AUSTRALIA | More than 15,000 restaurant and foodservice professionals are expected to gather for Foodservice & Hospitality Week 2025 in Melbourne.
Melbourne is gearing up to welcome the world of hospitality from 18th to 20th May 2025 with the launch of Foodservice & Hospitality Week.
This landmark event will transform the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre into Australia’s epicentre of innovation and inspiration for the culinary business world.
Uniting the entire hospitality and foodservice ecosystem under one roof across many different events, Foodservice & Hospitality Week has aimed to set a new standard for food industry events by creating a multi-event platform tailored to the needs of different hospitality communities.
“We’re bringing together chefs, owners, operators and buyers from all corners of the industry to meet, do business and celebrate with food, beverage and equipment manufacturers across a dynamic mix of trade shows, conferences, competitions, awards, dinners and parties,” said Mike Hill, Food & Beverage Portfolio Director at National Media.
“Whether you're a single-unit restaurant or cafe owner, a national QSR brand or part of a big hospitality group or a contract catering firm, Foodservice & Hospitality Week will serve up something for everyone in the industry. We are bringing together many different events to provide a focused environment for professionals to connect and exchange ideas within their specific domain. Our goal is to provide tailored information, education and solutions/products that meet the unique needs of each attendee while also providing a fun and inspiring experience.”
Hill said that facilitating relevant and meaningful connections for attendees would not only enhance the overall event experience but also allow them to make better use of their time. Connecting the right buyers with the right suppliers is absolutely paramount to the concept organisers have developed.
“Lets say you are remodelling your restaurant kitchen or perhaps you are wanting to optimise your menu ordering process, finding the right person or vendor to talk to at large trade shows can be a little frustrating. By creating specialised events tailored to the needs of particular audiences, we can curate content, connections, and the right suppliers to help them achieve their goals efficiently,” Hill concluded.
The overarching event will serve an audience of more than 15,000 owners and operators of restaurants, bars, hotels, pubs, clubs, cafes, bakeries, fast food outlets, food trucks, airlines and cruise lines, contract caterers and institutional foodservice facilities: hospitals, aged care homes, schools canteens, universities, corporate kitchens, mining camps, military messes and correctional facilities.
Suppliers of food, beverage, equipment, supplies or technology, have been offered the opportunity to showcase their products or services to a targeted audience committed to finding new suppliers and keeping up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
From thrilling competitions - think culinary, cocktail, sommelier, coffee, burgers and pizzas - to next level education, masterclasses, international keynotes and inspiring talks, Foodservice & Hospitality Week will be a catalyst for helping owners and operators transform their venues to make more money, and to learn new techniques and culinary secrets from the best in the industry.
The event has dedicated more space across all events for high-quality content—more stages, more seminars, new competitions, and lounges—allowing visitors to engage in thought-provoking conversations, share experiences, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders, top chefs, inspiring entrepreneurs, culinary experts, and tech innovators.
"This is more than just a trade show; it’s a forum for attendees to gain fresh perspectives and learn from the brightest minds in hospitality and foodservice, with a content-rich agenda designed to spark transformative ideas and strategies. Best of all, it’s all free when you register to attend any of the co-located events.”
The launch of this new industry initiative has come off the back of National Media’s recent acquisition of Foodservice Australia, an event that dates back to 1967.
“Launched 58 years ago, Foodservice Australia is the nation’s longest-running foodservice and catering industry trade event,” said Brad Langton, CEO of National Media.
“We are thrilled to be the new custodians of Foodservice Australia, an event that has been instrumental in supporting the Australian hospitality and foodservice industry. Over the years, the event has expanded its reach, attracting an audience beyond foodservice. However, we are committed to returning the show to its core focus—serving as a dedicated platform and hub for the hospitality and foodservice community,” said Langton.
The show started life as the International Catering Trade Fair Sydney, launched by the Australian Foodservice Manufacturers Association. In 2005, the association rebranded to become the Foodservice Suppliers Association Australia and several years later, ICTF was renamed to Foodservice Australia. Specialised Events have owned and operated the show since 2011 until National Media’s acquisition in May 2024.
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