The food and drink event no business can afford to miss

Businesses from across the grocery, hospitality, specialist retail and manufacturing sectors are coming together at The UK Food & Drink Shows for three days of innovation, inspiration and networking.

This year's event, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April, comprises four shows that each target a sector of the food and drink industry:

• Food & Drink Expo is the destination for discovering fresh ideas, forging connections and gaining insights into the future of food. It attracts key foodservice buyers as well as decision makers from retail and wholesale grocery operations.
• Farm Shop & Deli Show offers the best-quality local and regional produce alongside exciting new product development and the latest in equipment, labelling and packaging solutions.
• National Convenience Show is the biggest event for the convenience retailing sector and is a one-stop destination for c-store specific products, services and innovations to help boost footfall, increase basket spend and gain a competitive edge.
• Forecourt Show is the must-attend event for sourcing products, fresh ideas and smart solutions to future-proof your business, whether you are part of a symbol group, an independent forecourt, fuel company or dealer.

Around 1,200 businesses will be exhibiting across the four shows, and more than 25,000 visitors are expected to attend the event to sample the latest in food and drink innovations and explore services and equipment that will help their businesses flourish.

Once again, The UK Food & Drink Shows will feature a packed programme of insightful panels, expert speakers and inspiring demonstrations on the topics and trends that are driving the industry.

What’s new for 2026?

The event continues to evolve to reflect the UK's vibrant and fast-moving food and drink industry with new attractions for 2026 including:

• Spotlight on Coffee Shop & Café: As the food-to-go market continues to boom, this dedicated space at Farm Shop & Deli Show will highlight the latest trends and products shaping the sector.
• Spotlight on Future Foods: Part of Food & Drink Expo, this area will celebrate the brands and innovators redefining what good food means by showcasing wellness-driven, clean-label and sustainable products that deliver on taste and convenience.

One new feature that is impossible to miss is new branding for the event that has been designed to reflect the evolution of the shows and the energy and ambition of the industry. The new look retains the event’s existing colour palette but features a contemporary typeface and new background textures.

Discover pioneering products and exciting contests

Competitions are always a big part of the UK Food & Drink Shows line-up, and the 2026 event brings the debut of the Taste the Future contest. Visitors will have the chance to sample and score 40 trailblazing products, with participating brands in the running to win £5,000 worth of prizes.

Judging for the popular Britain's Best Loaf and Britain's Best Cake contests will take place live, while the winners of the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards will be announced at the show. Visitors will also be able to meet many of the people behind the winning goods in the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards.

Digital guide will provide real-time notifications

To ensure visitors make the most of their visit, an online digital event companion will offer a comprehensive event guide, interactive floorplan, seamless indoor navigation and real-time notifications.

The UK Food & Drink Shows is organised by market-leading 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.

We are excited to once again welcome exhibitors and visitors to The UK Food & Drink Shows and share with them what makes this industry so vibrant and innovative.

We appreciate that retailers and suppliers continue to face intense pressure and are confident the shows can help to equip businesses with the knowledge and inspiration to grow and flourish. At the heart of it all is the power of face-to-face interaction; the chance to have meaningful conversations, experience products first-hand and build relationships.

Dan Dixon, managing director of exhibitions, William Reed.

To find out more and register for free tickets visit The UK Food & Drink Shows website.