Building customer loyalty, developing an award-winning bakery business and scaling up through e-commerce are among the topics that will be explored at this year’s UK Food & Drink Shows.
Thirty thousand visitors and 1,500 exhibitors from across the grocery, hospitality, specialist retail and manufacturing sectors will come together next month to network, see the latest innovations, and gain invaluable insights.
This year’s event, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 April, comprises four shows that each target a sector of the food and drink industry:
- Food & Drink Expo provides buyers from retail, hospitality, wholesale, foodservice, and manufacturing with information and product sourcing opportunities. To reflect the growth in the UK eating out market and continued blurring of the lines in the food and drink sectors, The Restaurant Show has been integrated this year into the Food & Drink Expo.
- Farm Shop & Deli Show brings together hundreds of suppliers to showcase the best of local and speciality produce to retailers and buyers.
- National Convenience Show provides a platform for the convenience retailing sector to come together, from suppliers and wholesalers through to retailers.
- Foodex Manufacturing Solutions is the UK’s leading trade event for the food and drink processing, packaging, and logistics industries.
Competitions will again be a big part of the line-up, with judging for Britain’s Best Cake and Britain’s Best Loaf contests taking place live at the event. Entries for both competitions close at midnight tonight (17 March).
The winners of the highly respected Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards will be announced at the show, and visitors can also see – and probably sample – the winners of the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards including 13 bakery items that grabbed golds.
Once again, the UK Food & Drink Shows will feature a packed programme of expert speakers, insightful panels, and inspiring demonstrations on topics and trends that are driving the industry (see below).
The evolution and innovation of the event is one reason it was last year crowned ‘Best UK Tradeshow more than 8,000 sq m’ in the Association of Event Organisers Excellence Awards. That innovation continues this year with the introduction of a host of new themed areas:
- Future Food Zone will highlight exciting on-trend categories such as keto, kombucha, fermented foods, and CBD to reflect growing consumer demand for healthier, more sustainable options
- Coffee Zone has been launched in partnership with The London Coffee Festival and will play host to the latest innovations in the coffee industry, from top roasters, alternative milks, and the most sustainable cups
- Packaging Zone will be a one-stop shop for businesses seeking solutions to their packaging and plastic challenges, with an emphasis on sustainability
- Business Advice Hub, a dedicated area providing exhibitors and visitors to the show with access to free business advice and services.
Also new for this year will be two dedicated street food areas serving a wide selection of exciting dishes and snacks to visitors.
Making its debut at the shows is ‘Food Manufacturing: Past, present and future’, a 20-minute documentary looking at what the manufacturing industry was like 50 years ago, how it has evolved, and what the next decade may hold.
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.
To find out more and register for free tickets, visit foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk
Sessions of interest
Below is a curated selection of panels and presentations taking place across the three days that bakery operators won’t want to miss:
Monday 7 April
Claire Pointon: expanding the possibilities of delivery
12.45pm, The Grocer Stage
Claire Pointon, managing director at Just Eat, on working with retailers, grocers, independents and brands to tap into audiences they might not otherwise reach.
Food to go trends in 2025: foodservice vs retail
1.30pm, The Grocer Stage
Insight experts Lumina Intelligence identify where consumers are going for their food-to-go, what they are buying, why they are buying it, how much they are spending, how frequently they are visiting and more.
Lovingly Artisan: The key to building an award-winning store
2.15pm, Farm Shop & Deli Stage
Two-time Baker of the Year Aidan Monks on what makes Lovingly Artisan stand out from the crowd, his views on the future of the industry, and how his company is adapting to the challenges the sector is facing. Lovingly Artisan is also the reigning Farm Shop & Deli Retailer of the Year.
Loyalty in hospitality: driving frequency through communications and apps
2.30pm, Restaurant Stage
This session looks at the changing landscape of customer communications. Leading operators and experts will also discuss the rise of loyalty programmes, the impact they can have on businesses and consumers and the key to getting them right.
Trends to watch: the future of food & drink
2.30pm, Food Manufacture Stage
What will the UK food and drink market look like in 2026? How will consumer and market behaviour evolve and what impact will it have?
Britain’s Best Cake 2025
3.15pm, The Grocer Stage
The winners of this competition, which is judged by professional bakers and industry experts, will be announced in a special ceremony.
Tuesday 8 April
Cross-contamination: safeguarding your business
11.15am, Food Manufacture Stage
Hear first-hand of the experiences of FGS Ingredients, which voluntarily recalled two years’ worth of products after noticing cross-contamination. Our panel discuss the importance of ownership when it comes to taking action and the key steps businesses can take to safeguard themselves.
Mastering social media: your story is your superpower
11.45am, Restaurant Stage
In this masterclass, we’ll uncover systems, hacks, and frameworks that leverage social media psychology to build authority, engage your audience, and amplify your impact.
Win big with TikTok Shop: how to grow and scale your food & drink business
11.45am, The Grocer Stage
TikTok Shop has been establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms in the market. Hear how to launch and grow your business through this channel.
Reducing food waste: the future of frozen food
1.15pm, Food Manufacture Stage
This session will look at reducing food waste through modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), enhancing sustainability by using recyclable plastics and reduced headspace, and smart cryogenic freezing.
Breaking barriers: succeeding in food & drink as an underrepresented founder
2.45pm, The Grocer Stage
This session provides real, practical insights from underrepresented founders who have successfully launched and grown their food and drink brands.
Britain’s Best Loaf 2025
3.15pm, Farm Shop & Deli Stage
With judging taking place earlier in the day, the British Baker team comes together to announce the winners of Britain’s Best Loaf live across categories including innovation, sourdough, and gluten free.
Wednesday 9 April
The Bakewell Tart Shop: balancing heritage and growth
10.45am, Farm Shop & Deli Stage
In 2019, former senior retail leader Duncan Kirk left his high-profile career to take over The Bakewell Tart Shop, which has been the home of the famous Bakewell Tart for more than 100 years. In this interview he discusses how he has balanced heritage with growth to transform the business into a seven-figure operation.
Packaging unwrapped: trends to watch in 2025
11am, Food Manufacture Stage
From business trends to materials and legislation, join our panel of industry experts and award-winning brands as we analyse the things that need to be on your radar.
Social media trends 2025: how to stay ahead of the game
11am, The Grocer Stage
Learn where growth is happening, what audiences want and how to use AI for creating impactful, future-proof content. This session will give actionable insights to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Building a brand sustainably: from start-up to global giant
11.45am, The Grocer Stage
Perry Haydn-Taylor, founder of branding agency Big Fish, sits down with The Grocer editor-in-chief Adam Leyland to discuss the expectations brands face when starting out, the key steps to building a sustainable brand, the common mistakes brands make and much more.
Department for Business and Trade: explore opportunities across Europe
1.30pm, The Grocer Stage
Join the Department for Business and Trade and equip yourself with the knowledge necessary to navigate and thrive in this vibrant and diverse market. There will also be a panel discussion from established businesses who have successfully penetrated the European market.
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