Whether you live in the Midwest or the East Coast, specialize in dairy, desserts, or drinks, you can find a food industry event that’s right for you. We’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest food industry conferences and events in the United States so you can choose the best fit to move your food business forward.
If you’re into food innovation:
Food Ingredients North America and SupplySide West
- Website: https://www.figlobal.com/northamerica
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Date: October 29-30, 2020
- Categories: Innovation, Natural, Organic, B2B
These two conferences, happening in conjunction, work to connect food and beverage manufacturers with ingredient suppliers. The first-ever joint event took place October 17-18, 2019 in Las Vegas. SupplySide West is a great fit for food and beverage manufacturers interested in the latest and most innovative trends in food ingredients. Many of the exhibitors work with sports nutrition, personal care, dietary supplements, and more. If your food is in a health or personal-care niche, you could use your visit to these two conferences to get connected with the right suppliers and buyers.
Digital Food & Beverage
- Website: https://foodandbeverage.wbresearch.com/
- Location: Austin, TX
- Date: July 20-22, 2020
- Categories: Innovation, eCommerce, Marketing, B2B
Whether you’re a startup looking to network with like-minded companies, or make connections with bigger brands, you’ll find opportunity at Digital Food & Beverage. The conference is designed to be interactive, and the website encourages attendees to share advice and takeaways with one another.
Process Expo
- Website: https://www.myprocessexpo.com/
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Date: October 12-15, 2021
- Categories: Equipment, B2B, Technology, Packaging
Process Expo is a food equipment and technology show. It’s not so much for connecting with buyers, but you could find out-of-the-box packaging for your products (pun fully intended).
If your food business falls under a specialty:
Latino Food and Beverage Show
- Website: https://www.latinofoodshow.com/
- Location: New Jersey
- Date: September 25-29, 2019 (2020 date not announced yet)
- Categories: B2B, International
The Latino Food and Beverage Show brings the world of Latino cuisine all under one roof. Attendees could use it as their chance to connect with international producers, or find new opportunities closer to home.
Kosherfest
- Website: https://www.kosherfest.com/
- Location: Secaucus, New Jersey
- Date: November 10-11, 2020
- Categories: B2B, Kosher
Kosherfest is another global event hosted in the United States, and this one is for kosher manufacturers and distributors. The event brings in about 6,000 attendees and 325 exhibitors each year.
Sweets and Snacks Expo
- Website: https://sweetsandsnacks.com/
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Date: May 19-21, 2020
- Categories: Sweets, Snacks, B2B
This is the perfect convention for those products that best accompany special occasions and Netflix weekends. One of the sweetest events on our list, the Sweets and Snacks Expo welcomes over 15,000 attendees and 800 exhibitors each year.
International Dairy – Deli – Bakery Association Seminar and Expo
- Website: https://www.iddba.org/iddba-show/about/overview
- Location: Indianapolis
- Date: May 31 – June 2, 2020
- Categories: Dairy, Deli, Bakery, B2B
The Dairy – Deli – Bake Seminar and Expo is a traveling event, taking place in Indianapolis in 2020. With over 2,000 booths, there is plenty to see for any producer in each of these specialties.
World Dairy Expo
Website: https://worlddairyexpo.com/
Location: Madison, WI
Date: September 29 – October 3, 2020
Categories: Dairy, B2B, Equipment
This expo is all about the technology, equipment, and services that are a part of the dairy industry. Enjoy a trade show, cattle show, and education, all in the same event! You should be moo-ving on over to buy a ticket!
Seafood Expo North America
- Website: https://www.seafoodexpo.com/north-america/
- Location: Boston
- Date: March 15-17, 2020
- Categories: Seafood, B2B
Touted as “North America’s largest seafood trade exhibition,” this is an event you don’t want to miss if your food business involves anything that swims in lakes, rivers, or oceans.
The World Tea Expo
- Website: https://www.worldteaexpo.com/en/home.html
- Location: Denver, CO
- Date: June 8-11, 2020
- Category: Beverage, B2B
If you’re in the business of tea, you don’t want to “leaf” this expo off your list. As the largest tea industry trade show in North America, the World Tea Expo can help connect you with other business owners, innovators, and other industry contacts.
If organic, natural, and healthy are second-nature to your food business:
Natural Products Expo (East and West)
- Expo East:
- Website: https://www.expoeast.com/en/home.html
- Location: Philadelphia
- Date: September 23-26, 2020
- Category: B2B, Natural, Organic
- Expo West:
- Website: https://www.expowest.com/en/home.html
- Location: Anaheim, CA
- Date: March 3-7, 2020
- Category: B2B, Natural, Organic
Whether you choose East or West, the Natural Products Expo is your chance to connect with business owners and industry contacts who have similar priorities to yours. You can also hear about the latest in organic food, regenerative agriculture, and more.
