foodpro wrap-up: the event welcomed over 10,000 visitors

The foodpro event delivered record engagement across four days at MCEC, with 500+ exhibitors and more than 10,000 visitors on the show floor.

The event brought together many of the industry’s most recognised names alongside a strong contingent of specialist Australian suppliers. Global and national brands exhibiting this year included Tetra Pak, GEA Australia, Sealed Air, Endress+Hauser, MULTIVAC Australia, TOMRA Food, JBT Marel, HEAT AND CONTROL, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Kikkoman Australia, BOC and Air Liquide Australia, joining 400+ additional exhibitors spanning processing, packaging, ingredients, digital factories, logistics and sustainability.

The show floor was further elevated by a program of co-located industry events, including the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST26) Conference, the Australasian Institute of Packaging’s (AIP) training courses and seminars, the inaugural PIDA Awards Gala Dinner held alongside foodpro, and the Industry Connect Evening at Melbourne Public on the Yarra, which brought exhibitors and visitors together for opening-night networking.

With one in five visitors returning across multiple days, foodpro 2026 recorded strong dwell time and repeat engagement, as attendees moved between live equipment demonstrations at the Demo Exchange, the Innovation Stage, the Business Lounge and Industry Hub feature area to evaluate technology, meet suppliers and build relationships that will shape purchasing decisions well beyond the show.

“This year’s growth reflects the appetite for innovation across Australian food and beverage manufacturing, and the trust the industry continues to place in foodpro. The scale of the show, and the quality of the conversations happening on the floor, tell us this is more than an event — it’s a platform the industry relies on to move forward together. That growth in support cements foodpro’s place as the must-attend event for the industry, not just in Australia, but across the region,” said Louise Brooks, Event Director, foodpro.

The session topics on the innovation stage reflected the breadth of the show floor itself, spanning automation, robotics and predictive maintenance for the plant floor; sustainable and circular packaging solutions; food safety and traceability technology; and innovation in ingredients and alternative proteins. The presentations also explored the digital transformation of manufacturing, including AI-driven quality inspection and IoT-enabled monitoring, alongside sessions on export opportunities and the evolving regulatory landscape facing Australian food and beverage manufacturers.

With foodpro 2026 now complete, organisers will turn their attention to sharing key takeaways from the show, following up on the leads and connections made on the floor, and beginning preparations for the next edition of Australia’s leading trade event for food processing, packaging and innovation — foodtech Sydney 2027. Further details on this event will be announced in the coming months.