It was a historic first! The General Agricultural Competition, held annually during the Paris Agriculture Show, welcomed a new contestant: country bread! After an experimental debut in 2025, country bread officially made its debut this winter in the prestigious contest.
For the occasion, fifteen candidates competed across two categories—artisans and industrial producers. On February 9 and 10, at the Rungis Academy in Val-de-Marne, the finalist bakers showcased their creations to a panel of industry experts. To crown the best among them and select the top bakers, the judges carefully tasted and assessed each country loaf based on several specific criteria, including crumb appearance, crust, texture, aroma, and flavor harmony.
The results were announced on February 23, 2026, during the International Agricultural Show. So, which baker took home the gold medal in the “artisan” category? Good news: the inaugural Country Bread Competition, a new category of the General Agricultural Competition, was won by an artisan baker from Île-de-France! The winner is Basile Fourmont from the bakery Des Racines et du Pain, located in Clamart, in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
It’s safe to say that the artisanal baker from the Île-de-France region is no stranger to awards. Basile Fourmont has already claimed numerous accolades, including the title of Best Traditional Baguette in Île-de-France in 2025, as well as Best Butter Croissant that same year. The baker also took top honors at the regional contest for the best organic bread. This winter, Basile Fourmont adds yet another trophy to his collection, earning the gold medal in the campagne bread competition.
It’s worth noting that Bryan Alidina from Maison La Craquante, based in Montgeron in the Essonne region, has secured the silver medal.
