Italian Food and Drink Trade Events 2025

Italian Food and Drink Trade Events 2025

Italy remains one of the world’s core destinations for food and drink companies, supermarket buyers, importers, exporters and packaging suppliers. The country hosts some of the most influential trade shows in Europe, covering fresh produce, wine, private label, confectionery, organic food, equipment, and the wider food-manufacturing ecosystem. These events attract thousands of professionals each year, with strong participation from major Italian groups such as Coop, Conad, Selex, and leading international retailers across Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia.

In 2025, the calendar of Italian food and drink exhibitions includes several established shows with confirmed dates and some rotating events that run on different cycles. When analysing Italian food and drink trade events 2025, it becomes clear that each show has a defined role: some specialise in private label, others in fresh produce, others in wine, and others in organic or hospitality solutions. For retailers and suppliers, visiting Italy’s trade events is a practical way to track new innovation, meet manufacturers, compare pricing, and understand how Italian categories will evolve in the year ahead.

Below is a complete guide to the key Italian food and drink trade events in 2025, based only on confirmed public information and long-standing event profiles.

Cibus 2025 – Parma (Confirmed 2025 Edition)

Cibus remains one of Italy’s most important food exhibitions for domestic and international markets. Held every two years in Parma, it is known for its strong representation of packaged foods, dairy, deli, cured meats, sauces, pasta, baked goods, and regional Italian products. Retail buyers attend to meet both large industry players and small regional producers, giving Cibus a broad commercial reach.

The main strength of Cibus is how deeply it reflects Italy’s regional food identity. Exhibitors range from long-standing family companies to modern industrial manufacturers. For supermarket teams, Cibus is particularly useful for reviewing brand assortments, understanding pricing structures, and discovering export-ready small and medium suppliers. It also functions as a platform for Italy’s geographical indication (GI) categories, which continue to perform strongly across international retail.

Cibus also attracts packaging suppliers, cold-chain companies, and logistics specialists. Many Italian producers showcase recyclable or mono-material packaging, reflecting wider European requirements for simplification and sustainability. Because the exhibition sits in Parma — a major agri-food cluster — there is also strong technical knowledge in processing and manufacturing.

Cibus confirms each edition through Fiere di Parma and Federalimentare. Its 2025 edition is officially listed and remains one of the key anchor events for the sector.

Macfrut 2025 – Rimini (Confirmed 2025 Edition)

Macfrut is Italy’s largest fresh produce exhibition and a major event for fruit and vegetable suppliers, distributors, retailers, importers, and packers. The show has steadily grown into one of Europe’s most important produce events alongside Fruit Logistica in Berlin. Macfrut features strong representation from Italy’s major fruit-growing regions such as Emilia-Romagna, Sicily, Puglia, Veneto and Calabria, along with international exhibitors from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and the Balkans.

The confirmed 2025 edition continues Macfrut’s focus on supply-chain efficiency, controlled-environment agriculture, climate-resilient varieties, and post-harvest technology. The show also includes greenhouse innovation, nursery technology, packaging for fresh produce, and cold-chain management. Retailers attend to review new apple, grape, citrus, kiwifruit and stone fruit options for both seasonal and off-season programs.

Macfrut typically includes dedicated pavilions such as the “International Cherry Symposium,” tropical fruit showcases, organic sectors, and country-specific pavilions. For supermarkets and distributors, the event helps them understand volume expectations, quality shifts, and new technical standards. For example, producers often display improvements in ripening systems, storage atmospheres, fibre punnets, compostable nets, and digital quality-control tools.

Because fresh produce categories move quickly, Macfrut provides a real-time view of market pressures. Global water challenges, labour shortages, and climate adaptation strategies are frequently visible across the exhibitor stands. For anyone sourcing fresh fruit or vegetables, Macfrut 2025 remains essential.

Marca by BolognaFiere 2025 – Bologna (Confirmed 2025 Edition)

Marca by BolognaFiere is Italy’s leading private label exhibition and one of the most important in Europe. Organised with strong involvement from ADM, the Italian association of modern distribution, Marca brings together supermarket groups and private label manufacturers from across the country. The 2025 edition is confirmed, and as always, major Italian retailers take central roles — including Coop Italia, Conad, Selex, Esselunga, MD, and others.

Marca specialises in private label manufacturing across ambient, chilled, frozen, beverage, bakery, deli and non-food categories. Visitors can see hundreds of contract manufacturers, packaging partners, and logistics providers. For international retailers, this show is particularly useful because Italian private label suppliers tend to focus on premium, clean-label, and speciality products, which remain in demand across European markets.

