Visiting The UK Food & Drink Shows 2025

The UK food and drink shows is a bright and dynamic event and is one the largest of its kind in the UK.

The event co-locates five different but intertwined shows:

• Farm Shop & Deli Show
• Food & Drink Expo
• National Convenience Show
• Foodex Manufacturing Solutions
• Restaurant Show

The three-day event takes place every April at the NEC Birmingham. It provides a platform for food and drink suppliers to showcase their products and services.

I’m currently studying Marketing Communications at university, and I’m working on my placement year with Quadrant2Design as part of my degree. In the last 9 months, I have attended many great trade fairs, but the UK Food & Drink Shows have certainly been my favourite.

This show was particularly beneficial for my Marketing & Communications degree, providing real-world learning opportunities. 

I was able to interact with a variety of companies from a range of industries, from start-ups and small businesses to well-established household names. It was great to see how brands communicated their USP and brand identity. Their passion and story came through. 

Additionally, it was great to see how experts in the industry, managers and founders handled professional conversations; asking the right questions and building relationships in a short time frame made me see the value of in-person events and how they cannot be replaced.

I found it very interesting to interview competing brands, all vying for the attention of the same buyers. Seeing their efforts to position and differentiate themselves from the rest, and how different exhibition stand designs resonate with diverse target audiences, was illuminating. I enjoyed watching how happy and energetic the team at the stands was.

The atmosphere at the UK food and drink shows was vibrant, colourful and engaging. The air was filled with aromas of different products and cuisines, from sweet pastries to grilled meats.  

A range of cooking classes and demonstrations were taking place, which attracted many excited visitors. 

In the designated manufacturing solutions area, industry machines for mass food production were on display. I have personally never seen those in action, so it was certainly fun to watch. 

The best part was the samples; everywhere I looked, I could see tiny portions of foods and drinks right under my nose, and it was impossible to avoid them! I’ve always been a foodie, but attending this show made me understand my true passion for food.

Attendees loved this bright event, I could see it in their smiles as they savoured samples, took pictures, and talked with exhibitors about their products/ services and latest technologies.  

Victoria Cursley, Shopper Activation Manager for KitKat, told me about the value of the event: 

Before starting my placement, I considered trade shows to be a valuable platform for SMEs, but I never knew how much value they could also bring to more established businesses, like Nestle Confectionery.

Victoria’s comment truly resonates with the purpose of the event. I enjoyed seeing how successful the show has been for her and the team, not only connecting them with retailers but also offering valuable in-person feedback.

Among the exhibitors I caught up with were many Quadrant2Design clients. 

They were all quick to tell me about the benefits of attending the show, and each mentioned the importance of a great presence at in-person events and a reliable exhibition stand contractor. The high-impact design of our stands exceeded expectations and left lasting impressions on visitors. 

Tony Franklin from ICRtouch talked about his relationship with Quadrant2Design: 

From a business perspective, I also learned how important it is for companies like Quadrant2Design to build trusting and strong relationships with clients, fostering their goals for the shows. This is especially important when working with a business model centred on reuse across many exhibition calendars. 

Here is feedback from Quadrant2Design clients at the event.

Working at Quadrant2Design is making me grow on many levels. I am grateful for the many opportunities I have been getting. Attending this leading UK food event was certainly the highlight of my placement.  

This fair was also at the same time as the Health  & Safety Event Series, and Quadrant2Design built 29 exhibition stands across four days! The office was very busy, so it was nice to see the results myself.

Maggie and I had such a fun day. I am excited to attend our next show, Accountex 2025.

If you’ve got a project in mind, get in touch with Quadrant2Design at design@quadrant2design.com or call 01202 723 500 for a free, no-obligation exhibition stand design proposal! For more information on Quadrant2Design, please take a look at our credentials.