UK Food & Drink Shows - four events, three amazing days!

The grocery, hospitality, specialist retail and manufacturing sectors came together for three days in April to make new friends, strike new deals and see and sample all that’s new in the world of food and drink.

From Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 April, six packed halls at the NEC Birmingham became home to the UK Food & Drink Shows – the annual event that highlights and showcases this vibrant and innovative industry.

This year’s event comprised four individual shows, each dedicated to a trade sector: Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show, Food & Drink Expo and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions.

Around 1,500 exhibitors, from the world’s biggest names in fmcg and manufacturing to start-ups taking their first steps, travelled from across the globe to present their products and services. And the aisles of the halls were packed with tens of thousands of buyers and trade visitors, from small independent operators to the largest multiple retailers.

Here's what a few of them had to say about their time at the 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

“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

“What an experience it has been! A fantastic opportunity to explore the latest trends, innovative products and connect with passionate professionals from across the food and beverage industry. The energy, creativity and quality on display was truly inspiring.”
Marcin Jasinski, trade development office, Avalon Foods.

“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

“What terrific shows, just keeps getting better & better, and as always a chance to meet so many incredible GB producers and innovators!”
Paul Meikle, senior trade advisor, Department for Business and Trade

“It has a really wonderful energy, a set of people that are friendly - and it looks better than ever.”
Matt Whelan, managing director, Fieldfare

"A lot of our target customers have been here, so being able to get some actual face time with them has been really positive."
Ross Kendall, general manager, Bruegmann UK

All four shows featured packed programmes of expert speakers, insightful panels and inspiring demonstrations on the topics and trends that are driving the industry.

This year’s speakers included Just Eat managing director Claire Pointon, Morrisons' wholesale and franchise director Paul Dobson, Booths managing director Nigel Murray and Waitrose retail director Tina Mitchell.

Competitions were again a big part of the UK Food & Drink Shows line-up, and Nottingham-based Delilah Fine Foods was named Retailer of the Year in the prestigious 2025 Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards.

Judging for the Britain's Best Loaf and Britain's Best Cake contests took place live at the event. The accolade of Britain’s Best Loaf 2025 was given to a lemon & Earl Grey brioche crafted by Kuma-San Bakehouse in Matlock, while a decadent chocolate layer cake made by Abba Cakes based in the Wirral was named Britain’s Best Cake 2025.

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.

William Reed exhibitions managing director Andrew Reed, said: Once again, the UK Food & Drink Shows has demonstrated why it is the industry’s must-attend exhibition.

For three days, the aisles of the shows buzzed with excitement – and more than a little laughter - as buyers and suppliers enjoyed existing business relationships and forged new ones. And alongside the networking came the expertise and insight offered by a fantastic line-up of speakers and panellists, which is sure to have given those in the audience inspiration and plenty of food for thought.

We look forward to seeing you all again in 12 months’ time for the 2026 UK Food & Drink Shows – the planning and preparation is already under way!

To find out more about the UK Food & Drink Shows visit their website: ukfoodanddrinkshows.co.uk