HORECA Riyadh and Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh come together this December at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center

HORECA Riyadh marks its 15th edition while Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh kicks off its fourth, with both shows running daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on December 7 and then 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the following two days.

Spread across 50,000+ sqm of exhibition space, the combined event brings together 600+ exhibitors showcasing 24,500 brands, 17 international pavilions representing 47 countries and a full program of competitions, masterclasses, live shows and conference sessions — welcoming 60,000+ professional visitors over the three days. From fresh products and frozen food, tea and coffee, water, juices and syrups, meat, chicken and seafood, bakery and ice cream, dairy, rice, nuts and spices, fruits and vegetables and hospitality services to the chocolatiers, pastry chefs and suppliers of ingredients and equipment that make up the Salon du Chocolat floor, a single visit gives buyers, chefs, hoteliers, restaurateurs and distributors access to the full spectrum of the industry in one place.

“Hosting these exhibitions together has changed what a visit to Riyadh means for our industry,” said Joumana Dammous-Salamé, managing director of Hospitality Services. “A buyer can source equipment, meet a chocolatier, follow a competition and sit in for a talk without leaving the venue. That density is what professionals tell us they want, and it is what keeps them coming back each December.”

Competition runs through both halls. The Hospitality Salon Culinaire gathers 93 elite chefs competing in 83 individual contests across 11 specialized categories, evaluated by a panel of 10 world-class international judges, while the HORECA Barista Competition unites 11 elite baristas from leading cafes and hotels and the Mocktail Competition brings 10 talented mixologists head-to-head before expert juries, putting coffee mastery and beverage innovation under the spotlight.

On the Salon du Chocolat side, the Chocolate Fashion Show returns with 14 chocolate gowns created through collaborations between renowned pastry chefs and fashion design students, while The Competitions welcome 73 professionals across 12 categories covering chocolate showpieces, live pastry challenges and out-of-the-box creations, judged by 7 world-class experts, with the top prize sending a champion to Paris. The Pastry Show hosts 19 interactive masterclasses curated by leading chefs and chocolate specialists from around the globe.

Saudi Elite Chefs sits at the meeting point of both. Organized by the Culinary Arts Commission, the strategic partner of the event, the competition returns for its third consecutive year to highlight local culinary talent, offering chefs across the kingdom a prestigious platform to gain recognition and refine their expertise under the supervision of a select group of culinary experts.

Running throughout, The Talks will gather 33 expert speakers across nine specialized sessions, bringing over 700 professionals together with global industry leaders to discuss the latest trends and challenges shaping hospitality, foodservice and sweet gastronomy in the kingdom.

From her side, Maha El Khoury, projects and sales director at Hospitality Services, noted that “the Riyadh edition reflects the kingdom’s rapidly evolving culinary scene and its growing appetite for experiential events that combine business, education and entertainment. Co-hosting both shows in the same venue lets us serve the full spectrum of the industry in a single week.”

Since its launch in Paris almost 30 years ago, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie has become a global reference for those interested in discovering the latest chocolate and pastry trends. Today, the show is held in major cities around the world, including New York,Tokyo, London, Brussels, Cologne, Lyon, Shanghai, Marseille,Zurich, Cannes, Milan, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Beirut and beyond.