Our comprehensive guide to exhibiting at Food & Drink Expo 2025
Make the most of your stand at Food & Drink Expo 2025
7 – 9 April 2025, NEC Birmingham
Food & Drink Expo 2025 is bringing something truly exciting – The Restaurant Show is joining forces with us for the first time. The eating-out market is thriving, so this joint event gives you the perfect opportunity to showcase your products to thousands of industry professionals.
Whether you’re aiming to get your products onto supermarket shelves, or want to connect with top-tier chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality leaders, Food & Drink Expo 2025 is the place to be. For three days at the NEC Birmingham, you can connect with buyers, wholesalers, and decision-makers all searching for the next big thing in food and drink.
Read on for a taste of what’s in store at this unmissable event.
Need a price for your Food & Drink Expo 2025 exhibition stand?
Get your products in front of the right people at Food & Drink Expo 2025
Food & Drink Expo 2025, including The Restaurant Show, is where the biggest names in retail, hospitality, food service, and wholesale come to find new suppliers. It’s the go-to event for buyers looking to source fresh products, make connections, and strike deals. It is one of the top food and drinks trade shows.
Running alongside the Food & Drink Expo are the Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions shows, transforming Birmingham NEC into a bustling marketplace with 4 shows and over 30,000 visitors – from top chefs to the biggest supermarkets.
In 2024, 92% of visitors were senior management, with 86% having the final say on spending decisions. Expect to meet influential decision-makers from brands like Booker Wholesale, Cypressa, Hovis, Tony’s Chocolonely, and United Food Brands.
Don’t miss your chance to connect with the industry’s top decision-makers.
How to make Food & Drink Expo a successful event for your business
First,you need to get clear on what you want to achieve at Food & Drink Expo 2025, and weigh this up against the cost of exhibiting. The NEC Birmingham is a large venue, and a stand here is a serious investment, so you’ll want to make sure every penny counts.
Next, plan your budget. You need funds for floor space as well as your display. Try to find a balance between stand size and design, to make sure your space makes an impact without going over budget.
When it comes to showcasing your product, live demos and working kitchens are huge crowd-pleasers, but they need careful planning. You’ll want to work with experienced exhibition stand builders on the logistics, health & safety, and event paperwork to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Have you thought about who you want to connect with at this event? Do you want 50 solid leads to follow up with after the show, or to meet 10 key decision-makers who can seal the deal right there and then? A clear target will help you measure success and learn from the experience.
And don’t forget the all-important stand brief. Whether you’re working with us or managing everything yourself, a clear, well-thought-out brief will keep everything on track and make sure everyone is working towards the same vision.
We’ve helped brands of all sizes bring their creative exhibition ideas to life. Our free guide to writing a stand brief is the ideal place to start planning. Download your free copy below.
Get your Food & Drink Expo off to a flying start with a perfect stand brief.
With 86% of visitors decision makers, you need to put your product centre stage and make the sales process as smooth as possible. We’ve seen clients secure lucrative deals before the show has even ended.
“Our advice? Don’t skimp on your stand planning. If you want to showcase your food products properly – best done with live demos – make sure you have the power and water resources to bring your creative vision to life. We handle these logistics on behalf of our clients, and it’s one of the things they most appreciate.
David Hennessy, Motive Exhibitions Managing Director
Need an exhibition partner for Food & Drink Expo 2025?
We’ve built a reputation for creating standout exhibition stands that help food and drink brands make a lasting impression.
Whether you need a fully working kitchen or a row of ice-cold display cabinets, we know how to keep your products looking their best throughout the event.
Each stand we build is custom-designed to showcase what makes your brand unique, and attract your ideal customers.
We’ll work with you to create an inspiring and memorable space that leaves a lasting impact on visitors.
Bring your Food & Drink Expo vision to life with a Motive Exhibitions stand
Exhibition stands we can build at Food & Drink Expo 2025
The NEC is a spacious, modern venue that provides the perfect backdrop for any exhibition stand, whether large or small.
Here are our top stand options to consider for Food & Drink Expo.
Bespoke exhibition stands are custom-designed for your event, and tailored to meet your brand’s specific goals and needs.
They offer the creative flexibility you need at busy events, where you’ll want space to store, cook, display, and demonstrate your products.
And we’re experts at fitting all your equipment and merchandise into the stand while maintaining a sleek, spacious design.
The beauty of modular exhibition stands is their flexibility. We’ve designed a huge range of high-impact modular stands that have wowed NEC, The Restaurant Show and Food & Drink Expo visitors over the years.
Modular exhibition stands offer unbeatable flexibility. Over the years, we’ve created a huge variety of high-impact modular stands that have impressed visitors at the NEC, The Restaurant Show, and Food & Drink Expo.
They’re ideal if you’re not ready to invest in a permanent stand. And if your event calendar requires different stand sizes, a modular stand can easily be reconfigured. You can also combine modular frameworks with custom features, creating a stand that’s uniquely yours without the higher costs of a permanent, custom-built display.
Shell scheme exhibition stands are a budget-friendly option, and come in a range of sizes from 3x3m to 6x3m or 8x3m, often as part of all-inclusive packages.
These stands may be smaller, but they still offer plenty of room to get creative. With the right design, a shell scheme can be just as effective as a larger setup.
