The UK will host many major trade shows in 2025.
These Trade Events 2025 bring together suppliers, supermarket buyers, and industry experts.
For anyone working in grocery or FMCG, they are key places to meet partners, launch products, and see the latest innovations.
Below is a full calendar of the biggest UK food and drink trade events 2025 — along with what each show focuses on and why they matter for supermarket suppliers.
Editor’s Note:
All information in this article comes from official organiser announcements and trade show websites. Dates and venues are verified for 2025. Always double-check details before booking.
UK Food and Drink Trade Events 2025: Full Calendar
International Food & Drink Event (IFE)
Dates: 17–19 March 2025
Venue: ExCeL London
Focus: Global food and drink innovation
Audience: Retail buyers, importers, wholesalers, and producers
The IFE is one of the largest trade events in the UK food industry.
It brings together more than a thousand exhibitors from the UK and abroad.
Suppliers use this event to meet supermarket buyers, discover export partners, and learn about new trends such as healthier snacks, sustainable sourcing, and functional beverages.
At IFE 2025, expect zones for world food, chilled and frozen products, packaging, and plant-based innovation.
For supermarket suppliers, it is the year’s best opportunity to make new retail contacts and understand what shoppers will want next.
Food & Drink Expo
Dates: 7–9 April 2025
Venue: NEC Birmingham
Focus: Grocery, foodservice, and manufacturing innovation
Audience: Retailers, wholesalers, foodservice and hospitality professionals
This show is part of the UK Food & Drink Shows group at the NEC.
It sits alongside the Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show, and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions.
Food & Drink Expo covers everything from retail grocery to packaging, logistics, and future food.
Visitors see new product ranges, convenience trends, and solutions for private label and branded production.
It is also where supermarket buyers come to look for new suppliers in fresh, chilled, and ambient food.
For anyone wanting to expand into UK supermarkets, this event is a must-attend in Trade Events 2025.
Farm Shop & Deli Show
Dates: 7–9 April 2025 (co-located with Food & Drink Expo)
Venue: NEC Birmingham
Focus: Local, regional, and speciality produce
Audience: Farm shops, delis, artisan suppliers, and independent retailers
This show celebrates small producers and premium food makers.
It helps connect them with delis, garden centres, and independent stores that want authentic and local products.
Supermarket buyers also visit to spot artisan products that could scale nationally through private-label programs.
For suppliers, it is a good chance to test new lines, collect buyer feedback, and find packaging partners who focus on small-batch production.
National Convenience Show
Dates: 7–9 April 2025 (same NEC grouping)
Venue: NEC Birmingham
Focus: Convenience retail and forecourt formats
Audience: Independent retailers, wholesalers, franchise operators, and service suppliers
Convenience retail is one of the fastest-growing grocery channels in the UK.
This event explores new store technology, grab-and-go ranges, and efficient delivery models.
Suppliers can meet symbol-group buyers and explore how supermarkets are linking with local convenience partners.
Together, these NEC shows form one of the biggest gatherings in Trade Events 2025, covering everything from production to retail strategy.
Lunch! Show
Dates: 24–25 September 2025
Venue: ExCeL London
Focus: Food-to-go, café, and fast casual dining
Audience: Operators, retailers, and suppliers in foodservice and convenience
Lunch! is a key event for anyone in the grab-and-go or café sector.
Supermarkets now compete directly in this space with hot food counters and ready-to-eat meals.
The show features hundreds of exhibitors across sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and eco-friendly packaging.
Visitors can learn about shelf-life solutions, waste reduction, and flavour trends.
For supermarket suppliers, it’s useful to understand what sells in foodservice — because these trends often move quickly into retail.
Plant Based World Expo Europe
Dates: 26–27 November 2025 (planned)
Venue: ExCeL London
Focus: Vegan, vegetarian, and sustainable food innovation
Audience: Retail buyers, foodservice, and plant-based brands
This event is dedicated to the fast-growing plant-based sector.
It showcases meat-free and dairy-free products, ingredients, and new cooking technologies.
Many supermarket buyers attend to source vegan ranges or sustainability solutions for their own labels.
Suppliers can network with retailers and distributors interested in clean-label and natural-ingredient products.
Plant-based is no longer a niche — it is now a major part of food retail strategy.
Other Notable Trade Events 2025
While the shows above are the core calendar, several other events connect directly with the UK grocery supply chain:
IFE Manufacturing Solutions (ExCeL London, March 2025): Focus on machinery, processing, and automation for food production.
Foodex Manufacturing Solutions (NEC Birmingham, April 2025): Equipment, robotics, packaging materials, and hygiene technologies.
Speciality & Fine Food Fair (Olympia London, September 2025): Premium foods and drinks, especially useful for suppliers targeting higher-end supermarket ranges.
Packaging Innovations & Empack Birmingham 2025 (NEC Birmingham, February 2025): Dedicated to packaging design, sustainability, and logistics.
