Visitors to next month's The UK Food & Drink Shows will have the opportunity to by inspired and informed by a host of industry leaders and innovators.
Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April, the event boasts 1,200 exhibitors and comprises four individual shows dedicated to specific areas of the market:
- Forecourt Show is the must-attend event for sourcing products, fresh ideas and smart solutions to future-proof your business, whether you are part of a symbol group, an independent forecourt, fuel company or dealer.
- National Convenience Show is the biggest event for the convenience retailing sector and is a one-stop destination for c-store specific products, services and innovations to help boost footfall, increase basket spend and gain a competitive edge.
- Farm Shop & Deli Show offers the best-quality local and regional produce alongside exciting new product development and the latest in equipment, labelling and packaging solutions.
- Food & Drink Expo is the destination for discovering fresh ideas, forging connections and gaining insights into the future of food. It attracts key foodservice buyers as well as decision makers from retail and wholesale grocery operations.
As well as being a fantastic opportunity to network while seeing the latest products and services the industry has to offer, The UK Food & Drink Shows offers a packed programme of panels and presentations. Among these will be live interviews with major names in the food and drink industry including:
Gordon Balmer, Executive Director, Petrol Retailers Association
The landscape of the forecourt market continues to evolve, with fuelling stations becoming destinations. In this session, Gordon, alongside some of the leaders from across the forecourt sector, discuss the trends shaping the future in detail, the opportunities and challenges on the horizon and how operators are adapting.
Ian Crawley, Head of Operations, Park Garage Group
The vape category is experiencing change. In this session, retailers and experts unpick the category in detail, what retailers need to do to prepare for these changes and the impact they could have on the convenience retail market.
Tom Prince, Insight Manager, Lumina Intelligence
Sharing exclusive insights from its recent UK Forecourt Market Report, Lumina Intelligence highlight and explain the key trends to watch in the forecourt channel over the next 12 months and beyond. Understand how consumers are shopping within the forecourt channel and the differences it sees to the wider convenience retail market.
Edward Woodall, Chief Executive. Association of Convenience Stores
Stepping into his new role on 1 March 2026, Ed will share his vision for ACS as it enters a new chapter: strengthening its influence on key policy issues, deepening engagement with both independent and multiple retailers and ensuring the organisation remains the most effective voice and valuable resource for the UK’s 50,000+ convenience stores.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO, British Independent Retailers Association
Retail crime continues to pose significant challenges for businesses - impacting safety, profitability, and customer confidence. Our ‘Securing Retail Space’ panel session will discuss safety and security challenges in the retail sector and will highlight good practice for managing these issues including latest advice, guidance and reporting mechanisms.
Check out the full speaker line up and sessions timetable.
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.
The UK Food & Drink Shows is organised by market-leading business information provider William Reed. Covering industries ranging from food and drink to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, William Reed publishes digital and print media, including The Grocer, and organises prestigious awards, business events and conferences.
Register for your free trade ticket here.
