What’s new at the 2025 UK Food & Drink Shows?

Catering is one of the UK’s most innovative industries – and the UK Food & Drink Shows is reflecting that innovation with a host of new features.

Thirty thousand visitors and 1,500 exhibitors will come together for the event, which is taking place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 April.

The UK Food & Drink Shows comprises four shows under one roof: National Convenience Show, Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions.

Innovation is one reason the event was last year crowned ‘Best UK Tradeshow more than 8,000 sq m’ in the Association of Event Organisers Excellence Awards. That innovation continues in 2025 with new themed areas:

· Future Food Zone will offer a broad and diverse range of food and drink products from on-trend categories including keto, kombucha, fermented foods, whole foods, CBD, functional foods and more.

· Coffee Zone has been launched in partnership with The London Coffee Festival and will play host to top roasters and products such as alternative milks and sustainable cups.

· Packaging Zone will be a one-stop-shop for solutions to packaging and plastic challenges, with an emphasis on sustainable solutions.

· Business Advice Hub is 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 street food areas serving a wide selection of dishes and snacks.

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 10 years may hold.

Once again, the shows will offer a packed programme of insightful and inspiring presentations and panels on a wide range of topics. Among those that caterers won’t want to miss are:

· The female leaders shaping the future of hospitality (Monday 7 April, 11.45am)

· Food to go trends in 2025 (Monday 7 April, 1.30pm)

· Driving loyalty in hospitality (Monday 7 April, 2.30pm)

· Trends to watch in the UK eating out market (Tuesday 8 April, 12.30pm)

· Insights from the US plant-based market (Tuesday 8 April, 3.30pm)

· Hospitality menus: What’s hot and what’s not? (Wednesday 9 April, 11.45am)

To ensure visitors make the most of their time and don’t miss out on the great content, the new UK Food & Drink Shows Digital Event Companion app offers a digital show guide featuring exhibitor directory, product listings and live event schedules; an interactive map that guides visitors to exhibitors, events and amenities; and an appointment scheduler that enables visitors to book meetings in advance.

To find out more and register for free tickets visit the Food & Drink Expo website.