ANTAD & Alimentaria 2026: Mexico Presents Latin America's Largest Gastronomy Fair

Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria presents itself as the largest gastronomic fair in Latin America, occupying 55,000 m² of commercial space and bringing together 1,800 exhibitors from 35 different countries. Without a doubt, this is the most important platform in Mexico for fostering business relationships in the food and beverage sector. This international exhibition, which took place from March 25 to 27, 2025 at Expo Guadalajara, Mexico, attracts approximately 45,000 professional visitors annually.

Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria 2025 brought together food industry leaders

Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria currently constitutes the most relevant international business platform for the food sector in Mexico and Latin America. This professional event annually brings together thousands of participants from the business world, establishing itself as the essential meeting point for the industry.

What is Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico?

Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico represents the international business platform where the retail sector, industrial players and producers converge to strengthen and foster commercial relationships with extensive business opportunities for Mexico's food and beverage sector. This professional fair covers multiple market segments, including food, beverages, bakery, healthy products, general merchandise, furniture, equipment, technology and logistics.

The event offers a unique opportunity to connect with more than 52,000 decision-makers and be part of the over 1,400 exhibitors from 67 countries, who present approximately 50,000 products and 5,000 new launches as business opportunities. During previous editions, commercial transactions exceeding 16 billion pesos have been generated, a figure that demonstrates the event's significant economic impact.

The exhibition is aimed at both the retail sector and the entire food industry, from distribution (importers, distributors, retailers, supermarkets, department stores and specialty stores) to the food service sector, which includes restaurants, hotel chains, industrial cafeterias and cruise suppliers.

Merger of two international platforms

In September 2015, ANTAD and Alimentaria Exhibitions joined forces with the goal of establishing themselves as an international reference forum in the circuit of food fairs in the agri-food sector in the American continent. This strategic alliance combines the experience of two leading event organizers to develop a fair that, while having a local character, possesses a truly international reach.

ANTAD (National Association of Supermarkets and Department Stores) guarantees the attendance of virtually all the country's distribution channels, due to its maximum representation among points of sale, commerce and sector chains in Mexico. On the other hand, Alimentaria Exhibitions contributes its international experience in organizing world-class food fairs.

Vicente Yáñez, who was executive president of ANTAD, stated that this collaboration "represents a great opportunity for the Mexican retail sector." Likewise, J. Antoni Valls, general director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, maintained that the celebration of ExpoANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico means "consolidating Alimentaria Exhibitions' leadership as an organizer of food events in Mexico and guaranteeing the participation of the main stakeholders of Mexican mass distribution in the fair."

Main objectives of the event

The fundamental purpose of Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria is to create a unique space for international commercial exchange, facilitating contact between producers, distributors and buyers. Among its main objectives are:

• Promote products and services, establish business contacts and strengthen corporate relationships
• Facilitate business meetings that drive growth in the retail and HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants and Catering) service sectors
• Offer a platform to connect with decision-makers and discover new trends
• Present innovative products and facilitate business meetings that can take participating companies to the next level
• Establish itself as the international reference forum in the circuit of agri-food sector fairs in the American continent

The fair also includes activities such as the "Retail Talks" program, which offers specialized conferences with experts on global trends and retail sector technology. Additionally, it incorporates thematic pavilions like "Vegan" and "Bakery Flavors," where attendees can experience and sample different product options.

Certainly, the event has adapted to global trends such as digitalization and nearshoring, which represent key opportunities for Mexico in the coming years. Diego Cosío, current executive president of ANTAD, has emphasized: "Mexico has a unique opportunity in the next five to 10 years to grow more equitably and regionally, in addition to having an exceptional demographic bonus until 2030."

Event to be held at Expo Guadalajara in March 2026

The forty-third edition of Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria will take place at one of Mexico's most important exhibition venues. This event, considered the most relevant for the retail sector, gastronomy and hospitality in all of Latin America, already has projected dates for its 2026 celebration.

