Food & Drink Expo 2027

Food & Drink Expo is a UK trade exhibition that connects food and drink suppliers with buyers across several routes to market. Organised by William Reed at the NEC Birmingham and now held annually, it targets buyers and suppliers from retail, wholesale, foodservice, manufacturing and hospitality.

Exhibitors include established brands, emerging producers and international suppliers, with products across prepared foods, beverages, speciality lines and manufacturing solutions. The breadth of the audience is the main draw: rather than focusing on a single channel, producers can meet foodservice operators, wholesalers and retailers in one visit, which is useful for testing where a product performs best.

The show is part of The UK Food & Drink Shows, alongside the Farm Shop & Deli Show, the National Convenience Show, the Forecourt Show and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions. One free pass gives visitors access to all five events, which encourages footfall between them and puts exhibitors in front of buyers who may have come for a neighbouring show.

Different buyers need different information. Foodservice buyers want pack sizes, yields and preparation details, while retail and wholesale buyers look for branded packaging, pricing and promotional support, so many exhibitors zone their stands or prepare separate sales materials for each channel. Sampling remains one of the strongest draws, and a seated area for discussing volumes and terms helps convert interest into business. Stand Between can match exhibitors with builders who know the NEC and food and drink stands.