Expo ANTAD

What Expo ANTAD does

Expo ANTAD is an annual B2B trade exhibition organized by ANTAD (Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales), the Mexican national association of self-service and department stores. The 43rd edition was held May 19-21, 2026 at Expo Guadalajara, spanning 52,000 m² of exhibition space and bringing together 1,800+ exhibiting companies with 52,000+ professional visitors from 70 countries. The event serves three primary customer segments: (1) ANTAD-affiliated retail chains acting as Associated Buyers, (2) HoReCa operators (hotels, restaurants, catering) and Invited Buyers seeking procurement opportunities, and (3) product and service suppliers across food and beverages, technology, furniture and equipment, packaging, and general merchandise. The platform is purpose-built around the Encuentros de Negocio (Business Meetings) program, which schedules pre-arranged one-on-one meetings between exhibitors and strategic buyers, supplemented by the Retail Talks conference forum, Sabores y Aromas food showcase, Activación Deportiva networking events, and specialized segments such as Healthy & Fresh and an International pavilion.

The underlying technology is a trade show and business matchmaking event platform rather than a software product. Operational mechanics include online visitor and exhibitor registration, a digital exhibitor directory, a press accreditation portal, and structured meeting scheduling. The business model is event-driven: revenue is generated primarily from exhibitor booth/sponsorship fees (one-time license per edition with tiered stand types and sponsorship packages) and buyer accreditation fees, with Associated Buyers receiving free access and Invited Buyers paying for participation packages that include meeting access and conference attendance. The organization operates with a lean 22-person staff, two offices (Mexico City headquarters at Av. Horacio 1855, Polanco, and a Guadalajara office at Expo Guadalajara), and a multi-year strategic alliance roster spanning beverage sponsors (Coca-Cola), financial services (Visa, HSBC, Bradescard), telecom (Telmex), professional services (Deloitte), logistics (Aeroméxico), and packaging (Tetra Pak). As a non-profit association, Expo ANTAD reinvests operating surplus into the event platform and member services rather than distributing earnings.

Name

Expo ANTAD

Legal name

ANTAD (Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales)

Website

https://expoantad.com.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Expo ANTAD is Mexico's premier annual B2B trade exhibition for retail and HoReCa sectors, organized by ANTAD. It connects 1,800+ exhibiting companies with 52,000+ professional buyers from 70 countries across three days of pre-scheduled business meetings, conferences, and product showcases at Expo Guadalajara.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Show and B2B Event Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industry Trade Shows & Expos (MPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Retail trade exhibition
• B2B trade show
• Business matchmaking events
• HoReCa networking platform
• Retail supplier showcase

Headquarters

HQ city

Mexico City

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor booth/sponsorship fees: Companies pay to exhibit at the event, with various stand types and sponsorship packages available (Retail Talks, sporting events, Sabores y Aromas activations, Soluciones y Tecnologia displays). Pricing tiers range from basic stands to premium sponsorship placements.
2. Buyer accreditation: Associated buyers receive free accreditation while invited buyers may pay for participation packages that include business meeting access and conference attendance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Expo ANTAD organizes the largest annual B2B trade exhibition for the retail and HoReCa sectors in Latin America, held each year at Expo Guadalajara in Mexico. The event connects over 1,800 product and service suppliers with 52,000+ professional buyers from 70 countries through booth exhibitions, pre-scheduled business meetings, themed segments (technology, food and beverages, healthy and fresh, furniture and equipment, international), and conference programs. Revenue is generated from exhibitor booth/sponsorship fees and buyer accreditation packages.

Product overview

Expo ANTAD is a unified annual trade exhibition platform organized by the Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales (ANTAD). The core product is the three-day exhibition at Expo Guadalajara, supported by structured business meeting programs (Encuentros de Negocio), conference forums (Retail Talks), and experiential zones (Sabores y Aromas, Activación Deportiva). The platform serves retail and HoReCa professionals through exhibitor segments spanning Technology, Food & Beverages, Healthy & Fresh, Bakery, Furniture & Equipment, International pavilions, and General Merchandise, while buyer programs (Comprador Asociado, Comprador Invitado) facilitate B2B connections. Over 52,000 professional visitors from 70 countries connect with 1,500+ exhibiting companies across 52,000 m² of exhibition space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Retail Talks: Conference forum within Expo ANTAD where retail leaders share success cases, learnings, and strategies that have transformed their organizations.
• Encuentros de Negocio
• Sabores y Aromas (Food Connections)
• Healthy & Fresh
• Comprador Asociado
• Comprador Invitado

