About 1,500 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors came together in April for the UK Food & Drink Shows.
For three days, six halls at the NEC Birmingham became home to four individual shows, each dedicated to a trade sector: Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show, Food & Drink Expo, and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions.
Those halls were packed with exhibitors who had travelled from across the globe to present their products and services, from the world’s biggest names in fmcg and manufacturing to startups taking their first steps.
And each show featured a packed programmes of expert speakers, insightful panels and inspiring demonstrations on what’s driving the industry.
On the final day of the event, The Grocer journalists Rachel Graham and Vince Bamford sat down to discuss some of the food and drink industry trends that had shaped the shows.
In the videos below, they talk about how independent retailers have never had a better time to demonstrate what sets them apart from the supermarkets, and about the explosion of innovation in the olive oil sector.
Preparations are already well underway for the 2026 UK Food & Drink Shows, which will take place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April next year.
Here’s what a few exhibitors and visitors had to say about their time at this year’s event:
“Food & Drink Expo has been amazing. We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive responses and feedback that we’ve gotten from everybody. It’s been great to exhibit at the show and hopefully you’ll be seeing us for years to come.”
Simi Olaleye, business development manager, Tasty African Food
“We spent three fantastic days serving delicious curry to hundreds of people who visited our stand. The number, and quality of visitors we saw across the event is the best I’ve seen – so glad we have booked a bigger and better stand for 2026.”
Andy Lister, sales manager, Praveen Kumar
“The Farm Shop & Deli Show has provided a good opportunity to discover new products and connect with suppliers, offering valuable insights into their brand and future plans. We will certainly be attending again.”
Alex Emmanuel-Jones, commercial director, The Black Farmer
UK Food & Drink Shows is organised by business information provider William Reed. Covering industries ranging from food and drink to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, William Reed publishes digital and print media including The Grocer, and organises prestigious awards, business events and conferences.
Visit the Farm Shop & Deli Show website to register your interest in the 2026 UK Food & Drink Shows
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