Tradeshow Insight: UK Food & Drink Shows 2025

The 2025 UK Food & Drink Shows (Food & Drink Expo), held from 7^th to 9^th April at Birmingham’s NEC, once again offered industry professionals across the food, drink, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing sectors valuable insights into trends and innovations shaping the UK consumer goods sector.

In a bid to cater to the evolving needs of the market, this year’s edition of the co-located Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show, Food & Drink Expo and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions featured a blend of new zones, themed areas and digital tools, all designed to enhance the visitor experience. In total, the UK Food & Drink Shows shows attracted around 1,500 exhibitors, ranging from global giants like CCEP, Carlsberg and Nestle to pioneering startups, showcasing the latest products and services in front of tens of thousands of visitors, including buyers from all corners of the industry.

Among the most notable additions for 2025 was the Future Food Zone. Building on the success of the Healthy & Natural zone from previous years, it brought a wider array of innovative, health-conscious products, including keto options, kombucha, CBD-infused foods and functional snacks. This focus on health-oriented foods was evidenced by launches such as flour tortillas with 35% vegetables, and “baked yoghurt chips” in a range of savoury flavours.

Similarly, the Coffee Zone – a first-ever collaboration with The London Coffee Festival – made its debut to address the more sophisticated coffee consumer. Exhibitors showcased top roasters, alternative milks and sustainable coffee solutions, reflecting the shift toward high-quality, ethically sourced beverages.

Another standout feature was the Packaging Zone, where the focus was on sustainable packaging innovations, connecting industry professionals with solutions providers tackling the challenges of plastic reduction and circular economy practices.

For those seeking business advice, the Business Advice Hub offered free consultations to both exhibitors and visitors, while the new Associations Lounge at Foodex served as a networking space for industry associations, including meetups hosted by the Cold Chain Federation and UKWA.

Meanwhile, The Cocktail Stage at Food & Drink Expo provided a platform for brands to showcase everything from expertly crafted cocktails to creative mocktails.

Finally, the event’s Digital Event Companion App helped visitors navigate the show more efficiently, providing features such as an interactive map, live event programs, and appointment scheduling tools.

Out on the show floor, creative flavour blends proved a fruitful source of differentiation, exemplified by miso and matcha biscuits, plum gin infused sparking wine and pink pineapple chocolate licorice. The continued expansion of novel oral nicotine, especially within the National Convenience Show, was another notable takeout, with three brands in particular diversifying into nicotine lozenges.

The next edition of UK Food & Drink Shows is scheduled for 13^th to 16^th April 2026.