Updated October 2025
In an industry where product cycles are shortening and consumer habits are shifting monthly, Food and Drink Events have become the true meeting ground of the global grocery business.
These are not consumer fairs or influencer expos — they’re trade-only marketplaces where supermarket buyers, brand owners, and distributors negotiate shelf space, packaging deals, and sourcing contracts.
Post-pandemic, attendance has rebounded strongly. According to 2025 data, major Food and Drink Events are again drawing pre-COVID visitor numbers — in some cases even surpassing them. Many shows now report over 70 percent international participation, confirming that food retail has fully returned to face-to-face sourcing.
Below are the 20 most crucial trade-only Food and Drink Events for 2025–2026 — ranked by their global reach, scale, and influence on supermarket strategy.
1. Anuga — Cologne, Germany
Organizer: Koelnmesse
Latest edition: October 2025
Founded: 1919 (Cologne since 1924)
Exhibitors: ≈ 7,900 from 118 countries
Visitors: ≈ 140,000 from 200 markets
Source: Koelnmesse – Anuga 2025 Post-Show Report
Anuga remains the largest trade-only food and beverage exhibition in the world.
Its ten specialist segments — from Fine Food to Frozen Food — make Cologne the center of the global grocery map every two years. Buyers from major supermarket groups attend to spot next-generation products, negotiate private-label contracts, and benchmark packaging or sustainability trends.
The 2025 edition introduced a new “Anuga Technology Hub”, focusing on AI-driven production efficiency and carbon-tracking across supply chains — a sign of how technical the F&B conversation has become.
2. SIAL Paris — Paris, France
Organizer: Comexposium
Next edition: October 2026
Founded: 1964
Exhibitors (2024): ≈ 7,400 from 127 countries
Visitors: ≈ 285,000 professionals
Source: SIAL Paris 2024 Final Report – Comexposium
SIAL is the innovation fair of the global food industry. Where Anuga focuses on breadth, SIAL leads on new-product discovery and consumer insight.
Large supermarket chains attend for category inspiration — especially in plant-based, convenience, and functional foods.
Its “SIAL Innovation Awards” have become a bellwether of what will reach retail shelves two years later.
3. Gulfood — Dubai, UAE
Organizer: Dubai World Trade Center
Next edition: February 2026
Founded: 1987
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 5,500 from 190 countries
Visitors: ≈ 144,000 professionals
Source: DWTC – Gulfood 2025 Post-Show Summary
Serving the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific corridors, Gulfood is the largest annual trade-only food event.
For supermarket procurement teams expanding in emerging markets, it’s an essential stop.
The 2025 edition highlighted halal certification, climate-resilient ingredients, and logistics digitalization — themes closely tied to fast-growing retail regions.
4. PLMA “World of Private Label” — Amsterdam, Netherlands
Organizer: Private Label Manufacturers Association
Next edition: May 2026
Founded: 1986
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 3,000
Visitors: ≈ 28,000 trade buyers
Source: PLMA Amsterdam 2025 Show Statistics
No event speaks the supermarket language like PLMA.
Every major European retailer — from discounters to hypermarkets — attends to scout suppliers for own-brand ranges.
In 2025, sustainability claims and European Green Deal compliance dominated booths.
For buyers, it’s the fastest route to benchmark private-label innovation across food, non-food, and packaging.
5. BioFach — Nuremberg, Germany
Organizer: NürnbergMesse
Next edition: February 2026
Founded: 1990
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 2,350 from 94 countries
Visitors: ≈ 36,000
Source: NürnbergMesse – BioFach 2025 Post-Show Figures
BioFach is the world’s reference for organic food.
Supermarkets use it to connect with certified producers, co-packers, and farm cooperatives as organic sales evolve beyond their pandemic spike.
Expect to see cross-category launches blending organic with “free-from” or regenerative claims — signals of where premium private label is heading.
