Top 12 Industry Events and Trade Shows for Food and Beverage Startups (2024 - 2025)

For food startups, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. In 2024-2025, several key industry events and trade shows offer invaluable opportunities to network, learn, and grow. From discovering the latest trends at IFE, International Food & Drink Event, to exploring innovative food technologies at IFT First, and connecting with industry leaders at the Fancy Food Show, these events are designed to provide food entrepreneurs with the insights and connections they need to succeed. Dive into our guide to the top 12 must-attend events that can elevate your food startup to the next level.

Related resource: 10 Foodtech Venture Capital Firms Investing in 2024

IFE, International Food & Drink Event

The IFE International Food & Drink Event will take place from March 25-27, 2024, at ExCeL London. Recognized as the UK's largest and most influential food and drink trade event, IFE has been at the forefront of industry innovation for over 40 years. It gathers over 27,000 professionals from across the retail, food service, hospitality, wholesale, distribution, import, and export sectors, offering a unique platform for networking and business growth​​.

IFE provides food startups a golden opportunity to discover innovative products from over 1,500 suppliers, gain insights into the latest market trends, and forge high-quality business connections. The event features a comprehensive seminar program with industry experts discussing cutting-edge topics and future trends. Additionally, co-located events like IFE Manufacturing and The Pub Show expand the learning and networking possibilities, making it a must-attend for any food startup aiming to stay ahead in the competitive market​​.

IFT First

IFT First, organized by the Institute of Food Technologists, is scheduled for July 14-17, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As the largest global food science and innovation expo, IFT First (Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology) brings together more than 17,000 attendees from around the world. This event offers over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and innovations in food technology, ingredients, and food science​​.

For food startups, IFT First is invaluable due to its comprehensive programming, which includes over 100 scientific sessions and multi-disciplinary discussions. These sessions cover groundbreaking research and solutions in areas like novel technology, health and nutrition, sustainability, food safety, and consumer insights. Keynote speakers include industry leaders from organizations such as the FDA and Amazon, providing insights into the latest industry advancements​​.

The event also features a Startup Pavilion, highlighting up to 100 food tech startups, and The Pitch, a rapid-paced pitch competition offering $15,000 in prizes. The Innovation Lab provides an interactive product development experience, and the Braindate Lounge facilitates meaningful peer-to-peer networking opportunities​​.

Attending IFT First can significantly benefit food startups by offering unparalleled opportunities for networking, learning about the latest trends, and showcasing their innovations to a global audience​​.

AFFI Con

AFFI Con 2025, hosted by the American Frozen Food Institute, will be held from February 22-25, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas. Known as the "Super Bowl of Sales," this event is the premier business gathering for the frozen food industry, attracting over 1,500 attendees and more than 600 companies​​.

For food startups, especially those in the frozen food sector, AFFI Con provides unparalleled networking opportunities. Attendees typically engage in 40+ private business meetings, allowing for extensive direct interactions with key decision-makers from various segments of the industry, including suppliers, buyers, and service providers​. This focused environment facilitates high-quality connections that can significantly enhance business growth.

In addition to networking, AFFI Con offers daily educational sessions and networking receptions that cover critical topics and trends in the frozen food industry. These sessions are designed to broaden attendees' knowledge and help them stay ahead in a competitive market​​.

AFFI Con is invaluable for food startups looking to optimize their supply chains, discover new business opportunities, and build lasting professional relationships within the frozen food industry​.

LRA Showcase

The LRA Showcase, organized by the Louisiana Restaurant Association, will be held on August 3-4, 2024, at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. As the leading regional restaurant trade show, it serves as a crucial event for food startups looking to expand their network and discover new opportunities in the foodservice industry​​.

For food startups, the LRA Showcase offers an invaluable platform to connect with a diverse range of industry professionals, including chefs, restaurant owners, and suppliers. The event features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest products, services, and technologies, from culinary equipment to food and beverage innovations​​.