The show also provides insights into sustainability standards, recipe reformulation, allergen management, traceability, packaging changes, and category innovation. In recent editions, exhibitors have showcased fibre-based trays, recyclable monofilm structures, and reduction strategies for plastics. The 2025 edition will continue that focus, reflecting wider European packaging rules and retailer expectations.

Because Marca is built on direct cooperation with Italy’s largest retail groups, it functions as a strategic meeting point. Buyers come with specific category needs. Suppliers come prepared with tailored private label proposals. It is a commercially focused show with strong retailer–manufacturer alignment.

Vinitaly 2025 – Verona (Confirmed 2025 Edition)

Vinitaly is Italy’s flagship wine exhibition and one of the most recognised international wine events. The confirmed 2025 edition will once again bring together producers from all major Italian wine regions — including Veneto, Tuscany, Piedmont, Sicily, Abruzzo, Lombardy and Puglia — as well as international exhibitors. The event attracts supermarket wine buyers, importers, on-trade distributors, sommeliers, and hospitality groups.

For retailers, Vinitaly provides a clear view of Italy’s protected designation wines, mainstream supermarket wines, and premium labels. Buyers often use the exhibition to plan seasonal assortments, choose promotional lines, or deepen their premium ranges. Because wine remains one of Italy’s strongest export sectors, Vinitaly is important for understanding availability, pricing pressures, harvest conditions and long-term supply trends.

Vinitaly also features equipment suppliers, bottling technology, label producers, and packaging manufacturers. In recent years, lightweight glass, alternative packaging formats, and sustainability in bottling have become increasingly visible. The 2025 edition is expected to continue showcasing innovation alongside traditional winemaking.

SANA 2025 – Bologna (Confirmed 2025 Edition)

SANA is Italy’s main trade show for organic and natural products. The confirmed edition for 2025 continues its position as a reference point for organic food, natural wellness, plant-based products, supplements and sustainable household items. It attracts both retail buyers and specialised distributors who focus on organic, free-from, vegan, and natural goods.

Italian organic products have a strong reputation internationally, and SANA highlights producers with certifications such as EU Organic, biodynamic, and regional sustainability standards. The exhibition also includes health-food trends, herbal and botanical products, and plant-based innovations. Packaging for organic products — especially compostable and recyclable formats — appears frequently across exhibitor booths.

For retailers, SANA helps them evaluate how organic categories are shifting. It also provides visibility into clean-label reformulation, allergen-friendly manufacturing, and natural wellness products that increasingly appear in supermarkets. The 2025 edition remains relevant for both mainstream retail and specialty organic distributors.

TuttoFood – Milan (Next Scheduled Edition Not Confirmed for 2025)

TuttoFood is one of Italy’s largest general food exhibitions, held in Milan. It is known for its broad mix of categories — dairy, deli, pasta, sweets, bakery, meat, beverage and international foods. However, TuttoFood does not run every year, and its next confirmed edition has not been publicly listed as 2025.

Because the show historically rotates, it remains an important reference point for Italy’s food and drink sector, but in the context of Italian food and drink trade events 2025, it should be described without an assigned date. When it runs, TuttoFood attracts a wide range of supermarket, cash-and-carry, distributor and wholesaler visitors. It provides valuable benchmarking against both Italian and international suppliers.

The show is also recognised for its strong packaging and innovation zones, which highlight new product development trends and export opportunities. For suppliers, TuttoFood tends to serve as a multi-category platform rather than a specialised sector show.

HostMilano – Milan (Biennial, No 2025 Edition)

HostMilano is one of the world’s leading hospitality and equipment exhibitions. It focuses on professional kitchens, coffee, bakery equipment, refrigeration, food technology and HoReCa solutions. HostMilano operates on a two-year cycle, and its next edition after 2023 is scheduled for 2025/2027 depending on the organiser’s public calendar. There is no confirmed 2025 edition listed.

Despite that, HostMilano remains significant because many Italian food manufacturers also operate in the foodservice market. Buyers of café and bakery equipment, gelato machines, ovens and professional refrigeration systems frequently attend. The show also features packaging and service equipment used in retail bakeries and supermarket food counters.

In the context of Italian food and drink trade events 2025, HostMilano is part of the broader ecosystem but not a scheduled anchor show.

