Hon. Minister Colin Brooks to Open foodpro 2026 at MCEC
foodpro | Diversified Australia
- The Hon. Colin Brooks MP, Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Minister for Skills and TAFE, will officially open foodpro 2026 with a speech and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the MCEC main entrance on 26 July.
- foodpro 2026 will run from 26–29 July at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, returning after a three-year gap and expecting more than 450 exhibitors and over 9,000 industry professionals.
- The event will span eight industry segments, showcasing processing equipment, packaging solutions, ingredients, food science and sustainable manufacturing technologies across four days.
- Co-located events include the AIFST Convention, AIP training sessions, the PIDA Awards Gala Dinner, and an Industry Connect Evening networking function at Melbourne Public on the Yarra River.
- Attendance is free for industry professionals, with registration available at www.foodproexpo.com.
Minister Brooks will open the event at the MCEC main entrance with an opening speech, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official start of foodpro 2026.
Returning after a three-year gap, foodpro 2026 will run from 26–29 July, bringing together more than 450 exhibitors and over 9,000 industry professionals from across the food and beverage manufacturing supply chain. Minister Brooks' opening reflects the Victorian Government's continued support for advanced manufacturing, innovation and skills development within the state's food and beverage sector — one of Victoria's largest employers and export contributors.
Minister Brooks was appointed Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing in December 2024, and also holds the Skills and TAFE portfolio. First elected to the Victorian Parliament in 2006 as Member for Bundoora, he has held a range of ministerial roles including Housing, Multicultural Affairs, and Child Protection and Family Services, and previously served as Speaker of the House. His combined focus on industry, advanced manufacturing and skills development speaks directly to one of foodpro's key themes in 2026: equipping the food manufacturing workforce with the skills needed to adopt automation, digital technologies and sustainable production methods.
"We're delighted to welcome the Hon. Colin Brooks MP to officially open foodpro 2026. Minister Brooks is responsible for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Defence Industry and Skills and TAFE. Food manufacturing is one of Victoria's largest advanced manufacturing sectors, and it's a privilege to have a Minister whose portfolios span industry, skills and training open the show. We look forward to welcoming the industry to Melbourne for what will be an outstanding few days," said Louise Brooks, foodpro Event Director.
Over four dynamic days, foodpro 2026 will showcase cutting-edge processing equipment, packaging solutions, ingredients, food science and sustainable manufacturing technologies across 8 industry segments. The event will also host the co-located Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology (AIFST) Convention, Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) training sessions, and the PIDA Awards Gala Dinner, along with the Industry Connect Evening networking function on opening night at Melbourne Public on the Yarra River.
foodpro 2026 is free to attend for industry professionals, with registration open now at www.foodproexpo.com.
EVENT DETAILS
- Dates: Sunday 26 – Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Opening Times
- Sunday 26 July 10am - 5pm
- Monday 27 July 10am - 5pm
- Tuesday 28 July 10am - 5pm
- Wednesday 29 July 10am - 3pm
- Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
- Opening: Sunday 26 July, 10am MCEC main entrance — speech and ribbon-cutting by the Hon. Colin Brooks MP, Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Minister for Skills and TAFE
- Registration: Free for industry professionals at foodproexpo.com
About us:
ABOUT FOODPRO
foodpro is Australia's leading trade event for food processing, packaging and innovation. Over four days, industry leaders, innovators and suppliers come together to showcase the latest in processing equipment, packaging solutions, ingredients, food science and sustainable food manufacturing.
Contact details:
Anna Sallows
Marketing Manager | foodpro