Confirmed dates and possible changes

While the 2025 edition took place from March 25 to 27 at Expo Guadalajara, organizers already project that the 2026 edition will presumably take place in March of next year. This annual continuity reflects the event's importance in the Latin American trade fair calendar.

However, it's important to note that all dates are subject to possible modifications. Therefore, interested exhibitors and visitors should contact the organizers directly before planning their attendance. This practice is common for events of this magnitude, where last-minute adjustments may arise due to various logistical or planning factors.

Traditionally, Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria maintains its schedule during March, thus keeping a fixed space in the sector's professional event calendar. The consistency in dates facilitates annual planning for participating companies and professional visitors.

Exact location and how to get there

Expo Guadalajara, the event venue, is strategically located at Avenida Mariano Otero #1499, Colonia Verde Valle, C.P. 44550, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. This exhibition center has established itself as one of the country's most important venues, recognized both for its modern infrastructure and international atmosphere.

Guadalajara, for its part, offers a constantly growing commercial and innovative ecosystem, providing the perfect setting for an event that drives retail commerce development and establishes new trends in the industry. The city has excellent national and international air connections, as well as a wide hotel offering that facilitates participants' stays.

Exhibition venue infrastructure

Expo Guadalajara has been implementing a continuous strategy of improvement and expansion of its facilities. Recently, the venue acquired a new 13,960 square meter plot, which will significantly increase its capacity to host large-scale events like Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria.

Under the leadership of José Andrés Orendáin De Obeso, who assumed the presidency of the venue in May 2025, Expo Guadalajara projects continued growth in three fundamental areas: infrastructure, international reach and sustainability. "We're pursuing growth in infrastructure because we want to remain the most modern, functional and competitive venue in the country," stated the president.

Among the planned infrastructure projects are:

• Construction of pedestrian bridges in the surrounding area
• Implementation of systems for rainwater collection and utilization
• An estimated investment of between 100 and 120 million pesos in various improvements

Additionally, the venue has allocated 12 million pesos for infrastructure renovation during 2024, contemplating nine major maintenance projects, including:

• Remodeling of 13,200 square meters of the Event Hall ceiling
• Reinforcement of rain gutters and roof waterproofing
• Maintenance of partition walls in the Jalisco, Guadalajara and Event Halls
• Complete repair of the Jalisco Hall air conditioning ducts
• Update of the Guadalajara Hall lighting system and acoustic insulation

Likewise, Expo Guadalajara has become the only venue in Mexico with a comprehensive sustainability strategy, including actions to reduce carbon footprint, community support, and promotion of diversity and inclusion. These initiatives strengthen its position as the ideal venue for international events of Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria's magnitude.

International organizers coordinate the fair

The success of Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria 2026 rests on a solid strategic alliance between international organizers with extensive experience in the trade fair and food sectors. This collaboration merges knowledge of the Mexican market with international experience in world-class events.

ANTAD: National Association of Supermarkets

The National Association of Supermarkets and Department Stores (ANTAD) represents Mexico's main retail network. As a local partner, ANTAD contributes its deep knowledge of the Mexican retail market and guarantees the attendance of virtually all the country's distribution channels to the event. Its maximum representation among points of sale, commerce and sector chains in Mexico ensures strong participation of national buyers.

Vicente Yáñez, former executive president of ANTAD, highlighted that the alliance to organize Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico "represents a great opportunity for the Mexican retail sector." The association not only contributes its knowledge of the local market but also represents Alimentaria Exhibitions' interests in Mexico, in addition to being responsible for organizing missions of Mexican buyers to attend Alimentaria Barcelona.

This collaboration between organizers allows the event to position itself as an international reference forum in the circuit of agri-food sector fairs in the American continent, granting the fair and its respective organizers the status of leaders in organizing food and beverage events in Mexico.

Alimentaria Exhibitions: European fair experience

Alimentaria Exhibitions, for its part, is a Fira de Barcelona company specialized in organizing international events dedicated to the food sector. This company contributes its vast experience and knowledge of the international market of sector operators, imprinting a character of maximum internationalization to the event.