Why Italy Is a Global Hub for Food and Drink Trade Shows

Italy is one of Europe’s most important agricultural and food-manufacturing economies. It is a global leader in pasta, cheese, cured meats, wine, olive oil, fresh produce, bakery, coffee, and premium grocery categories. Its regions — from Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy to Veneto, Tuscany, Sicily and Puglia — support large numbers of small, medium and industrial producers.

Italian Food and Drink Trade Events
Infographic highlighting why Italy hosts major global food and drink trade shows.

Retailers often treat Italy as a key sourcing base for premium and speciality private label. Italian suppliers tend to focus on recipe quality, clean labels, protected origin categories and modern packaging solutions. Combined with strong logistics and export experience, Italy is well positioned to host international events.

Trade shows in Italy also benefit from well-developed exhibition centres in Parma, Milan, Bologna, Verona and Rimini. These venues support large exhibitor halls, cold-chain facilities, and easy access for international buyers.

What Retailers and Suppliers Gain by Attending Italian Shows

For supermarket teams, Italian trade events are useful because they allow category managers to compare suppliers side by side. Italy’s shows tend to highlight new product development, regional specialities, and packaging improvements. Retailers can quickly evaluate unit costs, packaging materials, certifications, shelf-life expectations, and export capabilities.

Suppliers use Italian shows to meet retailers from Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Scandinavia, the US, Canada, the Middle East and Asia. They come prepared with technical sheets, price lists, and updated packaging. Exhibitors also demonstrate manufacturing improvements such as allergen management, plant optimisation, energy reductions, recipe reformulation and transport efficiency.

For distributors, Italian events help identify new import opportunities. Many importers attend Cibus, Marca and Macfrut to secure new SKUs or build seasonal programmes. The presence of producers from smaller Italian regions also helps distributors expand premium ranges in international markets.

Category Trends Visible Across Italy’s 2025 Trade Shows

Italian Food and Drink Trade Events
Infographic showing key category trends across Italy’s main 2025 trade shows.

Private Label Premiumisation

Private label continues to grow across Europe, and Italian manufacturers play an important role in premium-tier ranges. At Marca 2025, buyers can expect to see expansion in clean-label ready meals, premium sauces, gourmet bakery, speciality deli, and confectionery.

Packaging Evolution

Italy’s manufacturers are adjusting to European packaging rules, leading to more fibre-based trays, lightweight plastics, mono-material pouches, and recyclable films. These changes appear across Cibus, Marca, SANA and Macfrut.

Fresh Produce Innovation

Macfrut showcases new varieties, climate-resilient genetics, and post-harvest systems. Italian growers are adopting water-saving solutions, greenhouse technology, and improved storage atmospheres.

Organic and Plant-Based Growth

SANA 2025 highlights Italy’s organic ecosystem, which includes cereals, dried fruit, bakery, olive oil, dairy alternatives and natural supplements.

Wine and Premium Beverages

Vinitaly shows how Italian premium wines continue to grow in export markets. Buyers track harvest volumes, pricing changes and new packaging formats.

Technology and Manufacturing Efficiency

Across exhibitions, Italian companies show progress in energy efficiency, quality control, automation and digital tools. Equipment suppliers often demonstrate refrigeration improvements, bakery automation and traceability tools.

How International Buyers Should Plan Their Visit

Before the Event

Buyers should register in advance, contact key suppliers, and prepare product specifications. For private label, retailers often bring packaging guidelines, format requirements, and category priorities.

During the Event

Visitors should walk through regional pavilions, speak with technical teams, collect product samples, and compare pricing. Many exhibitors offer export-specific formats, including shelf-ready packaging, multi-language labels and extended shelf-life versions.

After the Event

Buyers typically request technical sheets and certifications, compare logistics costs, and shortlist suppliers for factory audits. Follow-up meetings help confirm volumes, pricing and lead times.

Final Outlook

Italian food and drink trade events 2025 highlight the strength of Italy’s global food industry. With confirmed editions for Cibus, Macfrut, Marca, Vinitaly and SANA, and broader activity across rotating events like TuttoFood and HostMilano, the country remains one of Europe’s most reliable meeting points for supermarkets, distributors and suppliers.

These exhibitions offer practical commercial value — from discovering new products to evaluating manufacturing quality, packaging progress and sustainability strategies. For retailers and suppliers planning their year, the Italian trade show calendar remains essential, providing insight into how Italy’s food and drink industry will evolve in 2025 and beyond.

Share this article