Selling goods and services is the bread and butter of any industry, and when it comes to food sales, this applies both figuratively and literally. To increase sales, your food company needs to grow. One of the best ways to do that is to attend food expos, trade shows, and conferences.

Food conferences and trade shows offer opportunities that are undeniably valuable:

• Learn through presentations by industry experts.
• Participate in roundtable discussions about industry advances and challenges
• See what colleagues and competitors are doing via their exhibits.
• Engage in networking
• Keep your finger on the pulse of a changing consumer marketplace, current laws and standards, environmental concerns, and more.

Looking for a unique opportunity to grow your bottom line and rub elbows with the who’s who of the food industry? There are several notable food trade shows you’ll want to add to your calendar, so you can remain informed and increase your brand’s visibility among customers and peers.

Here are six of the most prominent:

1. The Global Produce & Floral Show

Each year the International Fresh Produce Association (PMA) hosts Fresh Connections events across the globe. Their aim is to help members establish new connections, increase business opportunities, and boost sales.  The biggest event on the organization’s annual calendar is the Global Produce & Floral Show. In 2023 it’s happening from October 19 to 21 in Anaheim, California.

Innovative and wide-ranging products for the fresh produce and floral supply chain dominate this annual convention. Attendees get plenty of downtime to view exhibits, socialize, and build relationships with suppliers. These meet-and-greets have a real-world impact on professionals that attend, providing opportunities to form and solidify supply chain relationships.

They can look forward to face-to-face time with:

• Suppliers
• Buyers
• Growers/Shippers
• Logistical Solutions Providers
• Directors
• VPs
• Decision-makers
• And more

Workshops and general sessions explore a variety of topics, so everyone can learn, whether their focus is on food safety, marketing, technology, or another aspect of the produce or floral industries.

LEARN MORE: https://www.freshproduce.com/events/the-global-produce-and-floral-show/

2. The Foodservice Conference

This International Fresh Produce Association event focuses on the foodservice industry. It typically attracts over 1,800 attendees from all over the foodservice produce supply chain. This “networking feast” was revamped in 2018, and since then has become more popular than ever. It’s attended by both regular exhibitors and first-timers, and there’s a dedicated pavilion for new exhibitors.

The next Foodservice Conference will be July 27 to 28, 2023 at the Monterey Conference Center and Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey, California.

What can you expect when you attend this food conference? More than 75% of attendees are people involved in purchasing decisions, including:

• Brokers
• Distributors
• End-use operators
• Retailers
• Wholesalers

The Foodservice Conference & Expo is all about bringing more fresh, delicious produce to the public and developing new flavors and other innovations. Each year the event includes a Fresh Ideas Showcase, where participants get the chance to show off new products.

This small niche event can be huge for exhibitors. Over 75% of attendees are directly involved in the buying process, and nearly 90% attend this food conference to learn about new ideas and solutions. For exhibitors, that means better—and more—leads!

LEARN MORE: https://www.pma.com/events/foodservice

3. Natural Products Expo West®

Start planning for Natural Products Expo West, March 7 to 11, 2023 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. It is not to be missed! Held annually, this expo is considered one of the leading events for those in the natural, organic, and healthy products industries.

Natural Products Expo West cultivates a charged atmosphere that attracts tens of thousands of industry professionals and several thousand exhibitors. They include:

• Retailers
• Suppliers
• Distributors
• Business consultants
• Health practitioners
• And more

There’s always a lot happening, both on and off the exhibit floor. One of the highlights of Natural Products Expo West is the Pitch-Slam competition, where companies pitch to experts and investors for big prizes, like a free booth at the next Expo West!

Natural Products Expo West returned to form in 2022 as a hybrid event and attracted over 57,000 attendees and more than 2,700 exhibitors at the live venue. The virtual portion of this food trade show had 25,000 visitors, with nearly 30,000 virtual booth visits. Whether you exhibit live or virtually—or both—you have the opportunity to attract plenty of traffic!

LEARN MORE: https://www.expowest.com/en/home.html

East Coasters Note: There’s also an East Coast event: Natural Products Expo East®! The next event is September 20 to 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA. LEARN MORE: https://www.expoeast.com/en/home.html

4. SupplySide® East and West

SupplySide East and West are known for being leading ingredient and solutions trade shows in the food industry. Both food trade shows cater to buyers and suppliers from the beverage, dietary supplement, functional food, personal care, and sports nutrition industries.

SupplySide East 2023 is scheduled for April 18 and 19 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ.

