Food Africa

What Food Africa does

Food Africa is an annual B2B trade exhibition for the food and beverage industry, held each December at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in Cairo and positioned as Africa's largest F&B trade show. The event is co-organized by three independent exhibition companies: IFP Group (Lebanon), which leads international sales across Africa, the Middle East, and GCC; Konzept (Egypt), which manages domestic sales and on-ground execution; and Messe Düsseldorf (Germany), which provides global exhibition infrastructure through the interpack alliance and handles non-MEA international sales. The 2025 edition attracted 1,200 exhibitors from 51 countries, 37,000 professional visitors, and utilized 50,000 sqm of gross exhibition space; the 2026 edition will be the 11th.

The core product is the four-day physical exhibition, expanded into a multi-event platform through three concurrent co-located shows: interpack MEA (processing, packaging, and printing technologies), Fresh Africa (fresh produce), and Dates Africa (now in its 7th edition). Supporting services include a digital B2B Matchmaking Platform, a Hosted Buyers Program covering 500+ pre-qualified buyers from 63 countries and facilitating over 3,768 B2B meetings, a Live Cooking Show run with the Egyptian Chefs Association, and tiered sponsorship packages. The technology layer is limited to event-management and matchmaking tooling; the business does not develop proprietary AI or software products.

Food Africa generates revenue primarily through exhibitor booth fees, sponsorship packages, and visitor registration on a one-time per-cycle basis, with the Hosted Buyers Program functioning as a professional services component. Distribution is multi-channel: direct enterprise sales via regionally distributed sales teams, self-serve online registration for visitors, German national pavilion bundling via Messe Düsseldorf, and embassy-led delegation channels. Customer segments are horizontal across the F&B value chain — manufacturers, importers/exporters/distributors, retailers, HORECA, government trade bodies, and industry service providers — with no disclosed revenue from any single customer or segment.

Name

Food Africa

Legal name

Food Africa | Food & Beverage Exhibition

Website

https://foodafrica-expo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Exhibition Services (Food & Beverage)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHAKAH

Exhibition & Trade Show Catering (Show Floor Concessions, Exhibitor Hospitality)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Catering & Banqueting Services for Events

Keywords

• Food trade exhibition
• B2B trade show
• Food beverage events
• Exhibition management services
• Trade matchmaking platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairo

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth Fees: Food Africa generates revenue primarily from companies purchasing exhibition space and booth packages to showcase their food and beverage products to trade visitors.
2. Sponsorship Packages: The event offers tiered sponsorship packages that provide enhanced brand visibility, branding opportunities, and ROI maximization for sponsors.
3. Visitor Registration Fees: Professional visitors register to attend the exhibition for business networking and sourcing purposes. Some categories may receive free admission while others pay fees.
4. Hosted Buyers Program: International buyers are hosted with flights, accommodation, and transport provided, with the program facilitating meetings between qualified buyers and exhibitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Food Africa is Africa's leading international food and beverage trade exhibition (11th edition in 2026), held annually at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in Cairo. It operates as a B2B trade show platform connecting food manufacturers, producers, and exporters (exhibitors) with importers, distributors, retailers, and HORECA buyers (visitors) from Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. The exhibition is supported by three concurrent specialized events (interpack MEA, Fresh Africa, Dates Africa), a B2B Matchmaking platform, a Hosted Buyers Program, and Live Cooking Shows organized with the Egyptian Chefs Association.

Product overview

Food Africa operates as an integrated trade exhibition platform offering the main Food Africa exhibition (Africa's No. 1 international food and beverage trade exhibition, 11th edition in 2026) alongside three concurrent specialized events: interpack MEA for processing and packaging technologies, Fresh Africa for fresh produce, and Dates Africa for the dates industry. The platform provides B2B Matchmaking services, Live Cooking Shows, and a Hosted Buyers Program as ancillary services to facilitate business connections. Sponsorship packages are available for companies seeking enhanced brand visibility. Events are held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC) in Cairo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh Africa: International trade exhibition dedicated to the fresh produce industry, held alongside Food Africa 2026, connecting producers, exporters, buyers, and suppliers of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Dates Africa
• interpack MEA

