10 Best Grocery Trade Shows You Can’t Miss in 2026-2027
Running a grocery business isn’t just about stocking shelves and scanning barcodes—it’s a wild ride of shifting trends, supply chain headaches, and customers who will absolutely riot if you run out of their favorite oat milk.
If you’re not hitting the right grocery trade shows, you’re basically grocery shopping without a list:
- You’ll miss out on the latest trends, like AI-powered checkout or the next kombucha-level craze, and end up playing catch-up while your competitors cash in.
- Your supplier network will stay as stale as last week’s bread—good luck negotiating better deals when you don’t know who else is out there.
- You’ll be stuck in the same old routine, missing out on fresh product ideas that could boost margins and keep customers coming back for more.
Trade shows are where the grocery world’s best and brightest gather to talk shop, make deals, and showcase the future of food retail. Plus, let’s be real—where else can you network and score free snacks at the same time?
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Here’s a roundup of the best grocery trade shows to check out this year. Pack your comfy shoes and bring an extra tote bag—you’re gonna need it.
Best Grocery Trade Shows in 2026-2027 Shortlist
Here's my shortlist of the best grocery trade shows I think are worth attending in 2026-2027:
- FoodPro - Melbourne, Australia (July 26–29, 2026)
- Groceryshop - Las Vegas, NV (September 22-24, 2026)
- NACS Show - Las Vegas, NV (October 6-9, 2026)
- Grocery Innovations Canada - Toronto, Canada (October 27-28, 2026)
- NRF 2027: Retail’s Big Show - New York City, NY (January 10–12, 2027)
- The NGA Show - Las Vegas, NV (January 31-February 2, 2027)
- Fruit Logistica - Berlin, Germany (February 3–5, 2027)
- Annual Meat Conference - Dallas, TX (March 1-3, 2027)
- Gulfood - Dubai, UAE (March 15–19, 2027)
- Food and Drink Expo 2027 - Birmingham, UK (April 12-14, 2027)
The 10 Best Grocery Trade Shows You'll Want to Attend in 2026-2027
OK, now for the actual details, which naturally include each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offerings.
1. FoodPro - Melbourne, Australia (July 26–29, 2026)
- Dates: July 26–29, 2026
- Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Pricing: Free
- Social Media: Facebook
FoodPro is Australia's leading trade event for food and beverage manufacturing, organized by Diversified Communications Australia. Running for 50+ years, it brings together manufacturers, suppliers, and industry leaders across the full food production supply chain.
Why attend? With 400+ exhibitors, live equipment demos, the co-located AIFST26 Conference, and the PIDA Awards Gala Dinner, FoodPro gives food and beverage professionals a full four days of learning, sourcing, and networking—all focused on processing, packaging, and manufacturing innovation.
2. Groceryshop - Las Vegas, NV (September 22-24, 2026)
- Dates: September 22-24, 2026
- Location: Mandalay Bay
- Pricing: Free (Retailers/Media) - $4,500 (Attendees)
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Groceryshop is an annual grocery trade show that brings together leaders from across the grocery and CPG ecosystem, including established retailers, direct-to-consumer brands, and startups. It caters to senior decision-makers in merchandising, marketing, technology, and supply chain.
Why attend? At Groceryshop, you’ll hear from grocery and tech leaders tackling AI, automation, retail media, digital merchandising, and omnichannel transformation. The agenda prioritizes innovation across operations and customer experience, with dedicated sessions for startups and disruptive tech. You’ll get access to curated meetings, exhibitor halls, and original research. If you’re shaping grocery’s future, this is where strategy meets execution.
3. NACS Show - Las Vegas, NV (October 6-9, 2026)
- Dates: October 6-9, 2026
- Location: Las Vegas Convention Center
- Pricing: From $555 - $2,705
- Social Media: Facebook
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show is a prominent event focused on the convenience and fuel retailing industry. It attracts executives, category managers, and buyers from c-stores, wholesalers, and fuel retailers. The show offers a mix of educational seminars, product showcases, and networking events.
Why attend? This show covers more than grocery—it’s built around convenience retail. You’ll walk through a massive expo hall with new products, foodservice innovations, and fuel tech. Sessions focus on the latest trends, store operations, and emerging regulations.
You’ll also have chances to meet top vendors, explore franchise opportunities, and hear real-world strategies from fellow operators. It’s designed for retailers who move fast and want practical ideas they can apply right away.
4. Grocery Innovations Canada - Toronto, Canada (October 27-28, 2026)
- Dates: October 26-27, 2026
- Location: Toronto Congress Centre
- Pricing: From $729 (member) - $999 (non-member)
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
Grocery Innovations Canada (GIC) is an annual grocery trade show put on by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG). It's tailored to grocery retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers across independent and large-format grocery stores.
