The year 2024 is shaping up to be a busy one in terms of retail trade shows and events, with retailers and FMCG executives aware of the importance of forging the right connections and meeting the right people.
With that in mind, ESM looks ahead to the must-attend retail and food industry trade fairs taking place in 2024, in chronological order.
ISM
28-31 January 2024, Cologne, Germany
At ISM, key confectionery and snack exporters from around the world come together to explore the latest developments and discover new business opportunities.
The event, held in conjunction with ProSweets Cologne, the international supplier trade fair for the sweet and snack industry, will take place at Koelnmesse from 28 to 31 January.
For more information, visit www.ism-cologne.com.
Fruit Logistica
7-9 February 2024, Berlin, Germany
Fruit Logistica is a trade fair for the fresh-produce industry and offers direct access to the global market.
Taking place in Messe Berlin, the three-day event offers a complete range of products, services and technical solutions from every part of the value chain – whether in seeds, fruit and vegetable development, or packaging and automation. The fair covers the entire spectrum of the value chain, from the producer to the consumer.
At Fruit Logistica 2023, more than 2,600 exhibitors from 92 countries displayed their products, services and technical solutions. Some 63,500 buyers and trade visitors from 140 countries took part in the event.
For more information, visit www.fruitlogistica.com.
EuroCIS
27-29 February 2024, Düsseldorf, Germany
One of the world’s leading trade fairs for retail technology, EuroCIS returns to Messe Düsseldorf from 27 to 29 February, bearing the motto ‘Go Beyond Today’ – representative of the future-focused nature of the event.
Over three days, attendees from sectors including retail and wholesale, financial services and banking, hospitality, foodservice and institutional catering, as well as the leisure industry, will explore solutions in areas such as merchandise and supply chain management, POS software and hardware, HR, robotics, security and loss prevention, cash management, and pricing.
Three presentation stages, dedicated to technology, connected retail and start-ups, will also provide a wealth of insights, as will the fourth edition of the popular Start-Up Hub, which gives attendees the opportunity to forge business contacts with up-and-coming firms.
For more information, visit www.eurocis-tradefair.com.
Food Expo Greece
9-11 March 2024, Athens, Greece
Food Expo Greece aims to represent the food-and-beverage industry on an international level, as well as showcasing the best that Greece has to offer.
Taking place at Athens’ Metropolitan Expo, some 1,300 leaders from both the Greek and global food and beverage industries will showcase their products to thousands of food traders, creating one of the most reliable marketplaces for the food-and-beverage sector in the region of South-Eastern Europe.
Last year, 31,369 visitors, 900 hosted buyers, 1,050 leading exhibitors from Greece and 250 international exhibitors attended the event.
For more information, visit www.foodexpo.gr.
Alimentaria
18-21 March 2024, Barcelona, Spain
Taking place across seven halls of Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via venue, Alimentaria is the largest food trade fair in Spain, with some 3,200 exhibiting companies and 100,000 professional visitors expected to attend. This year’s event is expected to see a 15% increase in the number of international companies taking part, with a ‘considerable’ increase in Asian companies, from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan.
Alimentaria, which is held alongside Hostelco, the leading Spanish event for the HoReCa channel, is hosting a comprehensive buyer invitation programme, which is expected to attract more than 2,200 high-level importers, distributors, directors and purchasing managers, of which more than half will hail from outside Spain.
For more information, visit www.alimentaria.com.
Natural & Organic Products Europe
14-15 April 2024, London, UK
Taking place in April at ExCel London, Natural & Organic Products Europe is the must-attend trade fair for the natural-product, health food and organic industries.
The show is split across different sectors – at the Natural Food Expo, attendees can experience the latest product developments from natural and organic food and drink brands, while the Natural Beauty Expo showcases natural and organic beauty products. Elsewhere, Natural Health & Eco Living brings together products made with respect for the natural environment.
For more information, visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk.
Cibus
7-10 May 2024, Parma, Italy
Described as the ‘leading event for the Made in Italy agri-food sector’, Cibus’s 2024 edition is set to take place at Fiere di Parma from 7 to 10 May, after a 2023 edition that welcomed 20,000 visitors and 1,500 buyers from 90 different countries.
Cibus encompasses all aspects of the agri-food sector and is open to attendees from the retail, HoReCa, foodservice, wholesale and related sectors. Exhibitors hail from the broad spectrum of the Italian agri-food industry, from local niche producers to established national brands.
For more information, visit www.cibus.it.
The Sweets & Snacks Expo
14-16 May 2024, Indiana, USA
Taking place at the Indiana Convention Center, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Sweets & Snacks Expo brings together leading confectionery and snack manufacturers from around the world, from global players to up-and-coming innovators.
Nearly 18,000 people registered for the 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo, with more than 800 exhibitors in attendance. The Sweets & Snacks Expo brings together confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers, brokers and suppliers, to showcase the latest product innovations, merchandising ideas and supply-side solutions.
For more information, visit sweetsandsnacks.com.
PLMA ‘World of Private Label’
28-29 May 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
For more than 35 years, PLMA’s annual ‘World of Private Label’ trade show has showcased the latest innovations in store brands from around the world and developed into a must-attend event for retailers and suppliers alike.
Last year’s event welcomed a record number of more than 16,000 trade visitors from 120 countries worldwide. Around 2,650 exhibiting companies from 72 countries presented thousands of food and non-food products at the show.
This year, PLMA ‘World of Private Label’ will take place on 28 and 29 May at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.
For more information, visit www.plmainternational.com.
