Every year, companies of the food industry work to define and plan their strategy in relation to their presence in food & beverage trade shows. Despite the fact that trade shows were deeply affected in 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic, this sector is expected to recover in 2022 and everything points to them being, once again, a great opportunity to leverage quality networking, showcase the latest opportunities and innovations and generate a myriad of business opportunities.
European most important food and beverage trade shows and events 2025
Would you like to know which the most important European food trade shows are? Taking into consideration different criteria, such as the event’s prestige, its international significance and the business and networking opportunities that it offers, we have chosen those which, in our opinion, are the most beneficial food & beverage trade shows.
All of them are of significant interest to purchase and innovation professionals or product managers of all kinds of food companies. In this list you will find basic information for each of them: sector, visitor profile and main characteristics or opportunities. This will help you build an agenda of events that you should follow closely during this year.
- Anuga
For many professionals, Anuga is the most important food fair in the world. It is held in Cologne. It is a unique opportunity to get up to speed with the most important developments in the food sector with a global vision, since it is an event with a broad scope.
Related content: Importaco’s Great Success at Colonia’s Anuga Fair
- IFE The International Food & Drink Event
Leading event in the United Kingdom for food and a reference for the beverage industry trade shows. It stands out for bringing together a great number of visitors – over 300,000 attendees. Interestingly, it enjoys the participation of prospective buyers from across the globe with the decision-making capacity to close business deals.
- Fruit Logistica
This event held in Berlin has become a global platform for new ideas, trends and solutions in the produce sector: fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants, organic products, etc. With approximately 3,300 exhibitors and over 72,000 participants, it offers great opportunities to generate interesting networks with future ingredient suppliers for food brands.
- Sial Paris
Another event based in Paris that includes up to 19 sectors which range from confectionery and pastry to organic products and semi-processed products and ingredients, among many others. It is another major innovation hub where you will be able to learn about the different outlooks of the most important and influential professionals of the food industry.
You may like: We present our brands and new products at SIAL trade fair
Importaco Nuts team at Sial
- Sirha
Professional gathering of all stakeholders of the food service, catering and food sectors. It is held in Lyon, and stands out due to its innovative and fun format. As an example, the 2021 edition saw a number of tasting and pastry competitions, among many other activities.
- Fi Europe
An international platform that has the goal of connecting professionals of the agri-food sector with the highest number of event, specialised publication, conference and high-value content offerings, with the purpose of staying up-to-date with the latest food industry trends and learning about the latest studies and discoveries regarding the most important issues of the industry.
- Natexpo
International fair based in Lyon for organic products and bio-trends – which was undoubtedly the fastest-growing food sector during the last few years, with an increasingly positive image.
- Food Expo
Food and beverage trade show that is considered to be among the most important of southern Europe. It currently has an onsite presence of 1,350 exhibitors, over 2,500 professionals and approximately 700 preselected key buyers.
- PLMA or World of Private Label International Trade Show
An event with 40 years of history and held in Amsterdam, in its European version. It is aimed at the distribution sector and is the benchmark private label trade show, bringing together retailers and manufacturers from all over the world every year.
- Salon Du Chocolate
Leading Paris event for the international chocolate industry. This event features the latest product launches across a myriad of categories of the chocolate sector: bars, confectionery, pastry and ice creams, among others. It also features the latest techniques, recipes and the best master classes imparted by key professionals of the bakery and chocolate sectors.
- Sigep
International trade show specifically focused on the artisanal ice cream, patisserie, bakery and coffee sectors. It is held in Rimini (Italy) and particularly stands out due to its buyer’s program, reserved for professionals with high decision-making power in relation to purchases.
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- Free From Functional Food Expo
Event that is directly related with one of the greatest trends in food: functional food – which refers to the one that has a potentially beneficial effect on health beyond essential nutrition.