Products and services

• Expo ANTAD (Main Exhibition) Annual retail and HoReCa trade exhibition organized by ANTAD, serving as the primary business networking platform in Latin America where over 52,000 professional buyers connect with 1,800+ exhibiting companies across three days of face-to-face business meetings.
• Encuentros de Negocio (Business Meetings) Pre-scheduled one-on-one business meeting program enabling exhibitors to meet selected buyers and suppliers through a structured agenda, facilitating efficient B2B connections on the exhibition floor.
• Retail Talks Conference forum within Expo ANTAD where retail leaders share success cases, learnings, and strategies that have transformed their organizations, covering innovation, omnichannel approaches, customer experience, digital marketing, talent management, and sustainability.
• Sabores y Aromas (Food Connections) Gastronomic experience zone for live product demonstrations, tastings, and negotiations focused on beverages including tequila, mezcal, wine, and craft beer, connecting brands directly with professional buyers.
• Activación Deportiva (Sports Activation) Sports-based networking activities such as soccer tournaments designed to build professional relationships in a casual environment outside the business floor.
• Comprador Asociado (Associated Buyer Program) Preferential access program for buyers representing ANTAD-affiliated retail chains, offering prioritized accreditation, complete exhibitor directory access, preferred business meeting scheduling, and exclusive event invitations.
• Comprador Invitado (Invited Buyer Program) Invited buyer program providing personalized meeting agendas, access to business meetings and the Business HUB, and specialized content for strategic purchasing decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 52,000+ professional visitors from 70 countries annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• AeroméxicosupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Strategic ally providing air travel coordination for attendees. Listed as a strategic ally alongside other major brands supporting the event logistics.
• BradescardsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Payment solutions partner supporting transaction infrastructure at the event. Listed among strategic allies.
• Coca-ColasupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Beverage sponsor and strategic ally for Expo ANTAD 2026.
• ConstrulitasupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Listed as a strategic ally providing lighting/solutions for the event.
• DeloittesupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Professional services firm listed as a strategic ally for Expo ANTAD 2026.
• GS1 MexicosupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Barcode standards organization co-hosting 'GS1: Codigo Retail' conference track within Expo ANTAD.
• GSIsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Technology solutions partner listed as strategic ally.
• HSBCsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Banking partner listed as strategic ally for Expo ANTAD 2026.
• Heraldo de MexicosupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media partner providing editorial coverage and press registration for the event.
• NIQsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Market intelligence firm listed as strategic ally providing data/insights.
• Philip Morris MexicosupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Tobacco company listed as strategic ally for Expo ANTAD 2026.
• TelmexsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Telecommunications partner providing connectivity and technology infrastructure.
• Tetra PaksupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Food processing and packaging company listed as strategic ally.
• VisasupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Payment network partner supporting transaction infrastructure at the event.
• VoxpopsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Market research/insights firm listed as strategic ally.
• AbastosupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Trade media partner providing editorial coverage of the event.
• AramsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Trade media partner providing editorial coverage of the event.
• Lider EmpresarialsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Business media partner providing editorial coverage of the event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Exphotel México: Mexico's leading hospitality and HoReCa trade show. Directly comparable as a B2B event targeting the same HoReCa buyer segment that Expo ANTAD serves, with overlapping supplier and buyer pools in food, beverage, and equipment.
• EXPO PACK México: Annual packaging trade show in Mexico featuring exhibitors serving retail, food & beverage, and industrial buyers. Comparable B2B exhibition model targeting similar Latin American buyer segments and supplier categories as Expo ANTAD.
• Expo Nacional Ferretera: Mexico's largest hardware, construction, and electrical trade show held annually in Guadalajara. Directly comparable as a B2B trade show organizer serving a specific industry vertical with similar scale and Mexican retail/distribution focus.
• Alimentaria México: Food and beverage industry exhibition in Mexico focused on retail and foodservice channels. Comparable as a B2B food/retail trade show with similar exhibitor and buyer base to Expo ANTAD's Alimentos y Bebidas segment.

Others

• ANTAD (Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales): The parent association that organizes Expo ANTAD. Comparable as the Mexican retail trade association ecosystem player; while not a direct competitor, its membership base underpins Expo ANTAD's competitive position versus other trade events.

Broad incumbents

• SIAL Network (SIAL Paris, SIAL Canada, SIAL America): Global portfolio of B2B food trade shows organized by Comexposium. Comparable as large-scale food/retail B2B exhibitions with international exhibitor bases and Latin American attendance, posing a competitive alternative for Mexican buyers and brands.
• IBTM Americas: Major business events industry trade show serving the MICE and exhibitions sector. Comparable as a meta-event for trade show professionals, providing benchmarking for event organizers and exhibitor strategies relevant to Expo ANTAD.

Emerging players

• Cosmobeauté México: Beauty industry trade show in Mexico serving retail buyers and brand exhibitors. Comparable B2B exhibition model focused on a specific consumer goods vertical sold through Mexican retail channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/expoantad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Expo ANTAD