Pizza Expo

What Pizza Expo does

Pizza Expo is a trade show and media company serving the global pizza industry, organized and produced by Emerald X, LLC. The business is anchored by the International Pizza Expo, an annual flagship event held at the Las Vegas Convention Center since 1984-1985 that attracts more than 10,000 pizzeria professionals and over 500 exhibitors annually and is ranked among the Top 100 trade shows in the U.S. The portfolio was expanded in 2025 with the launch of Pizza Expo Columbus, a regional Midwest event at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, and the 2026 edition added the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale and SIGEP USA as co-located international competitions.

The product surface spans live events (the flagship expo, regional event, competitions such as the International Pizza Challenge and World Pizza Games), a media arm (Pizza Today magazine, founded 1984, plus The Hot Slice podcast and newsletters), and a digital layer (the Pizza Expo mobile app for matchmaking and scheduling). Technology is not a differentiator; the mobile app and event management tools are operational utilities rather than core platform assets.

Revenue is generated through four streams: exhibitor booth fees (the primary stream, paid by 500+ equipment, ingredient, and service suppliers), attendee registration (early-bird pricing observed at $40 for the Columbus event), event sponsorships (presenting, silver, and competition-tier packages from brands such as Hobart, Grande Cheese, Saputo, and Galbani), and paid educational workshops. Customer segments include pizzeria owners and operators (primary attendee segment), pizza industry suppliers and exhibitors (primary revenue segment), professional pizza makers competing in events, and industry media. The go-to-market is event-driven, with year-round content marketing through Pizza Today and digital channels feeding the annual cycle.

Name

Pizza Expo

Legal name

Emerald X, LLC.

Website

https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pizza Expo is a B2B trade show operator serving the global pizza industry, anchored by its annual International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, the regional Pizza Expo Columbus, and the Pizza Today magazine media brand, producing competitions, workshops, and year-round content for pizzeria owners, operators, and suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Trade Show and Event Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Shows & Exhibitions (Booths, Show Management) (BPAFAGAD), Industry Trade Shows & Expos (MPAGAGAA), Pizza QSR (THAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Pizza industry trade show
• B2B food service events
• Commercial foodservice exhibitions
• Pizzeria education workshops
• Food service trade media

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth Fees: Pizza Expo generates primary revenue from exhibitors (equipment, ingredient, and service providers) who pay for booth space to showcase products to pizzeria professionals. The exhibit hall features over 500 suppliers.
2. Attendee Registration: Registration fees charged to pizzeria owners, operators, and industry professionals attending the event. Early bird registration for Pizza Expo Columbus was priced at $40. General attendee pricing varies by timing and pass type.
3. Sponsorship & Advertising: Event sponsorships including presenting sponsors, silver sponsors, and competition sponsors. Companies like Hobart, Grande Cheese, Cheese Hog Machine, Bacio Cheese, Daiya Foods, and Galbani sponsor various competitions and event activations.
4. Educational Workshops: Fee-based workshops and intensive sessions taught by industry veterans covering topics like kitchen efficiencies, restaurant opening strategies, and operational improvements. These are premium add-on offerings beyond general admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pizza Expo operates and produces large-scale B2B trade show events for the pizza industry, primarily the annual International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas and the regional Pizza Expo Columbus. It monetizes through exhibitor booth sales, attendee registration, sponsorship/advertising packages, and paid educational workshops, while publishing the Pizza Today industry magazine as a year-round media platform supporting the events.

Product overview

Pizza Expo operates as a trade show and event company producing multiple pizza industry events. Its core product portfolio consists of two major trade shows: International Pizza Expo (the world's largest pizza industry trade show held annually in Las Vegas) and Pizza Expo Columbus (a regional Midwest show). The company also publishes Pizza Today magazine as its media arm. The expo events feature multiple competitive programs including the International Pizza Challenge, World Pizza Games, and International Italian Sandwich Championship, with the 2026 edition hosting the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale for the first time in the U.S. The company offers a proprietary mobile app for attendees to navigate shows, connect with exhibitors, and access schedules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pizza Today: Leading magazine for pizza professionals providing industry insights, trends, recipes and operational advice