Shoptalk Europe
3-5 June 2024, Barcelona, Spain
Shoptalk Europe, which takes place from 3 to 5 June at Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via, promises to ‘transform Europe’s retail ecosystem’, blending a trade show, a conference programme featuring more than 175 speakers, and a comprehensive matchmaking service.
Shoptalk Europe serves as a comprehensive platform for engaging with senior retail, brand, tech and investor decision-makers in Europe who are leading digital innovations in both physical stores and online spaces. With over 4,000 participants set to be in attendance – of whom one third hold C-suite positions – hailing from more than 70 countries, it’s positioned to offer everything that you need to future-proof your business.
For more information, visit www.shoptalkeurope.com.
Organic Food Iberia and Eco Living Iberia
4-5 June 2024, Madrid, Spain
The largest organic trade event on the Iberian peninsula, Organic Food Iberia is an essential event for trade buyers, retailers and foodservice professionals looking to source the best organic food and drink products.
Taking place in June in IFEMA Madrid, over 400 producers from the Americas, Europe, and the rest of the world are expected to attend. Organic Food Iberia is co-located with Eco Living Iberia, the only dedicated Iberian trade show for natural and sustainable products.
For more information, visit www.organicfoodiberia.com.
IDDBA 2024
9-11 June 2024, Texas, USA
Organised by the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, IDDBA is one of the largest trade shows dedicated to the dairy, deli, bakery and foodservice industries.
It will take place from 9 to 11 June at the George R. Brown Convention Center, in Houston, Texas. IDDBA members include more than 1,500 companies, ranging from small independents to the world’s largest corporations.
For more information, visit www.iddba.org.
Fruit Attraction
8-10 October 2024, Madrid, Spain
Organised by IFEMA Madrid and FEPEX, Fruit Attraction 2024 will be held from 8 to 10 October at IFEMA Feria de Madrid, in the Spanish capital. The event is a point of reference for those involved in the fruit-and-vegetable sector, showcasing the latest products and varieties from across the world of fresh produce.
The 15th anniversary of Fruit Attraction came to a close in 2023, with the best participation figures in the history of the trade fair. In total, 103,868 professionals from 145 countries attended the event.
Additional extras at this year’s event will include the Innovation Hub, which acknowledges innovation in the fruit-and-vegetable segment, as well as a variety of on-site conferences.
For more information, visit www.ifema.es/en/fruit-attraction.
VertiFarm
8-10 October 2024, Dortmund, Germany
VertiFarm, which focuses on next-level farming and new food systems, held its first edition at Messe Dortmund in September 2022.
Last year, VertiFarm welcomed around 100 exhibitors from 17 countries, showcasing solutions to global challenges such as crop failures, food supplements, security of supply, and urban sustainability.
As with the 2023 edition, VertiFarm 2024 is expected to be complemented by a supporting programme of keynote talks and panel discussions, with the event taking place at Messe Dortmund from 8 to 10 October.
For more information, visit www.vertifarm.de.
Nordic Organic Food Fair and Eco Living Scandinavia
9-10 October 2024, Stockholm, Sweden
Scandinavia’s biggest natural and organic trade event, the Nordic Organic Food Fair is aimed at trade buyers looking to source the latest innovations in certified organic food and drink. The trade fair has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with its most recent edition welcoming 500 exhibitors.
The Nordic Organic Food Fair is co-located with Eco Living Scandinavia, the largest sustainable B2B event in the Nordic countries, specialising in the healthy-living, nutrition, natural-beauty and self-care sectors.
The fair will take place from 9 to 10 October this year, at Kistamässan, in Stockholm, Sweden.
For more information, visit www.nordicorganicexpo.com.
SIAL Paris
19-23 October 2024, Paris, France
SIAL Paris, the international food trade show, will be held from 19 to 23 October, at Paris Nord Villepinte, France.
For 60 years, SIAL Paris has been welcoming a melting pot of industry players to the French capital to share their savoir faire and create the recipes of the future.
The first edition was held during International Food Week in 1964, bringing together experts and enthusiasts from 26 countries. Today, the biennial trade show attracts exhibitors and visitors from over 200 countries and is a flagship event in the worldwide food calendar.
For more information, visit www.sialparis.com.
Free From Food & Health Ingredients Expo
5-6 November 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The leading trade show at which to discover the latest trends in free-from, plant-based, vegan, healthy and organic products, the Free From Food & Health Ingredients Expo will take place at the RAI Amsterdam from 5 to 6 November.
The Free From Food Expo celebrated its triumphant return to Amsterdam in December 2023, marking the event’s eleventh edition.
Key players from major retailers such as Albert Heijn, Lidl, Jumbo, COOP, Aldi, Spar, Carrefour, DekaMarkt and others explored the latest product innovations and future trends shaping the industry, with over 4,150 visitors from 58 countries in attendance at the most recent event.
For more information, visit amsterdam.freefromfoodexpo.com.
Plant Based World Expo Europe
15-16 November 2024, London, UK
Plant Based World Expo Europe is set to take place at ExCel London from 15 to 16 November 2024.
The biggest 100% plant-based trade event in Europe, the event is designed exclusively for foodservice professionals, retailers, distributors, buyers, wholesalers and investors.
In recent years, senior decision-makers from the likes of Tesco, M&S, Aldi, Morrisons, Waitrose and Sodexo were among the high-profile attendees.
For more information, visit www.plantbasedworldeurope.com.
Keep up to date with the latest must-attend trade shows and events over the course of the year via the ESM website.