6. ProWein — Düsseldorf, Germany
Organizer: Messe Düsseldorf
Next edition: March 2026
Founded: 1994
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 4,200
Visitors: ≈ 42,000
Source: Messe Düsseldorf – ProWein 2025 Report
ProWein is the most influential trade-only wine and spirits fair.
For supermarkets managing alcoholic-beverage portfolios, it’s where buying teams compare vintages, negotiate distribution rights, and assess low-/no-alcohol innovation.
The 2025 edition reported growing interest in sustainable viticulture and lightweight glass — both critical to retail ESG targets.
7. Bar Convent Berlin (BCB) — Berlin, Germany
Organizer: RX Global / Messe Berlin
Next edition: October 2026
Founded: 2007
Exhibitors (2024): ≈ 560
Visitors: ≈ 15,000 from 80 countries
Source: RX Global – BCB 2024 Post-Show Statement
Once a niche bartenders’ meeting, BCB has grown into the leading trade fair for the international bar and spirits scene.
While supermarkets are not its core audience, off-trade buyers attend to spot early trends — premium mixers, ready-to-drink cocktails, low-ABV spirits — that later transition into retail aisles.
8. Natural Products Expo West — Anaheim, USA
Organizer: Informa Markets / New Hope Network
Next edition: March 2026
Founded: 1981
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 3,200
Visitors: ≈ 70,000
Source: Informa Markets – NPEW 2025 Show Report
The biggest natural and organic trade show in North America, Expo West, is where health-driven trends begin.
From functional snacks to probiotic beverages, this show predicts what mainstream supermarkets will adopt within two years.
Retailers like Kroger and Whole Foods regularly send innovation scouts to Anaheim for early discovery.
9. Summer Fancy Food Show — New York, USA
Organizer: Specialty Food Association
Next edition: June 2026
Founded: 1955
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 2,600 brands from 60 countries
Visitors: ≈ 30,000 trade professionals
Source: Specialty Food Association – 2025 Show Data
The Fancy Food Show remains the gateway to North America’s premium and artisanal segment.
Supermarket buyers attend to gourmet and high-margin categories — olive oils, confectionery, and fine beverages.
Post-COVID, the event has seen renewed international expansion with Italian, Spanish, and Turkish pavilions growing sharply.
10. Alimentaria — Barcelona, Spain
Organizer: Fira de Barcelona
Next edition: March 2026 (co-located with Hostelco)
Founded: 1976
Exhibitors (2024): ≈ 3,200 from 57 countries
Visitors: ≈ 108,000 trade attendees
Source: Fira de Barcelona – Alimentaria 2024 Official Report
Alimentaria is Southern Europe’s leading F&B trade fair and a major meeting point for Mediterranean food producers and European retailers.
Spanish and Italian supermarket groups treat it as a national sourcing week.
In 2024, the show introduced “Alimentaria Hub 360” — a digital matchmaking tool linking retail buyers with exporters pre-event, now continuing year-round.
11. TUTTOFOOD — Milan, Italy
Organizer: Fiera Milano
Next edition: May 2025 (biennial)
Founded: 2007
Exhibitors: ≈ 4,700 from 93 countries
Visitors: ≈ 90,000 trade professionals
Source: Fiera Milano – TUTTOFOOD 2025 Preliminary Results
TUTTOFOOD has matured into Italy’s most international food business platform, aligning itself with Milan’s status as a trade capital.
Its hosted-buyer program attracts supermarket and foodservice purchasing teams from more than 80 markets.
The 2025 edition highlighted dairy, plant-based alternatives, and traceability systems powered by blockchain, underlining how Italian producers are merging heritage with innovation.
12. Cibus — Parma, Italy
Organizer: Fiere di Parma in cooperation with Federalimentare
Next edition: May 2026
Founded: 1980
Exhibitors (2024): ≈ 3,000
Visitors: ≈ 75,000 professionals
Source: Fiere di Parma – Cibus 2024 Final Report
Cibus is Italy’s domestic showcase for branded and private-label grocery.
It’s smaller than TUTTOFOOD but more focused: attendance is limited to verified buyers, importers, and distributors.