Fancy Food Show
- Summer:
- Website: https://www.specialtyfood.com/shows-events/summer-fancy-food-show/
- Location: New York City
- Date: June 28-30, 2020
- Category: Natural, Organic, B2B
- Winter:
- Website: https://www.specialtyfood.com/shows-events/winter-fancy-food-show/
- Location: San Francisco
- Date: January 19-21, 2020
- Category: Natural, Organic, B2B
While natural and organic foods aren’t the only types that appear at the fancy food show, they do have a big footprint at the event. Network with them and all 2,400 exhibitors who come to the show every year.
Sustainable Foods Summit
- Website: https://www.sustainablefoodssummit.com/northamerica/
- Location: San Francisco
- Date: January 22-23, 2020
- Category: Natural, Organic, B2B
The goal of the Sustainable Foods Summit is to move the food industry “towards a circular economy.” Get in the circle by registering for this summit, and you’ll learn how to build a more sustainable food business, from production to packaging.
If you want to also connect with customers
Coffee Fest
Website: https://www.la-coffeefestival.com/
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Date: February 5-7, 2021
Category: Coffee, Beverages, B2C, B2B
Get excited, caffeine fiends! There is a festival just for people in the coffee industry to connect with connoisseurs, suppliers, or other bean counters (no, not that kind), and make key connections over cups of joe.
Other great food industry conferences and events to check out
Americas Food & Beverage Show
- Website: https://www.americasfoodandbeverage.com/
- Location: Miami Beach, FL
- Date: November 2-3, 2020
- Category: B2B
This conference includes all food business contacts and exhibitors from the Americas, bringing in about 11,000 visitors and 450 exhibitors each year. The event is only for buyers, so it can be another great, focused opportunity to grow your food business.
American Food Fair
Website: https://www.nasda.org/trade-shows/2020-american-food-fair
Location: Chicago, IL
Date: May 16-19, 2020
Category: B2B, Hospitality
The American Food Fair is led by NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture), and has a hospitality and restaurant focus. However, there are still opportunities at the trade show for food and beverage businesses of all types.
Other food conferences to consider checking out:
American Food Innovate Summit
https://www.americanfoodinnovate.com/
Beverage Digest Future Smarts
https://www.beverage-digest.com/FS2020
The Beverage Forum
https://www.bevindustry.com/beverage-forum
BevNet LIVE
https://www.bevnet.com/events/bevnetlive
Chicago Indie Spirits Expo
http://www.indiespiritsexpo.com/
Consumer Discovery Show
https://www.consumerdiscoveryshow.com/
Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo
https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/food-automation-conference
Food Safety Summit
https://www.foodsafetystrategies.com/food-safety-summit
Food Shippers of America’s Annual Logistics Conference
https://www.foodshippersofamerica.org/
Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo
https://eatrightfnce.org/
Food Marketing Institute’s Annual Business Conference (ABC)
https://www.fmi.org/events-education/conferences
Global Food & Beverage Expo
https://gfba.vegas/
Grand Rapids International Wine Beer and Food Festival
https://showspan.com/GRW/
Great Food Expo
https://greatfoodexpo.com/
Groceryshop
https://groceryshop.com/
Gulfood
https://www.gulfood.com/
International Production & Processing Expo
https://www.ippexpo.org/
IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference
https://www.ifdaonline.org/events/distribution-solutions-conference
International Baking Industry Exposition
https://www.ibie2019.com/
Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo
https://www.iftevent.org/
International Production & Processing Expo
https://www.ippexpo.org/
The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York
https://www.internationalrestaurantny.com/
International Pizza Expo
https://www.pizzaexpo.com/
Midwest Foodservice Expo
https://www.wirestaurant.org/expo
Mid-America Restaurant Expo
http://www.midamericarestaurantexpo.com/
NACS Show
https://www.nacsshow.com/
The NAFEM Show
https://www.thenafemshow.org/
National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention – NFRA
https://nfraweb.org/
National Restaurant Association Show
https://www.nationalrestaurantshow.com/
NAMA Show
https://www.namanow.org/events/thenamashow/
Northwest Food & Beverage World
http://www.foodandbeverageworld.org/events/northwest-food-beverage-world/event-summary-150ec3999a2c4334bf10d7a082b0b841.aspx
NOSH Live – Summer/Winter
https://www.nosh.com/events/
Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association Convention and Trade Show
https://www.ptnpa.org/
PLMA’s Private Label Trade Show
https://plma.com/showinfo/showinfo2019.html
PMA Fresh Summit Convention & Expo
https://www.pma.com/events/freshsummit
ProFood Tech
https://www.profoodtech.com/
Refrigerated Foods Association Exhibition & Conference
https://www.refrigeratedfoods.org/rfa-conference
Specialty Food Business Summit
https://www.specialtyfood.com/shows-events/more-events/business-summit/
SNAXPO
http://www.snaxpo.com/
SmartFood Expo
https://10times.com/smart-food-expo
United Fresh Convention
https://www.unitedfresh.org/united-fresh-convention/
Western Candy Conference
https://westerncandyconference.org/