The showcase also includes engaging events such as the Command the Kitchen Cooking Demos and the Kitchen Counter Speaker Series, which provide practical insights and inspiration for attendees. Additionally, the Four Roses Bourbon Smash Showdown adds a competitive and entertaining element to the event, making it not only informative but also enjoyable​.

Overall, the LRA Showcase is a must-attend event for food startups aiming to stay ahead in the competitive foodservice market by exploring new trends, meeting potential partners, and gaining valuable industry knowledge​​.

Fancy Food Show

The Fancy Food Show, organized by the Specialty Food Association, is a premier event for the specialty food industry, featuring two major annual shows: the Winter Fancy Food Show and the Summer Fancy Food Show. The Winter Show will take place from January 19-21, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, while the Summer Show is scheduled for June 23-25, 2024, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City​​.

For food startups, attending the Fancy Food Show is invaluable. The event attracts over 30,000 industry professionals, including 2,174 exhibitors from 62 countries, offering a broad spectrum of products across more than 40 categories​. This exposure provides startups with an excellent opportunity to network with key decision-makers, including buyers, distributors, and industry experts, fostering business relationships that can drive growth and innovation​.

The Fancy Food Show is renowned for its trendspotting capabilities, showcasing emerging trends such as gluten-free, vegan, and protein-centric products. It also highlights new and innovative products, offering startups a glimpse into future consumer preferences and market directions​. Additionally, the show includes educational programming and seminars, providing insights into market trends, business strategies, and industry challenges, which are crucial for startups aiming to stay competitive and innovative​.

The Fancy Food Show is a must-attend event for food startups seeking to enhance their market presence, discover new products, and build strategic industry connections.

Newtopia Now 2024

Newtopia Now, scheduled for August 25-28, 2024, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, is an innovative B2B event designed to revolutionize the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail sectors. This event focuses on purpose-led CPG and fosters deeper engagement between brands, buyers, and industry leaders to co-create a future-oriented market​​.

What to expect:

1. Product Discovery and Matchmaking: Newtopia Now features a curated marketplace where startups can showcase their products. The event uses a data-driven platform powered by AI to match brands with the right retailers, facilitating meaningful connections and business growth​.
2. Educational Sessions and Workshops: The event includes a range of sessions and workshops led by industry visionaries. Topics cover the future of conscious CPG, sustainability, and innovative product development, providing startups with insights and strategies to navigate and thrive in the competitive market​​.
3. Networking Opportunities: With nearly 25% of the exhibitors being new and emerging brands, the event attracts key investors, buyers, and influential retailers. This setting allows startups to build relationships with potential partners and investors, essential for scaling and expanding their market reach​​.
4. Focus on Sustainability and Innovation: Newtopia Now emphasizes environmentally friendly practices and sustainable product innovations. Startups can learn from and connect with brands committed to regenerative agriculture and community sustainability, aligning with current consumer trends towards eco-conscious products​.

America’s Food and Beverage Show

The America’s Food and Beverage Show, set to take place from September 16-18, 2024, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, is the largest event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Organized by the World Trade Center Miami, this B2B event attracts over 7,300 attendees from more than 93 countries, providing a vibrant marketplace for industry professionals​​.

What to expect:

1. Global Exposure: The show offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with a diverse range of international buyers, distributors, and industry experts. This exposure can help startups break into new markets and expand their global footprint​​.
2. Product Innovation and Trends: Attendees can discover the latest food and beverage product innovations and industry trends. This is crucial for startups aiming to stay ahead of market demands and consumer preferences​.
3. Networking Opportunities: The event facilitates strategic networking with key industry players. This includes one-on-one meetings, which are invaluable for building partnerships, securing investments, and enhancing business growth​.
4. Educational Seminars: The show features a variety of educational sessions and panels where industry leaders share insights on current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the food and beverage sector. These sessions can provide startups with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the competitive market​.
5. Showcase and Branding: Startups have the opportunity to showcase their products in a dedicated space, gaining visibility among influential buyers and decision-makers. This can lead to increased brand awareness and sales​.