Large supermarket groups use it to secure direct supplier deals and monitor “Made in Italy” certification trends.
The 2024 show recorded record participation from foreign importers, particularly from North America and the Gulf.
13. IBIE – International Baking Industry Exposition — Las Vegas, USA
Organizer: American Bakers Association & BEMA
Next edition: September 2025 (triennial)
Founded: 1920
Exhibitors: ≈ 1,000
Visitors: ≈ 22,000 industry professionals
Source: ABA/BEMA – IBIE 2025 Preview Data
IBIE is the Western Hemisphere’s largest baking and snack manufacturing event, fully trade-restricted.
Covering everything from industrial ovens to dough conditioners, it serves as a vital sourcing hub for supermarket in-store bakery operations.
Its technical conference stream attracts product-development teams focused on reformulation and shelf-life optimization.
14. iba — Düsseldorf, Germany
Organizer: GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH
Next edition: 2027 (triennial)
Founded: 1949
Exhibitors (2023): ≈ 1,000
Visitors: ≈ 57,000 from 150 countries
Source: IBA 2023 Post-Show Statistics – GHM
IBA is the global summit for bakery and confectionery technology, complementing IBIE in Europe.
Major retail chains are exploring in-store production solutions, packaging formats, and frozen-dough innovation.
Its 2023 edition placed strong emphasis on automation, clean-label ingredients, and energy efficiency.
15. Seafood Expo Global — Barcelona, Spain
Organizer: Diversified Communications
Next edition: April 2026
Founded: 1993
Exhibitors: ≈ 2,250
Visitors: ≈ 35,000 from 160 countries
Source: Diversified Communications – Seafood Expo Global 2025 Summary
Seafood Expo Global is the largest seafood trade event worldwide, drawing both retail and foodservice buyers.
Supermarket seafood category managers use it to assess sustainability certification schemes, logistics, and cold-chain technology.
The 2025 edition recorded a 7 % increase in exhibitor participation and strong attendance from Nordic and Asian suppliers.
16. Fi Europe – Food Ingredients Europe — Frankfurt, Germany
Organizer: Informa Markets
Next edition: December 2025
Founded: 1986
Exhibitors: ≈ 1,500
Visitors: ≈ 25,000
Source: Informa Markets – Fi Europe 2024 Audit
Fi Europe sits at the intersection of food technology and retail product development.
It’s not a consumer show but a B2B ingredient marketplace where supermarket R&D teams scout texture agents, natural colors, and plant proteins.
The 2024 event introduced an expanded Sustainability Theatre spotlighting net-zero formulation strategies.
17. Vitafoods Europe — Barcelona, Spain
Organizer: Informa Markets
Next edition: May 2026
Founded: 1997
Exhibitors: ≈ 1,400
Visitors: ≈ 25,000
Source: Informa Markets – Vitafoods Europe 2025 Visitor Report
Vitafoods focuses on functional foods, nutraceuticals, and health ingredients.
Retailers and private-label producers attend to track wellness megatrends — collagen beverages, adaptogens, and personalized nutrition.
The 2025 edition saw record Asian participation, confirming that functional nutrition has become a mainstream retail category.
18. THAIFEX – Anuga Asia — Bangkok, Thailand
Organizer: Department of International Trade Promotion (Thailand), Koelnmesse, and Thai Chamber of Commerce
Next edition: May 2026
Founded: 2004
Exhibitors (2024): ≈ 3,130
Visitors: ≈ 86,000 from 130 nations
Source: Koelnmesse Asia – THAIFEX 2024 Consolidated Figures
This joint venture between Thailand and Koelnmesse positions THAIFEX as the key ASEAN trade-only food event.
Supermarket buyers from across Asia use it to source fresh, halal, and convenience products.
The 2024 show expanded its Future Food and RetailTech zones — underscoring Asia’s fast-digitizing grocery landscape.
