Speciality & Fine Food Fair

What Speciality & Fine Food Fair does

Speciality & Fine Food Fair (operated by Angus Montgomery Ltd, part of the Montgomery Group) runs the UK's leading annual B2B trade exhibition for artisanal food and drink, held for 26+ years at Olympia London and from 2027 at Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. The event connects hundreds of artisan and fine food producers — from start-ups in the Start-Up Village to established brands — with vetted trade buyers across retail (Selfridges, Tesco, Booths, Ocado), hospitality, foodservice, manufacturing, import/export and wholesale channels, supported by curated programmes such as Pitch Live (in partnership with IND!E), Regional Producer Showcase, Meet the Buyer, and the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards.

The platform comprises the core three-day exhibition plus an extended ecosystem of digital products: a Digital Fair Preview and searchable Exhibitor List & Products Directory, Exhibitor Spotlights content series, podcasts (2022-2024 editions), a Producer Advice Hub, and a Seminar Programme. Co-location from 2027 with IFE, IFE Manufacturing, HRC, The Pub Show, Hospitality Tech360 and International Salon Culinaire is expected to draw 25,000+ verified trade visitors.

The business model is event-driven B2B: primary revenue from exhibitor stand bookings (pricing on enquiry, multi-year contracts), supplemented by supplier badge fees (£350 inc VAT), and sponsorship/partnership arrangements with trade associations, media outlets and award bodies (Guild of Fine Food, Great Taste Awards, Speciality Food Magazine, Fine Food Digest and others). Trade visitor attendance is free with vetting via LinkedIn or trade documentation, positioning the buyer side as a quality-curated distribution channel that the Fair monetises on the exhibitor side.

Name

Speciality & Fine Food Fair

Legal name

Angus Montgomery Ltd

Website

https://specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Exhibition Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

Keywords

• B2B trade fairs
• Specialty food exhibition
• Artisan food sourcing
• Fine food events
• Hospitality trade shows

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Stand Bookings: Revenue generated from food and drink producers who pay to exhibit at the Fair to showcase their products to trade buyers
2. Supplier Registration Fees: Suppliers (non-exhibitors) pay £350 inc VAT to attend the event as trade visitors
3. Sponsorship & Partnership: Partnership opportunities with industry media, trade associations, and organizations that support the event

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Speciality & Fine Food Fair runs an annual B2B trade exhibition that connects artisanal food and drink producers with vetted trade buyers from retail, hospitality, foodservice, manufacturing, import/export and wholesale sectors. The core commercial offerings include exhibitor stand bookings at the physical event, paid supplier registration badges for non-exhibitor attendees (£350 inc VAT), the Pitch Live pitching programme run with IND!E, and the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards. From 2027 the event relocates to Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.

Product overview

Speciality & Fine Food Fair is an annual trade exhibition operating as the UK's leading showcase of artisanal food and drink for over 26 years. The core product is the physical Fair event, which serves as a discovery platform connecting producers with buyers across retail, hospitality, food service, manufacturing, and wholesale sectors. From 2027, the Fair will move to Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. The offering includes the main exhibition alongside supporting products: the Start-Up Village for emerging brands, Pitch Live for competitive pitching to major buyers, the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards programme, Regional Producer Showcase for geographic discovery, Meet the Buyer Programme for curated introductions, Seminar Programme for industry insights, Digital Fair Preview for pre-show browsing, Producer Advice Hub for exhibitor guidance, Exhibitor Spotlights for brand profiles, Podcasts for audio content, and an Exhibitor List & Products Directory for directory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pitch Live: A platform in partnership with IND!E that provides exhibitors the opportunity to pitch their products to buyers including Ocado, Booths, Diverse Fine Food, British Airways, and Selfridges.
• Start-Up Village
• Regional Producer Showcase
• Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards

Products and services

• Speciality & Fine Food Fair (Annual Trade Exhibition)

