CAPE TOWN – Africa’s premier food and beverage trade exhibition returns to Cape Town in June as the continent’s food sector enters a defining growth phase, with market projections reaching nearly $567 billion by 2032.
The Africa Food Show 2026 will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 10 to 12 June, positioning itself as Africa’s leading sourcing platform where industry growth meets practical solutions.
Africa’s food and beverage sector, valued at approximately $346 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $567 billion (R9 trillion) by 2032. Longer-term projections place the broader market opportunity at nearly $1 trillion (R16 trillion) by 2030.
The growth is being driven by rapid urbanisation, population expansion, retail modernisation and shifting consumer demand. Rising incomes, a growing middle class and a young, globally-connected consumer base are reshaping purchasing habits and accelerating demand for premium, health-focused, convenience and value-added products.
However, structural challenges remain significant. Hunger is rising across Africa, where more than one in five people are affected. If current trends continue as many as 512 million people could face hunger by 2030, with nearly 60% of them in Africa.
Strategic platform for industry connections
The three-day exhibition will connect retail-ready food and beverage suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and technology providers with senior buyers, wholesalers, importers, exporters, hospitality groups and procurement leaders from across Africa and beyond.
More than 350 local and international exhibitors and over 8 000 industry professionals from 60+ countries are expected to attend, providing a structured platform for sourcing, deal-making, partnership development and expansion into African markets.
“Africa’s F&B sector is brimming with opportunity amid rapid urbanisation, retail transformation and growing consumer demand,” said Margaret Peters, Event Director at dmg events. “But sustained growth depends on stronger connections across the value chain. Africa Food Show 2026 is where suppliers, buyers and industry leaders come together to unlock new partnerships, strengthen route-to-market strategies and drive measurable business growth.”
Following a 21-year legacy as Africa’s Big 7, the event was rebranded in 2025 as Africa Food Show, marking a strategic evolution aligned with the changing needs of the market. The inaugural edition under its new identity welcomed nearly 350 global exhibitors and more than 9 000 industry professionals from over 60 countries.
The 2026 edition will be co-located with Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa, reflecting the structural link between hospitality growth and food procurement. Africa’s hotel development pipeline currently stands at 577 hotels and resorts totalling more than 104 000 rooms, up 13,3% year-on-year, signalling sustained demand for foodservice, ingredients, beverage innovation and operational supply solutions.
Industry support and programming
The 2026 edition is supported by leading industry partners Synercore, Cape Food Ingredients and Crown Food Group.
“As Platinum Sponsors of Africa Food Show, we see first-hand how critical this platform is for connecting manufacturers with serious buyers across Africa,” says Alex Zabbia, Executive-Dairy at Synercore. “The show creates real commercial momentum, from new product development to distribution partnerships, and reflects the collaborative growth mindset needed to strengthen Africa’s food ecosystem.”
Africa Food Show 2026 will combine structured networking with high-impact content designed to attract qualified buyers. Headline features will include the Africa Culinary Cup 2026, hosted in partnership with the South African Chefs Association, bringing junior culinary teams from across Africa and the Middle East to compete on an international stage.
Additional programming includes Game of Chefs, a live culinary innovation competition, National Pizza Challenge and National Burger Challenge showcasing craftsmanship and product innovation, and on-floor workshops focused on innovation, sustainability, food safety and growth strategy.