Products and services

• International Pizza Expo Annual flagship B2B trade show for the pizza industry held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, attracting 10,000+ pizzeria professionals and 500+ exhibitors for product discovery, education, networking, and competitions.
• Pizza Expo Columbus Regional Midwest edition of the Pizza Expo trade show at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, serving pizzeria operators east of the Mississippi with exhibitions, education, and the Great American Pizza Challenge competition.
• Pizza Today Magazine Leading industry print and digital publication for pizzeria professionals, delivering insider tips, operational advice, recipes, industry news, and trends since 1984, headquartered in Louisville, KY.
• International Pizza Challenge Headline competition of International Pizza Expo featuring multiple pizza-making divisions with prize money, judged by industry experts, open for paid registration by professional pizzaiolos.
• World Pizza Games Athletic-style pizza maker competitions including acrobatic dough tossing, fastest dough, largest dough stretch, fastest box folding, and pizza triathlon, staged as part of the International Pizza Expo.
• International Italian Sandwich Championship Competition for Italian-inspired sandwiches hosted within the International Pizza Challenge area, sponsored by Galbani Cheese, open to professional entrants for industry recognition.
• Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale Premier artisan gelato competition grand finale hosted at Pizza Expo 2026 for the first time in the U.S., featuring 34 finalists from 18 countries competing for World's Best Gelato Master.
• School of Pizzeria Management Workshops Fee-based intensive multi-hour workshops offered at International Pizza Expo covering operational, culinary, and business topics such as dough fermentation, hiring programs, kitchen efficiencies, and restaurant openings.
• Pizza Expo Mobile App Official mobile application serving as the show guide for International Pizza Expo with exhibitor listings, interactive floor maps, attendee matchmaking tools, scheduling, and real-time event updates.
• The Hot Slice Podcast Podcast series by Pizza Today featuring interviews with pizza industry professionals, competition coverage, and business insights for pizzeria operators and suppliers.
• Great American Pizza Challenge Pizza-making competition hosted within Pizza Expo Columbus featuring categories such as America's Best Pepperoni Slice, Traditional Thin, Gluten-Free, and Dessert pizzas.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record-setting attendance with more attendees, exhibitors, competitors than ever before
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Gelato Festival World MasterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Historic partnership bringing the Gelato Festival World Masters' Grand Finale to Pizza Expo 2026 for the first time in the competition's 16-year history outside of Italy. Features 34 finalists from 18 countries competing for the title of World's Best Gelato Master.
• SIGEP USAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026First-ever SIGEP USA event at Pizza Expo 2026, organized by Italian Exhibition Group, bringing Italian artisanal excellence and innovation to the pizza and food service sectors.
• HobartmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Premium commercial food equipment manufacturer sponsoring a custom-designed mixer and food processor giveaway at Pizza Expo 2026. Valued at over $62,000 combined ($50,000 Legacy+ HL662 mixer and $12,000 FP250 food processor).
• Pizza Today MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Pizza Today magazine is the presenting publication partner of International Pizza Expo. Founded in 1984, it has been the pizzeria industry's most trusted and valuable educational business resource for over four decades. The magazine provides editorial content, the Hot Slice podcast, industry news coverage, and serves as the primary media partner for the expo.
• Emerald (Emerald X, LLC)coreOthersEmerald is the producing company behind International Pizza Expo and Pizza Expo Columbus. With over 140 annual events, Emerald builds dynamic B2B platforms integrating live events with industry insights and digital tools.
• Grande CheeseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Pizza Games Finals & Block Party event at Pizza Expo.
• Cheese Hog MachineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Beer & Bull Networking event and Pizza Games Finals & Block Party.
• Bacio CheeseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Bacio Legacy Non-Traditional Division pizza competition featuring Bacio Cheese products.
• Daiya FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Dairy-Free Competition featuring Daiya Foods Dairy-Free Cheeses for plant-based pizza categories.
• Galbani CheeseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the International Italian Sandwich Championship competition.
• SaputominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Pizza Expo mobile app as listed in the mobile app sponsorship section.
• Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with LVCVA for hosting Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week, combining four premier trade shows (Bar & Restaurant Expo, International Pizza Expo, SIAL America, World Tea Conference) at Las Vegas Convention Center.
• Italian Trade AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale at Pizza Expo 2026, along with Sigep and Carpigiani.
• CarpigianiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale, providing Frozen Dessert University gelato classes during Pizza Expo 2026.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Restaurant Association Show: The largest U.S. foodservice trade show (NRA Show) covers the broader restaurant industry. Highly comparable as a B2B trade show serving restaurateurs with exhibitor booths, education, and competitions — Pizza Expo is essentially the pizza-specific vertical of this category.
• International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE): Premier U.S. baking industry trade show held triennially. Comparable as a B2B trade show serving commercial bakers with exhibitors, education and competitions — adjacent vertical with overlapping dough/pizza equipment exhibitor base.
• SIGEP (Italian Exhibition Group): Italy's leading foodservice trade show for pastry, pizza, and coffee. Now operates SIGEP USA at Pizza Expo. Direct competitor/partner in the pizza trade show space globally with similar artisanal content and competitions.
• SIAL America: Major B2B food exhibition co-located with Pizza Expo at Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week. Comparable as a foodservice/CPG trade show with similar exhibitor-supplier dynamics and Las Vegas venue.
• Bar & Restaurant Expo: Operated by Emerald X (Pizza Expo's parent) and co-located in Las Vegas during Food & Beverage Industry Week. Direct peer as a B2B foodservice trade show serving bar/restaurant operators with exhibitors and education.

Broad incumbents

• Clarion Events (food/hospitality portfolio): Large diversified B2B events organizer producing multiple industry trade shows. Comparable as a broad incumbent in B2B exhibitions, though not specializing in pizza.
• Informa Markets Food Series: Informa operates major foodservice trade shows including the NRA Show and various specialty food events. Comparable as a diversified trade show organizer at much larger scale, with overlapping exhibitor and attendee pools.
• Questex (food and hospitality events): Diversified B2B media and events company producing hospitality and foodservice events including Food Hotel Asia and similar specialty shows. Comparable as an incumbent operator in the B2B food/hospitality events space.

Regional players

• HOST Milano: One of the world's largest hospitality and foodservice trade shows held biennially in Milan. Comparable as a B2B foodservice exhibition, but primarily serves European/Italian markets rather than direct U.S. competition.

Emerging players

• Pizza Marketplace: Online B2B media platform serving pizzeria operators with news, supplier directory, and educational content. Comparable as an emerging digital-first player targeting the same pizzeria operator audience that Pizza Expo serves in-person.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PizzaExpo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PizzaTodayMagazine
• Facebookfacebook.com/PizzaExpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pizzaexpo
• Instagraminstagram.com/pizzaexpo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Pizza Expo