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These Are the Definitive Food & Drinks Trade Fairs to Keep on Your Radar!

Food and drinks are a universal form of connection and communication between people even when you don’t speak the same language. It’s never been easier to reach new markets and promote your own cultural identity abroad.

We’ve selected five excellent, high-profile, large-scale trade fairs that do the tough job of sharing global food traditions and food innovations to the rest of the world.

Cibus 2024: May 7th – 10th; Parma, Italy

Cibus brings together the best flavours and food products from across Italy under one roof, solidifying its position as the top trade fair for the Italian agri-food industry. Fruits, vegetables, oils, ingredients, pasta, dairy products and seafood are meticulously curated in thematic areas, which attract major buyers looking for a comprehensive sourcing and market research destination.

Since 1985, Cibus has been held biennially at Fiere di Parma. Alongside Cibus Forum, each edition hosts a variety of conferences, round tables, seminars, and workshops to provide deeper insights into trade trends. With the recent transformation of distribution and consumer behaviour due to the pandemic, Cibus plays an even more critical role in navigating these changes.

Cibus invests in boosting sales and building bridges between exhibitors and buyers. The Buyer’s Program selects top buyers and provides them with a unique VIP experience to promote authentic Made in Italy food. Additionally, visitors are invited to participate in educational sessions and cooking shows. Guided retail tours on the show floor lead buyers to the best booths at Cibus, while scheduled tours offer visits to factories in the area to witness product manufacturing firsthand.

Picture: Cibus

SIAL China 2024: May 28th – 30th; Shanghai, China

SIAL China stands as one of the international satellite events of the original SIAL, headquartered in Paris and has rapidly evolved into one of the largest fairs for Asian food in China. National and international companies benefit from large-scale exposure to some of the biggest and most influential buyers in Chinese and Asian markets. Exhibitors enjoy increased global visibility and a suite of promotional tools that connect them to qualified sales leads at all times. SIAL China thrives on new product releases, innovations, solutions, and sophisticated gourmet experiences, making it incredibly effective for generating long-term partnerships with leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry in China. Editions are regularly attended by over 180,000 people in total.

The SIAL Global Food Industry Summit ranks among the world's best in terms of innovations, knowledge exchange, and market trends in the global F&B industry. Experts, industry leaders, and professionals share insights into various tracks, including new retail, supply chain, dairy, meat, drink, food-tech, imported food, F&B investment, and China's catering industry. The calendar at SIAL China is packed with various events, competitions, and award ceremonies that you don't want to miss.

Picture: SIAL China

HORECAVA 2025: January 13th – 16th; Amsterdam, Netherlands

HORECAVA, the international trade fair for the hotel & catering industry, offers a unique point of view on the sector as even years are branded as 'wet' years and odd years as 'dry' years. The product range at HORECAVA is truly diverse, encompassing interior design, outdoor solutions, luxury foods, coffee, corporate uniforms, fresh produce, drinks, nightlife, wines and spirits, fast service, interior decoration and hotel equipment. It’s easy to see why over 71,000 professionals travel to Amsterdam to attend.

HORECAVA keeps its fingers on the pulse of what's new and fosters the next generation of talent and business owners. Two themed areas, TrendLAB and StartupLAB, serve as dynamic and interactive spaces. TrendLAB focuses on the ever-changing landscape of eating, drinking, and sleeping outside the home. It serves as an innovation platform that brings together organisations from the food service industry to showcase current themes and co-create solutions. Through entrepreneurial stories, informative sessions, and trend tours, visitors are immersed in the latest industry developments, products, services, and solutions hitting the market.

Picture: HORECAVA

BIOFACH 2025: February 11th – 14th; Nuremberg, Germany

BIOFACH, held annually in conjunction with VIVANESS, stands as one of the most significant events for the organic foods and products industry. It has been a crucial platform for increasing brand awareness and fostering industry knowledge. With over 50,000 trade visitors attending each edition, BIOFACH broadens visitors’ understanding of organic trends and developments. The trade show encompasses a wide array of sectors, including agriculture, retail, wholesale, education, publishing, import/export, catering, packaging, health, cosmetics, beauty, sales, hotel, regulatory, dietary, distribution, environmental, veterinary, pet food, media and fitness industries.

Highlights include the BIOFACH Congress, Young Innovative Companies Pavilion, Novelty Stand, Best New Products Award competition, Bulk Food Store Showcase, and Generation Future Network Hub. Attendees can expect a diverse range of sub-events catering to specific groups. From startups exploring the Young Innovative Companies Pavilion to participants showcasing their products at the Best New Products Award competition, BIOFACH 2025 offers valuable networking, learning, and business opportunities.

Picture: BIOFACH

Gulfood Exhibition 2025: February 17th – 21st; Dubai, UAE

Gulfood Exhibition, a pinnacle event in the world of food and beverages, continues to set the stage for global market trends since its inception in 1987 in Dubai. With an impressive track record of hosting thousands of international companies and trade visitors, Gulfood Exhibition is the best possible opportunity for businesses to penetrate the MENA region.

From beverages to fine foods, fish to food additives, dairy products to fats and oils, coffee to kitchen equipment, meat and poultry to health and wellness products, Gulfood Exhibition covers every imaginable flavour and food category as presented by over 4,000 international companies. The World Foods sector, featuring national pavilions (a total of 120), offers international exhibitors an ideal platform to penetrate the local market and engage with potential buyers.

This year’s Gulfood Exhibition builds on two exciting new additions: Gulfood Zero Waste and Gulfood YouthX. Gulfood Zero Waste aims to address the pressing issue of food sustainability and waste reduction. Gulfood YouthX, in collaboration with Hilton and Dubai College of Tourism, supports the next generation of culinary talent in the Emirates, offering mentorship, scholarships, and hands-on learning opportunities with renowned chefs.

Picture: Gulfood