Ideal for those new to exhibiting or testing the waters at Food & Drink Expo, shell schemes include flooring, lighting, and power (500 watts). You can also ask to remove the fascia board to help make the space feel more open. The larger the stand, the more you can add, such as product displays or video walls.
Exhibition stand hire
If your plans for 2025 aren’t finalised and you’re not ready to commit to a permanent stand, our exhibition hire service is the perfect solution.
You can rent an entire modular stand or just specific pieces, or even mix and match custom-made elements with rented items.
Hiring is both cost-effective and sustainable – a great budget-friendly choice, especially if this is your first big show.
Can’t decide which stand to opt for?
Everything you need to know about exhibiting at NEC, Birmingham
Having built and dismantled numerous stands at the NEC, we know exactly what works best for this venue.
The NEC is one of the UK’s busiest exhibition venues, and over 600 businesses will be vying for attention at Food & Drink Expo 2025. Your stand location is really key – pitches near networking and presentation areas get the most visibility but also come at a cost.
Our tip is to book floor space at the front of the halls (but don’t be tempted by being directly in front of the doors – people often rush by without stopping).
The pros and cons of the NEC, Birmingham
The NEC is a fantastic venue with plenty of facilities on offer, but there are a few things to bear in mind before you decide to exhibit:
Pros of exhibiting at the NEC:
- Central UK location, making it easy to get to.
- All stands are on the main show floor, ideal for networking and increasing visibility.
- Attracts a large audience of potential customers.
- Can accommodate a variety of stand sizes, from large custom builds to smaller, flexible shell-scheme.
- Ideal venue for showcasing food demos, with plenty of room for trailers and large displays.
- Free parking for exhibitors and contractors during setup and teardown.
- Complimentary shuttle buses between the car parks and exhibition halls.
- Free visitor Wi-Fi.
- A wide range of hotels nearby to suit all budgets.
Cons of exhibiting at the NEC:
- Floor space can be expensive.
- The venue’s food and drink are priced at a premium.
- The traffic management system can be a hassle.
- It’s a popular venue, so you need to book early – especially for large or custom stands.
- There’s no on-site storage, so you’ll need to arrange separate storage for packing cases, equipment, etc.
- The venue doesn’t provide logistics equipment (trolleys, pump trucks, etc.). However, if you work with us, the project costs will cover all of this!
- Smaller stands can sometimes be overlooked in such a vast space. But don’t worry, with smart design and the right partner, you can still make a big impact.
Don’t fancy building your own stand at the NEC?
Scrocchiarella – Read our case study here
Clients we work with
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FAQs
Do you have any other clients exhibiting at Food & Drink Expo?
Several of our clients have already signed up for Food & Drink Expo, and some have even booked space at the Farm Shop & Deli Show and National Convenience Show, which will also be held at The NEC from April 7-9, 2025.
We’ve a wealth of experience working with food and drink brands. We’ve designed and built exhibits for events like The Restaurant Show (now part of Food & Drink Expo), Farm Shop & Deli Show, Casual Dining Show, London Coffee Festival, Taste London, Lunch!, Commercial Kitchen, and Plant-Based World Expo, to name a few.
Can I have a fully functioning kitchen on my stand at Food & Drink Expo?
Yes you can. We specialise in creating fully equipped exhibition kitchens, complete with sinks, running water, freezers, display areas, and spaces for live demos. And we have excellent connections for sourcing any kitchen equipment you need.
We’ve also written a blog which has more information about what you can have on your exhibition stand – check it out here.
Don’t just take our word for it — check out case studies from our work with Destiny Foods, Scrocchiarella, Joe & Sephs, Synergy Grill, and NEXTERA®.
Should I hire a stand or buy one?
It really depends on what you’re aiming for. Here’s why hiring might be the right choice for you:
- You’re new to exhibiting and want to test things out.
- Your teams exhibit regularly and need to frequently update the stand’s graphics.
- You want to experiment with new ideas and concepts.
- You’re looking for a more sustainable exhibiting solution than a permanent stand.
- You don’t have space to store a stand.
- You don’t exhibit enough to justify the cost of owning a stand.
If you’re planning to exhibit more than three times a year, owning a stand is likely to be the most cost-effective option. If you’re looking for more information, head over to our article with 9 reasons to hire your next exhibition stand.
What makes a custom exhibition stand effective?
A great bespoke stand shows off your brand’s personality and helps you achieve your goals for the event. And it’s not just about making an impact; it’s also about helping your audience understand your message.
To get this right, we need to understand exactly what you’re looking for, which is why you need a strong exhibition stand brief. A clear brief means we can bring your vision to life and with a memorable display that truly represents your brand.
Check out our guide with 11 ways to attract visitors to your exhibition stand
Can you help transport our supplies to NEC, Birmingham?
Yes! We know that carrying brochures, iPads, and products can be a hassle – especially if you’re using public transport.
When you work with us, just send your items ahead of time, and we’ll take care of everything. We’ll bring them to the exhibition hall and set them up with your stand, so you only need to bring the essentials!
Motive Exhibitions, 3 Orion Court, Ambuscade Road, Colmworth Business Park, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, PE19 8YX