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of visitors have influence and purchasing power
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IND!EcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIND!E empowers small businesses by providing retail opportunities and educational resources. Through strategic partnerships, such as with Ocado, initiatives like Pop-Up Shops within major retailers and Pitch Live, IND!E fosters a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their learning hub offers industry insights to help SMEs achieve sustainable growth. IND!E is a key partner for the Pitch Live programme where exhibitors pitch to buyers.
• Guild of Fine FoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Guild of Fine Food has been championing independent food and drink retailers, and the producers, wholesalers and distributors that supply them, since 1995. Committed to supporting and encouraging business across the sector, they speak up for the needs of the independents, celebrate excellence and create a network of relationships between retailer, producer, and food lover. Involved since the show's inception over 25 years ago.
• Great Taste AwardscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe world's largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme, Great Taste offers a unique benchmarking and product evaluation service, leading to 1-, 2- or 3-star awards that encourage confidence and commercial success for quality food & drink businesses.
• Nourish AwardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrestigious award program for food, beverage & supplement products established in 2018 to recognise healthy alternatives, naturally free-from and functional food options in the UK and beyond.
• Free From AwardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe UK's ONLY awards dedicated to free from food and drink. They celebrate the very best in free from with rigorous taste testing and clear, compliant labelling.
• Farm Retail AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Farm Retail Association began as The Farm Shop and PYO Association in 1979 and supports, shares and learns with farmers who have had to learn retailing from scratch.
• BIRA (British Independent Retailers Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBIRA works as the voice of independent retail businesses, fighting for a level playing field for the independent sector. They provide support on areas of strain like business rates, parking and staffing.
• Women in Food IndustryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampioning and celebrating women in the UK food industry. THE place for conversation, insight, news, events, podcasts, stories, networking and community support across all sectors of the food industry.
• City HarvestminorOthersLondon's safe, sustainable solution to surplus food redistribution. City Harvest rescues food, people, and the planet, feeding 350+ charities.
• Creating Nature's CorridorsminorOthersOn a journey to re-wild corridors of land in the UK to encourage biodiversity and carbon capture. Aiming to plant over 10,000 trees/hedges across the UK per annum.
• Bread & JamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA vibrant community of the UK's most exciting emerging food & drink brands, shaking up the industry since 2016. They support the growth of hundreds of challenger brands through workshops, summits, and socials.
• Speciality Food MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunched in 2002, Speciality Food is the UK's largest circulated trade magazine for the fine food industry, offering the latest news, views and issues directly from the food and drink industry.
• Fine Food DigestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEssential reading for independent retailers, Fine Food Digest is packed with advice from sector experts, product recommendations and stories from like-minded small business owners.
• Gama NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDaily news service and quarterly magazine reporting the latest news from the global FMCG industry with a readership of over 30,000 including suppliers, distributors, and professionals.
• Food and Beverage BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading global B2B platform serving the food and beverage industry with timely insights, trends, and resources. Digital magazine read by around 8,000 monthly with 240,000+ monthly readers.
• Virtual Cheese AwardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCelebrating the Best of British Cheese with four successful awards attracting entries from hundreds of cheesemakers from all four corners of the British Isles.
• Invest Northern IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional business development agency helping new and existing businesses to compete internationally, and attracting new investment to Northern Ireland.
• Garden Centre AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEstablished in 1966, the GCA represents leading garden centres within the UK and worldwide as part of the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA).
• Contract Catering MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe only title in the UK focusing on the £11 billion UK contract catering market. Over 30,000 monthly digital and print copies distributed to decision makers across all out of home channels.
• OOH MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly magazine covering the £17bn food-to-go industry with focus on café, coffee shop, sandwich bar, high street bakery, fast-casual, and in-store cafés.
• Café Life MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade magazine of the UK's Café Life trade association and most long established dedicated source of news and information for the UK's café sector.
• Sandwich & Food To Go NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe British Sandwich & Food to Go Association represents those businesses in the manufacture, retailing and supply of ingredients/equipment for the sandwich and food to go markets.
• The World of HospitalityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier publication serving as a leading voice in the global hospitality industry, offering in-depth coverage of luxury trends, design innovations, and operational excellence.
• Giftware AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAt the heart of the gift and home industry, connecting members with the right people and services to build reputation and help business thrive.
• FDReviewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovative service providing honest and impartial feedback on food & drink products in early development as well as directions on how to make them right for the consumer market.
• Food Marketing ExpertsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing agency creating new possibilities and delivering profitable results in line with marketing objectives, whether sales growth, brand awareness, education, or social reach.
• TICKEATminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic business partner for food and beverage brands seeking to place their products in the travel, leisure and hospitality industries. Founded in 2015 by Heerum Fleary after a career in airline catering.
• Hopscotch GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent organiser associated with IFE events, part of the co-located Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.
• IFEcoreOthersInternational Food Expo - co-located event within Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. IFE welcomes more than 25,000 trade visitors across three days.
• IFE ManufacturingminorOthersCo-located event within Food, Drink & Hospitality Week focusing on food and drink manufacturing.
• HRCminorOthersCo-located event within Food, Drink & Hospitality Week focusing on hospitality and catering equipment.
• The Pub ShowminorOthersCo-located event within Food, Drink & Hospitality Week focused on the pub industry.
• Hospitality Tech360minorOthersCo-located event within Food, Drink & Hospitality Week focused on hospitality technology.
• International Salon CulinaireminorOthersCo-located event within Food, Drink & Hospitality Week featuring culinary competitions and demonstrations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IFE (International Food Expo): Co-located anchor event at Food, Drink & Hospitality Week targeting UK and international food and drink buyers. Directly comparable B2B food trade show serving overlapping retail, hospitality, wholesale, and foodservice audiences with a wider mainstream food and beverage remit than SFFF's speciality focus.
• Fancy Food Show (Specialty Food Association): North America's leading B2B trade event for speciality, artisanal, and gourmet food and drink, connecting producers with retail and foodservice buyers. Closest international analogue to SFFF in mission, audience (delis, independents, premium retailers), and curation model.
• Drinktec / Beviale: Leading global trade fair for the beverage industry held in Munich, connecting producers of drinks and liquid food with international industry buyers. Comparable B2B annual trade exhibition targeting speciality beverage producers and major retail/foodservice accounts.
• ProWein: World-leading B2B trade fair for wine and spirits held annually in Düsseldorf, connecting producers with international retail, hospitality, and wholesale buyers. Operates the same annual trade-show model with curated exhibitor bases and verified trade visitors as SFFF.
• TuttoFood Milan: B2B trade exhibition for the food and beverage industry held in Milan alongside HostMilano. Serves Italian and international speciality food producers with retail, hospitality, and foodservice buyers in a comparable curated discovery environment.