19. SIAL Shanghai — Shanghai, China
Organizer: Comexposium and Exposium Group China
Next edition: May 2026
Founded: 2000
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 5,000
Visitors: ≈ 180,000 trade professionals
Source: SIAL Shanghai 2025 Preliminary Statement – Comexposium China
SIAL Shanghai has become Asia’s most comprehensive food and beverage sourcing event.
It serves as the bridge between Chinese manufacturers and global retail chains.
Foreign supermarket groups attend to understand China’s product-innovation tempo — from instant meals to AI-enhanced packaging.
20. IFE – International Food & Drink Event — London, United Kingdom
Organizer: Montgomery Group
Next edition: March 2026
Founded: 1985
Exhibitors (2025): ≈ 1,250
Visitors: ≈ 27,000 verified trade buyers
Source: Montgomery Group – IFE 2025 Show Report
IFE is the UK’s largest trade-only food and beverage exhibition and a core part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.
Attendance is strictly professional; buyers must show business credentials.
It remains a strong platform for British and Irish producers looking to export post-Brexit and for supermarkets refreshing their domestic supplier base.
| Rank | Event | Location | Exhibitors | Visitors | Organizer / Source |
| 1 | Anuga | Cologne | 7,900 | 140,000 | Koelnmesse – 2025 |
| 2 | SIAL Paris | Paris | 7,400 | 285,000 | Comexposium – 2024 |
| 3 | Gulfood | Dubai | 5,500 | 144,000 | DWTC – 2025 |
| 4 | PLMA | Amsterdam | 3,000 | 28,000 | PLMA – 2025 |
| 5 | BioFach | Nuremberg | 2,350 | 36,000 | NürnbergMesse – 2025 |
| 6 | ProWein | Düsseldorf | 4,200 | 42,000 | Messe Düsseldorf – 2025 |
| 7 | Bar Convent Berlin | Berlin | 560 | 15,000 | RX Global – 2024 |
| 8 | Expo West | Anaheim | 3,200 | 70,000 | Informa – 2025 |
| 9 | Fancy Food Show | New York | 2,600 | 30,000 | Specialty Food Assoc. – 2025 |
| 10 | Alimentaria | Barcelona | 3,200 | 108,000 | Fira de Barcelona – 2024 |
| 11 | TUTTOFOOD | Milan | 4,700 | 90,000 | Fiera Milano – 2025 |
| 12 | Cibus | Parma | 3,000 | 75,000 | Fiere di Parma – 2024 |
| 13 | IBIE | Las Vegas | 1,000 | 22,000 | ABA/BEMA – 2025 |
| 14 | iba | Düsseldorf | 1,000 | 57,000 | GHM – 2023 |
| 15 | Seafood Expo Global | Barcelona | 2,250 | 35,000 | Diversified Comms – 2025 |
| 16 | Fi Europe | Frankfurt | 1,500 | 25,000 | Informa – 2024 |
| 17 | Vitafoods Europe | Barcelona | 1,400 | 25,000 | Informa – 2025 |
| 18 | THAIFEX – Anuga Asia | Bangkok | 3,130 | 86,000 | Koelnmesse Asia – 2024 |
| 19 | SIAL Shanghai | Shanghai | 5,000 | 180,000 | Comexposium China – 2025 |
| 20 | IFE London | London | 1,250 | 27,000 | Montgomery Group – 2025 |
Together, these 20 trade-only shows represent the global heartbeat of the grocery supply chain.
They are where retailers decide which categories expand, which packaging formats disappear, and which suppliers earn long-term shelf space.
In 2025, three clear trends cut across every event:
- Sustainability and compliance — buyers now demand carbon transparency and traceable sourcing.
- Technology integration — digital matchmaking, AI product scanning, and data-driven sourcing dominate the show floors.
- Regionalization of trade — Europe’s giants remain central, but growth energy is shifting toward the Gulf and Asia-Pacific, as seen at Gulfood and THAIFEX.
For supermarkets, attending at least one of these exhibitions is no longer optional — it’s a prerequisite for staying competitive in the global grocery economy.