SupplySide East

SupplySide East 2024 will take place on April 16-17 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. This event is the East Coast's leading trade show for ingredients and solutions in the health and nutrition industry, making it a crucial gathering for food startups seeking to expand their knowledge, network, and business opportunities​​.

What to expect:

1. Networking Opportunities: With over 3,000 industry professionals and 220 leading suppliers, SupplySide East offers unparalleled networking opportunities. Attendees can connect with key decision-makers, industry experts, and potential business partners from around the globe​.
2. Innovation and Trends: The show focuses on the latest innovations and trends in key categories such as beverages, heart health, probiotics, and sports nutrition. This is vital for startups to stay ahead of market demands and consumer preferences​​.
3. Educational Sessions: SupplySide East features comprehensive educational sessions led by industry experts. Topics cover regulatory updates, market trends, and scientific advancements, providing valuable insights that can help startups navigate and thrive in the competitive landscape​​.
4. Product Discovery: The event showcases over 4,500 of the newest and most innovative ingredients and solutions. This provides startups with the opportunity to discover cutting-edge products and technologies that can enhance their offerings​​.
5. Focused Interactions: Events such as speed networking, SupplySide Connect Hub, and the SupplySide Happy Hour create a dynamic environment for making meaningful connections and fostering business relationships​.

Groceryshop 2024

Groceryshop 2024, taking place from October 7-9 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, is the premier event for grocery and consumer packaged goods (CPG) innovation. This event brings together a global community of industry leaders to explore cutting-edge trends and technologies that are shaping the future of grocery and retail​​.

What to expect:

1. Networking Opportunities: Groceryshop provides an unparalleled platform for networking with over 165 industry luminaries, including senior executives from major retailers and CPG companies. This event is a unique opportunity to meet decision-makers who can significantly impact your startup’s growth​​.
2. Educational Insights: The event features over 30 hours of insights from top-level speakers, offering fresh research, in-depth case studies, and actionable strategies across various tracks. Sessions cover topics such as retail media, consumer habits, supply chain resilience, and innovative product pitches, providing startups with critical knowledge to navigate the industry​​.
3. Innovation and Trends: Groceryshop showcases the latest innovations in grocery and CPG technology. Startups can discover new products and services that cater to health-conscious consumers, explore AI-driven personalization solutions, and learn about the latest trends in retail media and consumer behavior​​.
4. Meetup Program: The event’s Meetup program facilitates over 20,000 double opt-in meetings, making it the industry's most productive networking platform. This feature helps startups connect directly with potential partners, investors, and clients, fostering meaningful business relationships​​.
5. Exposure and Branding: Participating in Groceryshop allows startups to showcase their products and solutions to a targeted audience of industry professionals. This exposure can enhance brand visibility and open doors to new business opportunities​​.

Sweets and Snacks Expo

The Sweets and Snacks Expo, the largest confectionery and snack event in North America, will be held from May 14-16, 2024, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Organized by the National Confectioners Association (NCA), this event attracts around 16,000 attendees and over 1,000 exhibitors, offering a comprehensive platform for professionals in the confectionery and snack industries to network, learn, and innovate​​.

What to expect:

1. Exclusive Networking and Exposure: The expo’s extensive networking opportunities allow startups to connect with key industry players, including buyers, suppliers, and retailers. The event fosters an environment where new businesses can establish valuable connections and enhance their market presence​.
2. Showcase and Recognition: Startups can take advantage of platforms like "Startup Street," which offers reduced rates for new exhibitors. This dedicated space enables emerging companies to showcase their innovative products to a large audience, gaining crucial exposure and recognition within the industry​.
3. Learning from Industry Leaders: The Sweets and Snacks Expo features a robust lineup of educational sessions and workshops led by top industry experts. Topics cover the latest market trends, consumer behaviors, and technological advancements, providing startups with actionable insights and strategies to stay competitive​.
4. Innovation and Trendspotting: The expo highlights cutting-edge innovations through the Most Innovative New Product Awards and the Featured Product Showcase. Startups can explore the latest trends and innovative products, helping them to align their offerings with current market demands and stand out from the competition​​.
5. Economic and Industry Impact: The Sweets and Snacks Expo not only has a significant economic impact on its host city but also plays a crucial role in shaping industry standards and practices. By participating, startups can be part of a larger community driving growth and innovation in the confectionery and snack sectors​​.
6. Comprehensive Resources and Support: The expo provides a range of resources, including the Supplier Showcase, which connects manufacturers with suppliers of ingredients, packaging, and machinery. This support structure helps startups streamline their production processes and improve their product offerings​​.