The event draws executives and buyers from across the country and includes an exhibitor floor, pitch competitions, and professional development sessions. With sponsors like Campbell's, Old Dutch, McCain, and more, it's a must attend event for Canadians in the industry and those from abroad.
Why attend? At GIC, you'll explore new product zones and attend seminars on regulatory shifts and digital commerce. The event also offers a variety of networking opportunities that connect you with local retailers and national chains.
5. NRF 2027: Retail’s Big Show - New York City, NY (January 10–12, 2027)
- Dates: January 10–12, 2027
- Location: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube
NRF: Retail's Big Show is the retail industry's largest annual event, organized by the National Retail Federation (NRF). It draws 45,000+ retail professionals to NYC each January to explore emerging technology, trends, and strategy across the full retail landscape.
Why attend? This is the event where retail's biggest names—past speakers include Harley Finkelstein of Shopify and executives from Ulta Beauty, Sam's Club, and BJ's Wholesale Club—share real-world insights. Beyond sessions, you'll find a massive Expo, an AI Stage, a Startup Hub, a Reverse Logistics Pavilion, and retail store tours across NYC.
6. The NGA Show - Las Vegas, NV (January 31-February 2, 2027)
- Dates: January 31-February 2, 2027
- Location: MGM Grand Conference Center
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
The NGA Show is a leading trade show for the independent grocery industry, organized by the National Grocers Association. It brings together grocery retailers, wholesalers, suppliers, and technology providers for three days of education, networking, and product discovery focused on independent food retail.
Why attend? The event features 40+ educational sessions covering grocery technology, operations, merchandising, and retail trends. With 300+ exhibitors and thousands of grocery professionals in attendance, it’s one of the most focused networking and sourcing events for independent grocers looking to improve operations and grow their business.
7. Fruit Logistica - Berlin, Germany (February 3–5, 2027)
- Dates: February 3–5, 2027
- Location: Messe Berlin
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook
Fruit Logistica is the world's leading trade show for the global fresh produce industry, organized by Messe Berlin. It brings together 2,500+ exhibitors from 90+ countries across fresh produce, machinery & technology, and logistics—spanning the full supply chain from seed to sale.
Why attend? Six expert forums run across all three days, covering best practices, trends, and innovations from international speakers. With 26 halls dedicated entirely to fresh produce, it's one of the most focused and expansive produce sourcing and networking events in the world—especially valuable if you're looking to break into or expand within global markets.
8. Annual Meat Conference - Dallas, TX (March 1-3, 2027)
- Dates: March 1-3, 2027
- Location: Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Annual Meat Conference is a premier event for the meat and poultry retail industry, hosted by the FMI (The Food Industry Association and the Meat Institute). It connects retailers, suppliers, and industry experts through networking, education, and exhibits featuring the latest products and retail trends.
Why attend? The conference features expert-led sessions on merchandising, shopper behavior, and retail trends, alongside an exhibit hall with 100+ exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals. It’s one of the most focused networking and sourcing events for meat retail leaders looking to discover new products and strengthen supplier relationships.
9. Gulfood - Dubai, UAE (March 15–19, 2027)
- Dates: March 15–19, 2027
- Location: Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn
Gulfood is the world's largest annual F&B sourcing event, held since 1987 and organized by Dubai World Trade Centre Authority. It draws 8,500+ exhibitors from 195 countries and 300,000+ visitors across 12 F&B sectors.
Why attend? Gulfood spans two mega venues and 12 sectors—from dairy and meat to food tech and alternative proteins. The show includes the FOOD500 CEO Summit, Top Table with star chefs, Gulfood Green Awards, a startup program, and structured buyer-supplier matchmaking you won't find at any other F&B event.
10. Food and Drink Expo 2027 - Birmingham, UK (April 12-14, 2027)
- Dates: April 12-14, 2027
- Location: The NEC Birmingham
- Pricing: TBA
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Other Retail Conferences & Events
Depending on your retail niche, you might be looking for events that cater more specifically to your selling strategy. Here are some additional recommendations I've compiled.
- Retail management conferences with broad coverage of retail industry topics
- A curated list of the best food trade shows
- Retail merchandising conferences for learning new promotion, display, and discount strategies
Bag It Up and Cash Out
The grocery game moves fast, and if you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind.
Hitting the right grocery trade shows isn’t just about shaking hands and snagging samples—it’s about staying ahead of trends, making smarter business moves, and finding the next big thing before your competitors do.
So, pick a few from this list, book your tickets, and get ready to level up your grocery business. Just don’t forget to wear comfy shoes—you’ll thank me later.
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