium CEO Rodolphe Lameyse is keen to stress that size doesn’t always matter most.

The fourth Wine Paris Vinexpo Paris trade show came to a close today, the first trade show of 2023.

Held over Valentine’s Day on 14 February, Lameyse called St Valentine the “patron” of the show, and highlighted the essential role that Vinexpo’s host city plays in its success. “I want Paris to become a rendezvous, a business meeting with additional value,” he said. Continuing, he explained, “We are more than a trade show, a real rendezvous for business people; the wine trade is all about people doing business together.”

Speaking to the drinks business on day two of the trade show, Lameyse said: “If I want to be the biggest or the largest [trade show] I know what I can do, but I want to be the most efficient and the most inclusive.”

He said: “To be honest, I don’t think I’m interested by competition. We have our own path, our own journey and our own agenda.”

In spite of this, Lameyse does have his sights set on a certain level of growth.

Vinexposium’s CEO reported that the spirits offering at the show was up 40% on 2022, a scale of growth he hopes will continue per annum.

And why not? Wine and spirits are a “pure cash-in for the French economy”, he told db. Indeed, the sector accounts for €17.2 billion in exports annually, making it France’s second biggest export sector behind aeronautics.

French exhibitors make up more than half of the show’s offering in 2023. Two halls were dedicated to international stands, including Lebanon, Turkey, Argentina and the US. “Wine Paris is going to be 60:40 — that’s what I’m targeting in terms of market share between the French wine and the international areas.

“French will still be predominant because it’s one of the top three countries in terms of winemaking, so it’s important in Paris at least,” Lameyse explained, but stressed that the international offering is nowhere near done growing. “Our fight as a team is to make sure that we continue to grow the show internationally.

“The show in Paris has been recognised as an international show, more than just the Franco French show, which is what we aim for,” he said.

On Monday Vinexposium announced a partnership with Bettane+Desseauve to incorporate a consumer-focused day into its upcoming international events. Read more about that here.