Expo West 2025

Natural Products Expo West 2025, scheduled for March 4-7 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, is a key event for the natural, organic, and healthy products industry. Organized by New Hope Network/Informa Markets, this event draws thousands of industry professionals, making it a must-attend for food startups aiming to make their mark in the sector​​.

What to expect:

1. Networking Opportunities: Expo West offers extensive networking opportunities with over 80,000 industry professionals, including retailers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. This event is an excellent platform for startups to establish connections that can lead to business growth and collaboration​.
2. Product Discovery and Innovation: The expo features a vast array of new and innovative products. Startups can showcase their offerings to a large audience, participate in the Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, and potentially be recognized with the NEXTY Awards, which highlight outstanding new products in the natural products industry​​.
3. Educational Sessions: The event includes a comprehensive schedule of educational sessions led by industry experts. These sessions cover the latest trends, market insights, and business strategies, providing startups with valuable knowledge to help them navigate the competitive landscape of the natural and organic products industry​.
4. Exclusive Buyer Hours: To enhance the product discovery process and provide more focused interactions, Expo West includes exclusive buyer-only hours. This allows startups to have dedicated time to connect with key buyers and decision-makers in a less crowded environment​.
5. Sustainability and ETHOS Initiative: Expo West is committed to promoting sustainability and ethical business practices. Startups can learn about and contribute to industry efforts to create a more sustainable and equitable market, aligning their brands with these important values​.

NBWA Annual Convention and Product Showcase

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) Annual Convention and Product Showcase will take place from September 29 to October 2, 2024, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. This event is one of the premier gatherings for beer and beverage distributors, offering a comprehensive platform for education, networking, and business development​​.

What to expect:

1. Educational Programs: The convention features over 24 seminars covering a wide range of topics crucial to the industry. These sessions provide insights into new trends, regulatory updates, and strategies for business growth, which are invaluable for startups looking to deepen their understanding of the market and refine their business models​​.
2. Product Showcase: The Product Showcase is a highlight of the convention, presenting over 200 companies that exhibit new products, technologies, and services. For food startups, this is an excellent opportunity to discover the latest innovations that can enhance their operations and product offerings​​.
3. Networking Opportunities: With thousands of attendees from various segments of the beer and beverage industry, the convention provides ample opportunities to network with key players, potential partners, and investors. Special events such as the Welcome Reception and the Next Generation and Emerging Leaders Reception facilitate these connections in a more relaxed setting​​.
4. Focused Panels and Receptions: The event includes focused panels such as the "Making Moves: BREW and Alliance for Women in Beer," which promotes diversity and inclusion within the industry. These sessions and associated networking events can be particularly beneficial for startups looking to align with industry initiatives and foster inclusive business practices​​.
5. Strategic Insights and Leadership: The convention features talks from industry leaders and influencers, providing strategic insights and leadership perspectives that can help startups navigate the complexities of the beer and beverage market. For example, Erika Ayers Badan, former CEO of Barstool Sports, will share her experiences in building brand loyalty and business expansion​.

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Attending industry events and trade shows is essential for food startups to stay competitive, network with industry leaders, and discover the latest trends and innovations. Establishing robust investor connections is equally crucial.

Related resource: VCs Investing In Food & Beverage Startups

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