Saarmesse

Saarmesse GmbH was a regional trade fair organiser based in Saarbrücken, the capital of the German state of Saarland. It was founded in 1949 as the Saarländischer Gestaltungskreis (SGK) by the Grandmontagne brothers — Fritz, Daniel, Willi and Heinz — with support from Saarbrücken mayor Peter Zimmer. The company organised its first Saarmesse fair from 29 April to 14 May 1950 on a 26,000 m² site at Schanzenberg, with 330 exhibitors. Over the following decades it grew into a significant regional and national fair organiser, hosting both a large annual general fair (also called Saarmesse until 2016) and numerous specialised trade fairs. The company remained in the sole ownership of the Grandmontagne family until 2012, when its shares passed to the City of Saarbrücken. From 2012 to 2013, Messe Berlin GmbH managed the company under a cooperation agreement; afterwards, Marion Linder and Ralf Kirch led it. After the MesseZentrum am Schanzenberg closed in March 2017, events moved to the E-Werk in Saarbrücken. In December 2020, facing financial strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saarbrücken city council decided to dissolve Saarmesse effective 31 December 2020, transferring its operating business to Congress-Centrum Saar GmbH. The Saarmesse brand thus represents a long-standing regional fair tradition that ended in 2020.

Saarmesse GmbH traces its origins to 1949, when the brothers Fritz (1912–1968), Daniel (1914–1994), Willi (1919–2003) and Heinz (1922–1999) Grandmontagne, originally from Diefflen, founded the Saarländischer Gestaltungskreis (SGK) with the support of Saarbrücken mayor Peter Zimmer. The goal was to organise trade fairs in Saarbrücken. The company initially signed a five-year contract with the city, which provided 26,000 m² of land at Schanzenberg. The first Saarmesse fair took place from 29 April to 14 May 1950 with 330 exhibitors. From 1952, French exhibitors increasingly participated as import regulations were relaxed for the fair. In October 1955, the SGK signed a further 25-year contract with the city, which included the expansion of the exhibition halls. In 1956, the fair reached a then-record 360,000 visitors. After the Saarland joined West Germany in 1957, the fair lost many French exhibitors but still grew overall, reaching 1,900 exhibitors. In 1959, the Saarländischer Gestaltungskreis was renamed Saarmesse GmbH. That year saw the creation of further specialised fairs that took place on the Saarbrücken exhibition grounds for many years. Saarmesse gained increasing national and international importance, exemplified by then Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher assuming patronage of the fair in 1973. The City of Saarbrücken was the ideal sponsor of the event, while Saarmesse GmbH was the economic operator. The company remained solely owned by the Grandmontagne family and passed to the children of the founding family: Mechthild, Eva and Eric Grandmontagne. On 1 August 2012, the shares in Saarmesse GmbH passed from the Grandmontagne family to the City of Saarbrücken. Under a cooperation agreement, Messe Berlin GmbH took over management, represented by Ulrich Nierhoff (authorised signatory and general representative of Messe Berlin) and Willy Kausch (managing director of Berliner K.I.T. Group GmbH, a subsidiary of Messe Berlin) as managing directors. In December 2013, the cooperation with Messe Berlin GmbH ended. From January 2014 to May 2016, Marion Linder was the sole acting managing director of Saarmesse GmbH. From May 2016, she was appointed commercial managing director of the company. Ralf Kirch, managing director of Congress-Centrum Saar GmbH (Congress and Saarlandhalle), was appointed operational managing director of Saarmesse GmbH in May 2016. After the MesseZentrum am Schanzenberg was shut down at the end of March 2017, the first fair at the new E-Werk venue in Saarbrücken was Haus & Garten Saar in April 2017. In December 2020, given the financially strained situation of the company due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saarbrücken city council decided to dissolve Saarmesse effective 31 December 2020. The operating business was transferred to Congress-Centrum Saar. Thus ended a more than 70-year history of regional fair organisation under the Saarmesse name.

• 2020

  In December, Saarbrücken city council decides to dissolve Saarmesse effective 31 December 2020; operations transferred to Congress-Centrum Saar.

• 2017

  MesseZentrum am Schanzenberg shut down at end of March; first fair at E-Werk is Haus & Garten Saar in April.

• 2016

  In May, Marion Linder appointed commercial managing director and Ralf Kirch operational managing director.

• 2014

  From January, Marion Linder becomes sole acting managing director.

• 2013

  In December, cooperation with Messe Berlin GmbH ends.

• 2012

  On 1 August, shares pass from the Grandmontagne family to the City of Saarbrücken; Messe Berlin GmbH takes over management under a cooperation agreement.

• 1973

  Then Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher assumes patronage of the fair.

• 1959

  Saarländischer Gestaltungskreis renamed Saarmesse GmbH; further specialised fairs created.

• 1957

  After Saarland joins West Germany, the fair loses many French exhibitors but grows to 1,900 exhibitors overall.

• 1956

  Fair reaches a then-record 360,000 visitors.

• 1955

  SGK signs a further 25-year contract with the city, including expansion of exhibition halls.

• 1952

  French exhibitors increasingly participate as import regulations are relaxed.

• 1950

  First Saarmesse fair held from 29 April to 14 May with 330 exhibitors on 26,000 m² at Schanzenberg.

• 1949

  Saarländischer Gestaltungskreis (SGK) founded by the Grandmontagne brothers with support from Saarbrücken mayor Peter Zimmer.

Regional trade fair organiser for Saarland and the Greater Saarbrücken area, with a historic focus on consumer and specialised fairs.

• Saarmesse (annual fair)

  The largest annual event of Saarmesse GmbH, held until 2016; a general consumer fair with hundreds of exhibitors.

• Haus & Garten Messe Saar

  Trade fair for building, renovating and designing, held at E-Werk Saarbrücken.

• Genusswerk Messe Saar

  Fair for good taste, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economics, Labour, Energy and Transport, Genussregion Saarland, DEHOGA Saarland and media partner SR1.

• Cake Sensation Messe Saar

  Highlight fair for cake designers and sweet tooths, with live demos, workshops and a cake competition.

• Reisen & Freizeit Messe Saar

  Tourism fair held at Congresshalle Saarbrücken.

1. 1Saarmesse GmbH official websitesaarmesse.de
2. 2Saarmesse – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Saarmesse – Wikidatawikidata.org