Merchants in Motion Event | Paris (FR) | Sept. 30th – Oct. 1 & 2, 2026
From Wedenesday 30 september to Friday 2 October 2026
Location: Paris, in conjunction with Batimat, one of the world’s leading international construction trade shows, held every two years in Paris, France.
Venue: Hilton Paris Opera – Address: 108 Rue Saint-Lazare, 75008 Paris, France.
A historic hotel in Paris’s 8th arrondissement, housed in a beautifully restored 1889 building next to Saint-Lazare station and close to landmarks like Opéra Garnier and Place de la Concorde. The hotel is known for its elegant Belle Époque architecture, spacious Grand Salon, and convenient central location for exploring the city.
A program in collaboration with UFEMAT
Program:
Day 1 – Wednesday 30 September 2026
14:00-17:00 Euro-Mat Connect & Best Practices Exchange
19:00 Ufemat & Euro-Mat Meet & Greet
The wednesday evening Welcome Reception will be held in the Hilton Paris Opera’s impressive historic former railway arrival hall, offering participants an elegant and memorable setting to meet and network. Hilton Paris Opera – Address: 108 Rue Saint-Lazare, 75008 Paris, France.
Day 2- Thursday 1 October 2026
European Overview – From Regulation to Market Reality: we will explore EU construction rules and their impact on the wholesale building materials sector. It brings together industry groups and EU policymakers to discuss housing, supply chains and the role of merchants in Europe.
Venue: Saint-Gobain Research Paris (Aubervilliers) – Address: 41 Quai Lucien Lefranc- 93300 Aubervilliers, France
The Saint-Gobain Research Center develops advanced materials and building solutions focused on sustainability, energy efficiency, and construction performance. Its innovations can directly support wholesalers and merchants in offering more sustainable, high-performance building products and adapting to evolving EU construction standards.
09:00-09:15 Welcoming & Opening
By Marie Arnout (President FDMC) / Eldert Jan van Herk (General Manager EURO-MAT) / Palle Thomsen (President UFEMAT)
09:15-10:00 The Future of Building Materials in Europe by Saint-Gobain
10:00-10:20 The Future of the Sector Through Young Merchants’ Eyes
10:20-10:45 Packaging & Sustainability (PPWR)
10:45-10:55 Best Practices: Application of European legislation
10:55-11:10 Coffee break
11:10-11:20 Best practices
11:20-11:50 Wholesale in Europe- ” The Invisible Giant” by Eurocommerce
11:50-12:15 European Commission Perspective by Director Barbara Bonvissuto (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SME’s)
12:15-12:30 Q&A Session
12:30-13:30 Light Lunch
Afternoon Programme Options
After lunch, you will have 2 options.
Option 1: Transfer directly by coach to BATIMAT fair.
Option 2: Exclusive guided visit of the Saint-Gobain R&D facilities (+-1h30) + transfer by coach to BATIMAT.
In the evening: Gala Dinner at restaurant La Coupole – address: 102 Boulevard de Montparnasse, 75014 Paris, France.
Opened in 1927 in Montparnasse, La Coupole is one of Paris’s most iconic Art Deco brasseries. A historic meeting place for artists and writers such as Picasso, Hemingway and Simone de Beauvoir, it combines elegant architecture, cultural heritage and Parisian gastronomy.
For our Euro-Mat suppliers:
You may choose to extend your stay by one night and join the Friday’s program on 2 October.
Alternatively, you may depart after the Gala dinner.
Day 3- Friday 2 October 2026
Exclusive for our Euro-Mat shareholders:
09:00-12:30 Euro-Mat General Assembly
For our Euro-Mat suppliers: Join Ufemat members for a visit to Gedimat Houilles (SEFOR) — one of the oldest independent building materials distributors in the Paris region, located at 3 Avenue Maréchal Foch, 78800 Houilles.
A member of the GEDIMAT network since 1972, Gedimat Houilles, offers a complete range of building solutions including a large materials yard, extensive timber facilities and customised processing services. The visit will give you the opportunity to discover how a traditional merchant continues to evolve as a modern and sustainable partner for construction professionals.
13:00 Informal Closing Lunch
The Congress will conclude on Friday with an informal closing lunch at Café Marco Polo, located directly opposite the Hilton Paris Opera.
Registration:
Registration for this event in Paris is being coordinated by Incentivise, the dedicated event bureau for this occasion, in collaboration with Ufemat. All communication regarding registration and invoicing will be managed directly by Incentivise. Please click on the link below to explore the available packages and register for the event.