IFE Drinks & Beverages Zone: Integrated within IFE 2025, featuring soft drinks, functional beverages, and premium alcohol innovation.
These events highlight how trade fairs are becoming more integrated — combining food, drink, packaging, and technology under one roof.
Why Packaging And Innovation Shows Matter
Packaging is now a key topic at all major UK trade events 2025.
Supermarkets want packaging that reduces waste, cuts cost, and still protects product quality.
At Food & Drink Expo and IFE, exhibitors present sustainable materials, compostable trays, and refill formats.
For example:
Paper-based and mono-material packaging is gaining traction.
Packaging machinery suppliers show faster sealing and labelling solutions.
Designers display new shelf-ready formats that fit retailer systems more efficiently.
For suppliers, walking through these innovation zones offers direct ideas on how to improve both cost and sustainability.
Many supermarkets now require evidence of packaging improvement before signing new supply contracts — a growing priority highlighted by UK supermarket suppliers in 2025
That makes packaging shows just as important as food exhibitions themselves.
London Expos: The Capital As A Trade Hub
London remains the main hub for international buyers attending Trade Events 2025.
ExCeL London hosts IFE, Lunch!, and Plant Based World — each offering different audiences.
Why London events stand out:
Easy access for international exhibitors and buyers
Direct connections with major retailers’ head offices
Strong link between innovation and retail trends
Added networking through side events, award programs, and seminars
Suppliers attending multiple London shows can plan meetings with supermarket category teams in the same week.
It’s an efficient way to grow visibility in the UK market.
NEC Birmingham: The Central UK Stage
The National Exhibition Centre is equally vital.
Its April group of events brings the whole food industry together — from artisan makers to major FMCG companies.
For supermarket suppliers, NEC Birmingham is where:
Buyers look for new categories for convenience and deli stores.
Packaging firms meet manufacturers for collaboration.
Farm-shop producers get discovered by supermarket premium ranges.
Exporters meet wholesalers looking to source British food abroad.
Holding several shows at once makes travel efficient and maximises cross-networking.
This cluster approach has made Birmingham a second home for the UK’s biggest trade shows.
How To Prepare For Trade Events 2025
To make the most of these shows, suppliers should plan early.
Before the event:
Research which buyers or retailers will attend.
Prepare short, clear presentation materials.
Bring product samples with correct labelling and storage details.
Book meetings in advance through event apps or organiser platforms.
During the event:
Focus on listening to buyer needs and current retail trends.
Take notes on packaging, pricing, and sustainability questions.
Network not only with retailers but also with logistics and technology firms.
After the event:
Follow up within a week.
Send digital samples, brochures, or packaging visuals.
Keep contact open for category review windows later in the year.
Suppliers who treat trade events as part of their long-term sales process often build the best results.
Trends To Watch At UK Food & Drink Trade Events 2025
Each new year brings different priorities.
Here’s what’s likely to dominate trade conversations in 2025:
Sustainability: Lower-carbon manufacturing, local sourcing, and renewable packaging.
Private label growth: Supermarkets expanding own-brand ranges across fresh and grocery.
Plant-based innovation: Meat-free and dairy-free becoming part of mainstream shelves.
Convenience formats: Single-serve meals, on-the-go packaging, and quick prep options.
Technology: Automation in packaging, AI in demand forecasting, and smart labelling.
Health and nutrition: Low-sugar, high-protein, and functional food demand continuing.
Understanding these themes helps suppliers present relevant solutions when they meet buyers.
Why Trade Shows Remain Vital For Supermarket Suppliers
Even in the digital era, trade shows continue to be essential. Email and online meetings cannot replace seeing, tasting, or testing products in person.
Main reasons why trade shows matter:
Face-to-face meetings: Buyers can see product quality instantly.
Networking: Suppliers meet partners for packaging, logistics, or export.
Market visibility: Presence at shows builds credibility for supermarket listings.
Trend learning: Live events show what competitors are launching next.
Collaboration: Shows often start long-term business relationships.
Supermarkets use these events to explore what’s new and to refresh seasonal or innovation pipelines.
For suppliers, missing a key show can mean missing an entire buying cycle.
Looking Ahead: Planning For 2026
Many organisers open bookings a year in advance.
Suppliers attending the 2025 editions should already note possible 2026 dates.
This helps secure better stand positions and travel rates.
Trade events are not just about sales.
They are about visibility, learning, and staying part of the fast-moving UK food industry network.
With supermarket competition at record levels, in-person connection is again becoming one of the strongest business tools.
In summary:
The Trade Events 2025 calendar is packed with opportunities — from global shows in London to specialised events in Birmingham.
Attending even one or two can open valuable supermarket and distributor relationships.
For suppliers serious about growth, being seen in the right place at the right time still makes all the difference.