Headquartered in Barcelona, Alimentaria Exhibitions has a network of international agents in more than 45 countries, allowing it to open markets and support the food industry in its growth and international expansion. Among the prestigious events it organizes are:

• Alimentaria in Barcelona, Lisbon and Mexico
• Alimentaria FoodTech (formerly Barcelona Food Technologies)
• Barcelona Degusta

Alimentaria Exhibitions' professional fairs are characterized by bringing together the best sector offerings, attracting the market's main operators and showcasing the latest trends and advances in R&D&i in the food industry. Likewise, they foster commercial networking and business meetings with buyers from around the world to promote business opportunities.

J. Antoni Valls, general director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, pointed out that the celebration of ExpoANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico means "consolidating Alimentaria Exhibitions' leadership as an organizer of food events in Mexico and guaranteeing the participation in the fair of the main stakeholders of Mexican mass distribution."

Collaboration with RX Global and Fira Barcelona

Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico represents a partnership model that Alimentaria Exhibitions has also implemented in other countries to give international visibility to the Alimentaria brand. After 14 years of continuous presence in the Mexican market, Mexico has consolidated itself as a priority value enclave for Alimentaria Exhibitions' international strategy and the expansion of its main asset, the Alimentaria brand.

Alimentaria Exhibitions, as a Fira de Barcelona company, leverages the experience and prestige of the latter, considered one of Europe's most important trade fair organizations. This backing allows the fair to count on solid infrastructure and knowledge in organizing international events.

On the other hand, Alimentaria Exhibitions' fair model is based on permanent innovation and the creation of disruptive spaces that provide knowledge and proposals to current challenges facing food companies, restaurants or gastronomic tourism. This innovative vision is transferred to Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria, making the event a reference for the sector.

The Alimentaria & Hostelco 2026 edition, which will take place from March 23 to 26, 2026 at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue, will coincide with the celebration of Alimentaria's 50th anniversary - five decades of history accompanying the food industry in its growth and development.

This milestone reinforces the importance of the Alimentaria brand globally and its international projection through events like Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico, consolidating an international collaboration strategy that benefits both organizers and fair participants.

Agri-food industry and retail take center stage

The agri-food sector and retail represent two fundamental pillars for Mexico's economy, strategically united at Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria 2026. This collaboration has been key to guaranteeing timely supply and efficient commercialization processes throughout the country.

The supply chain and retail sector of the agri-food industry are essential to meet national consumer needs, standing out for their operational capacity that maintains the supply and commercialization of food products. This coordinated work develops a social responsibility toward consumers regarding product availability, price and quality.

A notable example of this alliance is the agreement established between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and ANTAD, through which agricultural companies certified in the Senasica Contamination Risk Reduction System manage to integrate into the Certification Model of the http://antad.biz platform. This mechanism provides competitive advantages to producers, allowing them to establish commercial links with more than 47,000 stores in Mexico.

Likewise, consumers find in ANTAD-affiliated stores a wide variety of certified agri-food products that meet safety requirements, including strawberries, chili peppers, cilantro, tomatoes, bananas, mangoes, papayas, melons, lettuce, avocados, pitahayas, nopales and berries.

The retail sector's economic impact is significant. ANTAD-associated chains have invested $3 billion in store renovations and openings, generating employment for more than 825,699 people. Additionally, in the last 10 years, ANTAD associates have increased their installed capacity at an average annual rate of 7.9%.

On the other hand, ANTAD associates' retail sales represent 50.1% of the national total, making this association an economic thermometer for the country. During February 2024, for example, total store growth of 12.3% was observed compared to the same period the previous year, representing the best result in the last 10 months.

Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria 2026 will consolidate this synergy between both sectors, offering a unique space where innovation, quality and added value of Mexican products will be protagonists of the most important retail and agri-food commerce event in Latin America.

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