In 2022 this food trade show featured 223 exhibiting companies and over 2,500 attendees from 31 countries. Around 29% of attendees were C-level executives, and a further 44% were managers, supervisors, and directors. Nearly half of attendees were first-timers, meaning exhibitors have the chance to forge many new business relationships, both national and global. Because of the limited availability for trade show booths, exhibitors should book their spaces early.

SupplySide West & Food ingredients North America ran from October 31 to November 4, 2022 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV. This event is much larger than its eastern counterpart, with over 11,000 attendees from 55 countries at the 2021 event.

With over 60 sessions of educational food conference programming, there’s a lot to cram into two days. Attendees look forward to:

• Science and strategy workshops and education sessions
• The Supplier Presentation Theatre and the New Products Zone, two ways to learn about the latest ingredients and product offering in the food industry
• The SupplySide Stage, an interactive forum for deep dives into food industry topics
• Co-located with Food ingredients North America, a food trade show serving natural, organic, and functional food and beverage markets
• A free tasting bar

LEARN MORE ABOUT EAST: https://east.supplysideshow.com/en/home.html

LEARN MORE ABOUT WEST: https://west.supplysideshow.com/en/home.html

5. The Fancy Food Shows

Presented by the Specialty Food Association®, the Fancy Food Shows are touted as the largest specialty food trade shows in North America. You can take advantage of them twice a year: once in the summer, typically in New York City, and once in the winter, often in Las Vegas or San Francisco.

• The next Winter Fancy Food Show runs from January 15 to 17, 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• The next Summer Fancy Food Show runs from June 25 to 27, 2023 at the Javits Center in New York City.

These food trade shows each attract thousands of exhibitors and attendees annually. Each Fancy Food industry event features thousands of products, plus the latest information on specialty food innovations and products and consumer trends. As an exhibitor, you’ll meet new buyers and strengthen existing relationships, boost your brand’s visibility, network with your peers, and learn from industry innovators.

LEARN MORE: https://www.specialtyfood.com/shows-events/

6. SNAXPO/SNX

As the flagship event of SNAC International, SNAXPO is billed as the “World’s Premier Event for the Snack Food Industry.” It’s unique among food conferences, with its focus on snack foods and on every element of the manufacturing process, from innovation to production to distribution. Along with the food expo, SNAXPO offers education sessions and networking opportunities. It brings together hundreds of industry professionals and exhibitors from all over the world, catering to:

• Buyers
• Suppliers
• Producers
• Innovators

And it provides solutions for:

• Technology
• Machinery
• Processing
• Packaging
• And more

The next SNAXPO food trade show is scheduled for March 19 to 21, 2023 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

SNAXPO is no longer the only SNAC International event, as the organization launched SNX, a new education and networking-focused event, in 2022. Going forward, SNAXPO will be held in rotation with SNX, with SNAXPO going ahead in 2023 and SNX returning in 2024. Both events focus on the snack foods industry, and both feature exciting opportunities for food trade show exhibitors.

LEARN MORE: http://www.snaxpo.com/

7. The Sweets & Snacks Expo

Hosted by the National Confectioners Association, The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a big event for the world’s leading candymakers and snack foods manufacturers. Exhibitors include both well-established brands and new innovators, with classic, gourmet, and organic sweets and snacks all represented.

This food trade show includes a featured products showcase, a special zone for startups, and an awards ceremony celebrating new innovations and achievements. There’s also a supplier showcase featuring global suppliers of ingredients, packaging, machinery, and more.

For exhibitors, this event means the chance to meet with focused buyers from a huge range of retailers, wholesalers, and distributors in the sweets and snacks industry. Make new connections, strengthen existing relationships, showcase your products, and discover the latest industry innovations, all under one roof.

Attendees are:

• Decision-makers: 53% are owners, presidents, and VPs, while 27% are directors and managers.
• Buyers: 30% of attendees are in job roles related directly to purchasing. Twenty-nine percent of buyers are purchasing for chains of 250+ stores.
• Wholesalers: 26% of attendees are in wholesale and distribution job roles.

The next Sweets & Snacks Expo is scheduled for May 23 to 25, 2023 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

LEARN MORE: https://sweetsandsnacks.com/

Elevate Your Presence at Food Trade Shows

If you plan to exhibit at any or all of these food expos, you need to stand out to attract the attention of thousands of interested (hungry) attendees. A custom exhibit created to match your brand and your purpose is the answer. Think sleek, functional counters for demonstrations; displays for delicious samples; a kitchen for food prep.

Get registered for these upcoming food trade show giants, then partner with an expert firm to craft the custom trade show exhibit or custom exhibit rental that will make your competitors’ mouths water.