Speciality Food March 2026

12 @specialityfood THE UK FOOD & DRINK SHOWS FOUR FANTASTIC SHOWS IN ONE LOCATION FARM SHOP & DELI SHOW This show offers the best-quality local and regional produce alongside exciting new product development and the latest in equipment, labelling and packaging solutions. 2026 exhibitors include: ● Cook ● Cottage Delight ● Cress Co ● Diverse Fine Foods ● Glebe Farm Foods ● Mahalo ● Oatly ● Spraga FOOD & DRINK EXPO This 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. 2026 exhibitors include: ● Belvoir Farm Drinks ● Borough Broth ● Filippo Berio ● Hello Fresh ● Mai Chai ● Meadowvale Foods ● St Michel Biscuits ● United Food Brands NATIONAL CONVENIENCE SHOW The biggest event for the convenience retailing sector, this 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. 2026 exhibitors include: ● Booker ● Coca-Cola Europacific Partners ● General Mills ● Imperial Brands ● Kellanova ● MFG ● One Stop ● Spar The benefit that’s really happened from attending the FarmShop&Deli Show is effectively justmeeting people and building relationships. For us, it’s all about getting the right brands into our stores. And the only place that you can really find them is trade shows like this ALEX EMMANUEL-JONES, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, THE BLACK FARMER T o see and sample the very best of British food and drink – from artisan producers to the largest global brands – chart a course for The UK Food & Drink Shows. Taking place fromMonday 13th to Wednesday 15th April, the event comprises four shows that each target a sector of the food and drink industry: Farm Shop & Deli Show, Food & Drink Expo, National Convenience Show and Forecourt Show. The venue for the shows is the NEC Birmingham, which is connected to BirminghamAirport by a free air-rail link that takes just minutes. The NEC is also served by motorway links from all parts of the UK and can be easily reached by rail. 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 innovation and explore services and equipment that will help their businesses flourish. As well as being a showcase for fantastic food and drink from the United Kingdom, The UK Food & Drink Shows attracts exhibitors from across the globe. Some of these will be featured in national pavilions including Colorado, Lithuania, Northern Ireland and Wales. The event will also feature many exhibitors that can help retailers tap the evolving and burgeoning demand for health and wellbeing products, including CLF, Dundeis UK, Infinity Foods Wholesale and Suma Wholefoods. As ever, 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. 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 themwhat makes this industry so vibrant and innovative,” said Dan Dixon, managing director of exhibitions, William Reed. “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.” To find out more and register for free tickets visit the website ukfoodanddrinks.co.uk Advice on growing your business The UK Food & Drink Shows feature a packed programme of insightful panels, expert speakers and inspiring demonstrations on the topics and The food and drink event no business can afford to miss trends driving the industry. Among these are presentations designed to help grow retail and hospitality businesses, such as: Building a team to thrive: Leading specialist retailers explore how cultivating a positive, inclusive and purpose-driven workplace can directly impact customer experience, employee retention and business performance. Generating footfall at no extra cost: Key steps retailers can take to increase footfall and revenue to their stores, with testimonials from shops that have already achieved this. The convenience shopper: Find out how shopping habits have changed over time, the outlook for the future and how you can adapt to capitalise on these trends. The biggest food trends of 2026: From GLP-1 to gut health, discover what’s driving consumer behaviour and how innovative ingredients are transforming NPD. Social media trends to watch: This presentation will dive into how Gen Z and Millennials are reshaping consumption through values-led choices and a demand for authenticity. Navigating the challenges facing UK specialist retail: Industry leaders explore the challenges impacting specialist retailers and how businesses can adapt and innovate. The future of fast food: Leaders from across the quick-serve restaurant channel discuss and dissect the opportunities and challenges on the horizon. How hospitality menus have evolved: Understand the shifting landscape of hospitality menus, with a focus on how pricing strategies and menu offerings have adapted over time. How the UK food to go market is changing: Learn how economic pressures, health-conscious trends, sustainability demands, and digital innovation are reshaping what’s available, howmuch it costs, and how it’s consumed. Hear inspiring stories The UK Food & Drink Shows brings together industry leaders to talk We exhibit here as opposed to other trade shows as it’s one of the biggest in theUK. It’s themost well-known, and footfall is in the tens of thousands CLARE JAMES, SENIOR SHOPPER