Products and services

• Food Africa Exhibition Africa's largest international food and beverage trade exhibition, held annually, connecting food manufacturers, exporters, buyers, distributors, and industry decision-makers from Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. The 2025 edition featured 1,200 exhibitors from 51 countries and 37,000 visitors across 50,000 sqm of gross exhibition space.
• interpack MEA Concurrent international trade exhibition for processing, packaging, and printing technologies in the Middle East and Africa, part of the interpack alliance hosted by Messe Düsseldorf. Connects manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals with global expertise and innovative solutions.
• Fresh Africa Concurrent international trade exhibition dedicated to the fresh produce sector, connecting producers, exporters, buyers, and suppliers of fresh fruits and vegetables across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
• Dates Africa Concurrent international trade exhibition dedicated exclusively to the dates and date palm industry in Africa and the Middle East, connecting growers, producers, processors, and exporters.
• B2B Matchmaking Platform Free business matching service that connects buyers with qualified distributors and decision-makers through pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings during the exhibition, on a first-come, first-served allocation basis.
• Live Cooking Show Interactive culinary demonstration organized in collaboration with the Egyptian Chefs Association, featuring renowned chefs from Egypt and internationally showcasing innovative recipes and cooking techniques during the exhibition.
• Hosted Buyers Program Program that hosts pre-qualified international buyers with flights, accommodation, and transport, and facilitates direct meetings between buyers and exhibitors during the exhibition. Connects 500+ buyers from 63 countries.
• Sponsorship Packages Tiered sponsorship and branding packages providing enhanced brand visibility, branding opportunities, and ROI maximization for sponsors at the exhibition, ranging from standard to premium tiers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exhibitors expanded from 12 to 36 countries served through participation (Fruiticana testimonial)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• IFP GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2026IFP Group (Lebanon-based) is the primary co-organizer of Food Africa, bringing extensive expertise in delivering high-quality trade events across the Middle East and Africa. IFP manages international sales for Africa, Middle East, and GCC regions.
• KonzeptflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2026Konzept (Egypt-based) is the local co-organizer managing Food Africa's operations in Egypt, including local sales, logistics, and on-ground execution at the Egypt International Exhibition Center.
• Messe DüsseldorfflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2026Messe Düsseldorf (Germany) is the international co-organizer, bringing global exhibition expertise and the interpack alliance network to Food Africa. Manages international inquiries for countries outside Africa, Middle East, and GCC.
• interpack MEAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerinterpack MEA is a concurrent international trade exhibition for processing, packaging, and printing technologies. Part of the interpack alliance hosted by Messe Düsseldorf, connecting manufacturers and suppliers with global expertise.
• Fresh AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh Africa is a concurrent international trade exhibition dedicated to the fresh produce sector, connecting producers, exporters, buyers, and suppliers of fresh fruits and vegetables across Africa, Middle East, and Europe.
• Dates AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDates Africa is a concurrent international trade exhibition dedicated exclusively to the dates and date palm industry, now in its 7th edition, connecting growers, producers, processors, and exporters.
• Egyptian Chefs Association (ECA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECA collaborates with Food Africa to organize the Live Cooking Show, featuring renowned chefs from Egypt and internationally, showcasing innovative recipes and cooking techniques.
• African Agri MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage and promotion of Food Africa to its audience in the African agricultural and food sector.
• FoodTechBizminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner covering food technology and business news, promoting Food Africa to industry professionals.
• Food Business MEAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional media partner covering food and beverage business news in Middle East and Africa.
• Packaging InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational packaging industry publication serving as a media partner for Food Africa.
• Agricultural Export Council (AEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEgyptian government-affiliated council supporting agricultural exports; has participated in Food Africa since its first edition and promotes the exhibition to its member companies.
• Chamber of Food Industries (Egypt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial body representing Egyptian food industries; supported Food Africa for 10 years as a key gateway for promoting Egyptian products to international markets.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gulfood (Dubai World Trade Centre): Gulfood is the Middle East's flagship annual F&B trade exhibition held in Dubai, directly competing with Food Africa for international exhibitors and buyers targeting the MEA region. Both events occupy the same B2B trade-show niche with similar revenue models (booth fees, sponsorship, hosted buyers).
• Speciality Food Festival (Dubai): Speciality Food Festival is a Dubai-based B2B trade exhibition focused on gourmet, artisanal, and specialty F&B products. It targets a similar premium/exhibition buyer base as Food Africa's concurrent events and competes for international exhibitor share in the MEA region.
• Africa Food Show (Abu Dhabi / South Africa): Africa Food Show is a B2B trade exhibition targeting the African F&B industry, overlapping directly with Food Africa in exhibitor base, buyer segments, and revenue model. It is an emerging competitor within the same African F&B trade-show category.

Broad incumbents

• Anuga (Koelnmesse): Anuga is the world's largest F&B trade fair held biennially in Cologne, Germany, operated by Koelnmesse. It is the global benchmark for F&B exhibitions and competes with Food Africa for premium international exhibitors, though at a much larger scale and global reach.
• Alimentaria (Fira de Barcelona): Alimentaria is a leading biennial international F&B trade show in Barcelona, Spain, comparable in business model to Food Africa as a B2B trade exhibition serving food manufacturers, distributors, and HORECA buyers, but with a European focus.
• FoodEx Japan: FoodEx Japan is Asia's largest annual international F&B and beverage trade exhibition, comparable to Food Africa in business model and target exhibitor/buyer segments but serving Asia rather than MEA. It is a global incumbent in the F&B trade-show category.
• SIAL (Salon International de l'Alimentation): SIAL is one of the world's largest F&B trade exhibitions with editions in Paris, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia. It competes for international exhibitor attention and is part of the global F&B trade-show incumbent set, with broader geographic reach than Food Africa.

Others

• Hospitality Qatar / The Hotel Show: Hospitality Qatar is a regional HORECA and foodservice trade exhibition serving the broader F&B value chain in MENA. It is thematically adjacent to Food Africa, overlapping in HORECA buyer segments but with a hospitality rather than pure F&B manufacturing focus.

Regional players

• Foodex Saudi / Saudi Food Show: Saudi Food Show is an F&B trade exhibition in Riyadh that competes with Food Africa for GCC and Middle Eastern exhibitors and buyers. It is regionally adjacent rather than a direct Cairo competitor but draws from the same MEA F&B trade-show wallet.

Emerging players

• ProPak MEA / ProPak Africa: ProPak MEA is a regional processing and packaging trade exhibition that overlaps directly with Food Africa's concurrent interpack MEA event. It competes for packaging/processing exhibitors and buyer attention in the same MEA region.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FoodAfricaCairo
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoodAfricaCairo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Africa