Broad incumbents

• Gulfood: Largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition in the Middle East, held in Dubai, connecting global food producers with regional distributors, retailers, and hospitality buyers. Comparable B2B trade show scale and buyer-vetting model.
• SIAL Paris: One of the world's largest food and beverage trade fairs, held biennially in Paris, serving global food manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice buyers. Broader mainstream scope than SFFF but the dominant global reference point for the same B2B trade exhibition category.
• FoodEx Japan: Asia's largest B2B food and beverage trade exhibition, held annually in Tokyo, serving importers, distributors, retailers, and foodservice buyers across the Asia-Pacific region. Operates the same verified-buyer trade show model at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Allergy & Free From Show: UK B2B and consumer trade exhibition focused on free-from food and drink, with overlapping exhibitor and visitor bases in speciality retail and hospitality. Smaller, more focused peer within the UK fine food trade show category that competes for the same producer audience.
• Bread & Jam: UK community and events programme supporting challenger food and drink brands through workshops, summits, and networking. Overlaps with SFFF's Start-Up Village and producer-focused audience but operates at smaller scale and more as a community platform than a trade exhibition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMfpClagK54_SbvpJQDcxhQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialityFair
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/speciality-fine-food-fair
• Instagraminstagram.com/SpecialityFair
• Xx.com/specialityfair

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Speciality & Fine Food Fair