From the future of vaping to the changing demands of shoppers, The UK Food & Drink Shows will equip convenience retailers with knowledge that can give their business a competitive edge.
This year’s event, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April, comprises four shows that each target a sector of the food and drink industry.
The 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 and increase basket spend.
The 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.
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.
Finally, the 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.
Around 1,200 businesses will be exhibiting across the four shows, and more than 25,000 visitors are expected to attend to sample the latest in food and drink innovations and explore services and equipment that will help their businesses flourish.
“This show is crucial because it gives us an insight as to what’s happening in the industry,” said Sharma Garages’ operations manager, Saeed Noorani, after last year’s event. “New product launches, any brands that we’re not aware of and the opportunity to interact with suppliers. It gives you a great platform to meet, greet and pick up ideas for your store.”
His views were echoed by retailer Susan Connolly, sales and marketing director at Connolly Spar: “The benefits of coming to a trade show like this is seeing what’s going on in the market, getting outside of your store, seeing what’s going on the bigger wide world and seeing what other people are doing and what you can learn from them.”
Once again, The UK Food & Drink Shows will feature a packed programme of insightful panels, expert speakers and inspiring demonstrations on the topics and trends that are driving the industry. See below for details of some of the presentations that convenience retailers won’t want to miss.
The event continues to evolve to reflect the UK’s vibrant and fast-moving food and drink industry with new attractions for 2026 including:
Spotlight on Coffee Shop & Café As the food to go market continues to boom, this dedicated space at Farm Shop & Deli Show will highlight the latest trends and products shaping the sector.
Spotlight on Future Foods Part of Food & Drink Expo, this area will celebrate the brands and innovators redefining what good food means by showcasing wellness-driven, clean-label and sustainable products that deliver on taste and convenience.
Competitions are always a big part of the UK Food & Drink Shows line-up, and the 2026 event brings the debut of the Taste the Future contest. Visitors will have the chance to sample and score 40 trailblazing products, with participating brands in the running to win £5k worth of prizes.
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, it publishes digital and print media, including Convenience Store and The Grocer, and organises prestigious awards, business events and conferences.
“We are excited to once again welcome exhibitors and visitors to The UK Food & Drink Shows and share with them what makes this industry so vibrant and innovative,” said Dan Dixon, managing director of exhibitions at William Reed.
AT A GLANCE:
The UK Food & Drink Shows
Comprising: Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show, Forecourt Show
Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026
NEC Birmingham
Panels and presentations
Some of The UK Food & Drink Shows panels and presentations that convenience store operators won’t want to miss.
Monday 13 April
The Convenience shopper: Everything you need to know
11am, Convenience Store Stage
Food and drink insight experts Lumina Intelligence present the latest data and insight on the convenience shopper. Find out how convenience shopping habits have changed over time, the outlook for the future and how you can adapt to capitalise on these trends.
The female leaders shaping convenience
11.45am, Convenience Store Stage
This session puts the spotlight on some of the most inspiring and influential women in the UK convenience retail sector. Find out how their careers began, the challenges they overcame and the advice they would share to aspiring females looking to build a successful career within convenience.
Competing with the biggest food trends of 2026
12.15pm, The Grocer Stage
A live, interactive gameshow exploring the biggest trends shaping the food and drink industry. From GLP-1 and weight management to gut health, HFSS reformulation and the UPF debate, discover what’s driving consumer behaviour and how innovative ingredients are transforming product development.
Staff culture: Building a team to thrive
1.45pm, Farm Shop & Deli Stage
In this session, a panel of leading specialist retailers explore how cultivating a positive, inclusive and purpose-driven workplace can directly impact customer experience, employee retention and business performance.
Sustainability in UK convenience retail
2.30pm, Convenience Store Stage
This panel brings together leaders and innovators to share actionable insights and success stories that prove going green can also mean growing profits. Discover how convenience retailers can lead the charge toward a cleaner, smarter and more sustainable UK retail landscape.
Co-op Wholesale & Nisa: A fresh perspective
3.15pm, Convenience Store Stage
Co-op Wholesale managing director Katie Secretan discusses the story behind the Nisa rebrand and what it means for retailers, partners and customers. She talks about the strategic thinking behind the transformation, how it strengthens Co-op Wholesale’s position in the market and the opportunities it creates for independent retailers.
Tuesday 14 April
Get more of your surplus food to people in need
11am, The Grocer Stage
Compared to other countries, the UK lags behind in efforts to redistribute surplus food to people, with only 1% of food waste making it to communities in need. In this session, industry experts discuss what can be done to support UK food and drink businesses to increase food surplus redistribution, including proposals for mandatory food waste reporting.
Social media trends to watch
11.45am, The Grocer Stage
This presentation will dive into how Gen Z and Millennials are reshaping consumption through values-led choices, and a demand for authenticity and emotional connection. Discover what’s trending, why it matters and how brands can stay ahead in a landscape where every bite is a statement.
FMCG innovation trends from Expo West
12.30pm, The Grocer Stage
This presentation unpacks the standout trends from Expo West and explore how shoppers in the US and UK respond to innovation. It offers a practical guide to what’s landing with consumers and how to test your way to smarter, faster product development.
The UK forecourt market: Trends to watch
12.30pm, Convenience Store Stage
Lumina Intelligence shares exclusive insights from its recent UK Forecourt Market Report to highlight and explain the key trends to watch in the forecourt channel over the next 12 months and beyond. Understand how consumers are shopping the forecourt channel and how it differs from the wider convenience retail market.
Retailers’ Den
2pm, Convenience Store Stage
Watch and learn as entrepreneurs stand in front a panel of convenience store experts and make their 15-minute pitch. Success could be a new listing, or coverage in Convenience Store, while everyone gets invaluable insights into what works in store.
Wednesday 15 April
Vapes: What does the future hold?
10.45am, Convenience Store Stage
The vape category is currently experiencing massive change. What is the impact of these changes, and what effect could these have on consumers? In this session, retailers and experts unpick the category in detail, examining what retailers need to do to prepare for these changes and the impact they could have on the convenience retail market.
Booker: Symbolising convenience
11.30am, Convenience Store Stage
Wholesaler Booker’s symbol brands of Premier, Londis and Budgens have seen great success over the years. In an exclusive interview, retail managing director Colm Johnson discusses the convenience retail sector, the changing needs of consumers and Booker’s plans for the future.
The female leaders shaping grocery
12.45pm, The Grocer Stage
The UK food and drink industry strives to be inclusive and continues to drive change in key areas, such as diversity, gender equality and sustainability. During this session, we will hear from inspiring women leaders that are paving the way.
How the UK food to go market Is changing
1:45pm, The Grocer Stage
In this session, Lumina Intelligence focus on shifts in product offerings, pricing strategies, and consumer behaviour. Learn how economic pressures, health-conscious trends, sustainability demands, and digital innovation are reshaping what’s available, how much it costs, and how it’s consumed.
Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards: Meet the Gold winners
2pm, Farm Shop & Deli Stage
The Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards showcase the best products in the specialist retail sector, from a taste, branding and commercial viability perspective. Join us as some of our Gold winners take to the stage to showcase their products, giving you the opportunity to try for yourself and ask any burning questions you might have.
Retailers’ Den
2pm, Convenience Store Stage
Watch and learn as entrepreneurs stand in front a panel of convenience store experts and make their 15-minute pitch. Success could be a new listing, or coverage in Convenience Store, while everyone gets invaluable insights into what works in store.
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