Barcelona, Amsterdam, Bangkok and Sao Paulo act as alternate hosts of this event, which sees the participation of major international suppliers and a great number of exhibitors, which cover a wide spectrum of functional and healthy foods, such as nutritional supplements, sports nutrition, probiotics, food and beverage for people with food intolerance, dietary solutions, allergen-free food, lactose-free food, vegan food, sugar-free food and many others.
- Plant Based World Conference and Expo
Hosted in London, it is the only 100% plant-based event for food professionals: wholesalers, retailers, food services, hospitality professionals, distributors, manufacturers and investors.
The perfect gathering to build relationships with the most successful professionals of a sector that is clearly in a growing phase: vegetarian and vegan food.
- Snackex
Fair specialised in snacks. With over 180 exhibitors from leading companies of the sector from around the world, it offers the possibility of staying up-to-date with the latest developments of this industry and future trends in the development of these products.
- ISM
When speaking of this event, we are referring to a world-class leading food industry trade show for the confectionery and snacks sector. It is held every year in Cologne (Germany) and is known for being highly focused toward a professional audience, which is the only one authorised to attend its various panels and activities.
- Prosweets
ProSweets Cologne addresses the international suppliers and decision-makers of the snacks and sweets industry. It offer the suppliers of raw materials and ingredients, packaging, machines and plants for snacks and sweets. Whether low-calorie ingredients for chocolate products, resource-saving packaging for crisps or intelligent cooling and air-conditioning technology for ice cream – the entire spectrum of the industry is revealed at the supplier trade fair.
- PLMA
A trade show that is held both in Amsterdam and Chicago and connects retailers with manufacturers seeking to develop new private label products.
Keep reading: Importaco Terra: towards a more sustainable and efficient almond cultivation
- Alimentaria
One of the most important food and beverage trade shows in southern Europe. It is held in Barcelona and offers separate halls for different sectors such as vegetables, meat, dairy products, canned foods, restaurants… Its objective is to inform about the latest technologies of the food sector and foster their worldwide adoption.
- Intersicop
The meeting point for the entire guild of bakery, pastry, ice cream, coffee and equipment professionals. Held in Spain, this fair offers the latest trends that are impacting or will impact these sectors worldwide.
- Salon Gourmets
Held in Spain. Salón Gourmets is the No. 1 Food and Beverage Fair of quality in Europe and one of the most prestigious references in the world, presents the best showcase of high-end trends. With more than 3 decades of experience, growing numbers and a purely commercial spirit, it is the most visited platform and a meeting point for national and international professionals from the gastronomic sector: restaurants, hotels, distribution, catering and specialized trade.
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HIP
HIP – Horeca Professional Expo is the largest meeting of innovation in the hospitality sector. For 3 days a year, entrepreneurs and professionals in the hospitality industry can discover the main lines of innovation in the sector.
- Hispack
- Autentica Food Fest
Autentica Premium Food Fest is a creative space for professionals in the retail and mass distribution sector. The event brings together brilliant minds from the gastronomy and food industry, and professionals from other disciplines in the world of health, sports, science, technology, arts, philosophy, politics, music, architecture, communication and nutrition, among others.
- Iberhoreca Forum
This event brings together every year the purchasing managers of the main hotel chains, catering groups and facility services operators in Spain, as well as manufacturers, distributors and suppliers. It is a forum with a very characteristic format, as buyers and suppliers meet in scheduled face-to-face meetings.
Bonus
Gulfood
INC Congress
An event that changes location every year and that is considered to be the world’s greatest nuts & dried fruits event.
Importaco Group and Itac Professional, its B2B brand, have actively participated in some of these international food trade shows and congresses, always with the purpose of sharing our know-how on nuts and bringing this product closer to manufacturers interested in innovating with a healthy product linked to many of the new food trends. If you are interested in nuts and are looking for a specialised supplier, please do not hesitate to contact us.
DISCOVER THE LATEST INNOVATIONS WITH ALMONDS AND PEANUTS IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS
