Booker Foodservice Trade Show returns to NEC for seventh annual event

Booker will host its seventh annual Foodservice Trade Show for the second consecutive year at the NEC, Birmingham on 23 September 2026. The event will bring together the wholesaler’s customers, suppliers, partners and industry professionals to explore the latest menu trends, preview new product launches and network.

Booker will showcase its foodservice portfolio on the show floor, where visitors can meet the wholesaler’s team members, including category, sales and branch managers, as well as the team from the company’s premium drinks division, Venus Wine and Spirits Merchants. The show programme is designed to inspire and inform with previews of incoming new product ranges.

The Chef’s Station will share menu inspiration and sample creative dishes, with live cookery demonstrations by leading chefs focusing on the booming chicken trend. A new Butcher’s Block Skills Hub will highlight Booker’s capabilities as the largest foodservice butcher in the UK with a spotlight on its butchery apprenticeship scheme.

Teams will demonstrate how specialist cutting skills can take cost out of kitchens, bring fresh inspiration to menus, and ensure operators get the key “centre of plate” offering suitable for their business. This year’s show also features a new outdoor street food zone, providing a dedicated space to relax, network, socialise and sample Booker’s street food concepts. The event will showcase an expert-curated selection of on-trade branded beers, ciders, wines, spirits and no and low alcohol drinks.

Attendees can sample new lines in the Pub Garden zone, uncover emerging beverage trends in the drinks theatre and participate in Booker’s World of Wine Sampling Trail. There will also be a dedicated zone hosted by Venus – Booker’s premium drinks division – to explore high-end portfolios tailored for bars, restaurants, hotels and pubs across the UK.

With festive planning in full swing, the Christmas Zone will showcase seasonal foods, drinks, menu inspiration, accessories and essentials designed to ease kitchen pressures during peak trading and build high-margin Christmas menus. Additionally, a large coffee zone will offer attendees a place to rest and recharge while experiencing latte art demonstrations from baristas, coffee cupping sessions and new product previews.

Nev Irani, Booker foodservice managing director, said: “We are thrilled to be returning to the NEC Birmingham for a second year as we host our seventh annual Foodservice Trade Show. “Whether it’s helping to reduce costs for kitchens through our value locked price-freeze promotions and on the day exclusives, tips and tricks from our master butchers, exploring exciting menu innovations, or securing top-tier value for the festive season, this show is built to inspire and support operators across the full foodservice sector.”