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foodpro 2026 Wraps in Melbourne, Showcasing the Next Generation of Food & Bev Manufacturing Innovation

Diversified Australia

Key Facts:

• foodpro 2026 was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 26–29 July, attracting 10,468 unique visitors and 519 exhibitors showcasing food processing, packaging, ingredients, digital manufacturing technology and sustainability innovations.
• One in five attendees returned across multiple days, with strong engagement recorded at live demonstrations, the Innovation Stage, the Business Lounge and the Industry Hub, alongside co-located events including the AIFST26 Conference and the inaugural PIDA Awards Gala Dinner.
• Global and national brands including Tetra Pak, GEA Australia, MULTIVAC Australia, TOMRA Food and Thermo Fisher Scientific were among the exhibitors, joining over 400 additional suppliers from across the food and beverage value chain.
• The free-to-attend Innovation Stage featured presentations across all four days covering automation, robotics, sustainable packaging, food safety, AI-driven quality inspection, alternative proteins and the regulatory landscape facing Australian manufacturers.
• Organisers used foodpro 2026 to officially launch FoodTech Sydney 2027, a new event to be held at ICC Sydney on 17–18 August 2027, which generated strong early interest from both exhibitors and visitors.

MELBOURNE, 30 JULY 2026 — foodpro, Australia's Leading Trade Event for Food Processing, Packaging & Innovation, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) was an astounding four-day showcase of the technology, ingredients and ideas shaping the future of food and beverage manufacturing. Running from 26–29 July, foodpro 2026 welcomed 10,468 unique visitors through the doors. Given The sheer size and scope of the exhibition saw one in five attendees return to the show floor across multiple days to continue conversations with exhibitors and explore new innovations.

The show floor was filled with 519 leading food manufacturing suppliers from Australia and overseas, presenting the latest processing equipment, packaging solutions, ingredients, digital manufacturing technology and sustainability innovations. foodpro visitors ranged from manufacturers, processors, packaging specialists, R&D teams and industry leaders from across the food and beverage value chain.

foodpro 2026 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 as 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.” — Louise Brooks, Event Director, foodpro

 

Free to attend for all visitors, the Innovation Stage was one of the most consistently well-attended features on the show floor across all four days, giving industry leaders, innovators and technology pioneers a platform to share the trends, tools and case studies shaping the next phase of food and beverage manufacturing. Multiple presentations ran each day, with visitors moving between sessions to take practical insights straight back to their own operations.

Session topics 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.

In a highlight announcement of the week, organisers used foodpro 2026 to officially launch foodtech Sydney 2027, a new event set to bring the food and beverage manufacturing community together on the other side of the country. The announcement was met with strong interest from exhibitors and visitors alike, with many using their time on the show floor to learn more about the new event and register their early interest.

FoodTech Sydney 2027 will build on the momentum generated by foodpro, extending the reach of Australia's food manufacturing events calendar and giving the industry a fresh opportunity to connect, showcase innovation and do business. FoodTech Sydney will be held at ICC Sydney from 17-18 August 2027.

About us:

About foodpro

foodpro is Australia's leading trade event for food processing, packaging and innovation. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, foodpro brings together manufacturers, processors, suppliers and innovators from across the food and beverage value chain for four days of live demonstrations, expert-led sessions and high-value networking. For more information, visit www.foodproexpo.com.

Contact details:

Anna Sallows, foodpro Marketing Manager

Diversified Australia

[email protected]