Get ready for an unparalleled exploration of what’s new and next in the food service industry as the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show® kicks off tomorrow at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Taking place May 18 – 21, this dynamic event serves as the epicenter of food service innovation and inspiration, drawing tens of thousands of industry professionals from around the globe. With an expansive show floor featuring over 2,240 exhibitors spanning over 720,000 square feet, this year’s Show promises to unite buyers, suppliers, and manufacturers to explore emerging food and flavor trends, advancements in equipment, cutting-edge technology, and unmatched educational opportunities.
Tom Cindric, President of the National Restaurant Association Show, remarked, “The Show has long been the birthplace of innovation, where industry leaders converge to shape the future of food service. With a line-up of exciting offerings—including the 20th anniversary of the Kitchen Innovations Awards, the exceptional trend-setting recipients of the FABI Awards, the debut of our new Expo + Education program, and an expansive Show floor spanning a space larger than 12 football fields—we’re thrilled to offer participants an unparalleled experience, igniting growth, fostering collaboration, and inspiring all who attend.”
The National Restaurant Association Show 2024 highlights include:
SHOW FLOOR
Vibrant Show Floor: The 2024 Show will impress with its expansive exhibit space covering 720,000+ square feet, 10% larger than in 2023. With over 900 product categories on display, ranging from food and beverage to equipment, technology, AI-powered solutions, bespoke products, emerging global flavors, and more, attendees will experience a comprehensive showcase of the latest innovations driving the foodservice industry forward.
- This year, the Show will feature over 2,240 exhibitors spanning every facet of the industry. Among these, 34%—more than 700 companies are debuting products for the first time—and will be joined by more than 1,500 companies returning to exhibit.
Specialty Pavilions (All Halls): More than 600 exhibitors, both new and returning, will be featured within eight pavilions through the Show’s three halls, dedicated to showcasing the latest offerings, innovations, and curated experiences tailored to specific interests and include: A Taste of the States (North Hall), Bellavita Italian Pavilion (Lakeside), Iberica Spanish Pavilion (Lakeside), The Beverage Room (Lakeside), Global Food Expo (Lakeside), Organic & Natural (South Hall), the TECH Pavilion (North Hall), and the Startup Alley (South Hall).
KEYNOTES & FEATURED SESSIONS
Keynote Discussion with José Andrés (Grand Ballroom S100 – South Building Level 1): The 2024 Show will feature a captivating discussion with acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and humanitarian, José Andrés. A true visionary in both the culinary and humanitarian realms, Andréswill explore the profound influence food can have on communities and how his culinary journey has intertwined with his philanthropic efforts. This keynote discussion will take place on Monday, May 20 at 1:15 p.m.
Featured Session with Technomic (Grand Ballroom S100 – South Building Level 1): In this session, titled “Journey to 2030 – Forecasting the Future of Foodservice,” renowned food futurist, Liz Moskow and Technomic’s Joe Pawlak will navigate through the projected opportunities, obstacles and the unknown to guide attendees in their long-term strategy to set up for future success. This featured session will take place on Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m.
The keynote discussion and featured session are presented by Restaurant365.
FABI & KI AWARDS
Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards (All Halls): The FABI Awards spotlight the most innovative and forward-thinking flavors of the year, driving trends and satisfying today’s consumer demands for more sustainable and eco-friendly products.For 2024, 35 recipients were selected as industry-altering products that shape what’s new and next for the future of food and beverage. Tastings will take place Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. and Sunday, May 19 at Noon in the Connections area (located in The Culinary Experience – Lakeside Level 3).
- FABI Favorites (All Halls): This year, 10 FABI Favorites were selected by the judges for their unmatched influence and visionary contributions to the industry. These stand-out food and beverage products will be featured in a culinary demo, “Fabulous Flavors: Trend-Setting FABI Awards Favorites.” This session is scheduled for Monday, May 20 at 2:30 p.m. on The Culinary Experience stage located on Lakeside Center Level 3 (Booth 10448). A FABI Favorites tasting is also scheduled for Monday, May 20 at 3:15 p.m. and will take place in Connections Space (located in the Culinary Experience – Lakeside Level 3).
Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards (Kitchen Innovations Showroom – South Hall): In its 20th anniversary year, the KI Awards will celebrate 25 foodservice equipment innovations that improve operations and generate growth through advances in automation, efficiency, safety enhancements, sustainability, and more. Spurred by evolving landscape of technology and developments in AI, robotic solutions, autonomous ordering, and customer service, KI Awards have expanded beyond back-of-house operations to recognize innovations that also offer labor, waste, and energy savings.
- KI Awardee Session (Kitchen Innovations Showroom – South Hall): The 2024 KI Award recipients will be highlighted in a special session, titled “The Kitchen of the Future: Kitchen Innovations Awardees Paving the Way for What’s Next.” This session will take place on Saturday, May 18 at 3:30 p.m. on The Culinary Experience stage located on Lakeside Center Level 3 (Booth 10448).
EDUCATION
Expo + Education: New this year, the Expo + Education badge, offers enhanced education led by industry operators presenting critical business strategies, game-changing food and beverage innovations, and more, all in a conducive, focused learning environment. While on-the-floor programming, keynotes, and featured sessions remain accessible to all attendees with the expo badge, the Expo + Education badge promises an expanded exploration of key topics impacting the industry today. Education sessions run from 10 – 11:45 a.m. each morning of the Show.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
International Attendance: The 2024 Show is expected to exceed last year’s international attendance and currently represents 16% of total Show registrations. Registrants hail from six continents and countries including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Cameroon, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom, Honduras, Australia and Jamaica. The Show’s international delegation program partners with the U.S. Commercial Service, The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and local delegations to assist with attendee registration and travel. More information can be found here.
International Inspiration on the Show Floor (All Halls): This year, the Show will welcome more than 600 international exhibitors, representing 28% of the total exhibitors, from diverse countries worldwide, including Canada, China, Brazil, India, and more. Specialty pavilions, inspired by international cultures and cuisines, such as the Global Food Expo, Bellavita Italian Pavilion, and Iberica Spanish Pavilion will showcase the trendiest international flavors and products, as well as live cooking demos to inspire new techniques.
CULINARY & BEVERAGE DEMOS
Celebrated Chef Demos (The Culinary Experience Stage in Lakeside Center Level 3 – Booth 10448): The Culinary Experience offers engaging on-floor programming, including chef-led demos and book signings. Chef Brian Duffy will host a live P&L consulting session, providing practical insights into menu assessment and budget management. The Culinary Experience equipment providers are Atosa USA, Inc., Hobart, Middleby Corp., Robot Coupe USA, Inc., Southbend, Traulsen, and Tramontina USA.The list of 2024 chef demos and live consulting session can be found here.
Beverage Demos (The Beverage Room Stage in Lakeside Center Level 3 – Booth 11155): Mixologists and beverage experts will be on-site to demo creative and unique techniques on the Beverage Room Stage (presented by Keurig Dr Pepper) and share their outlooks on topics such as culinary and co*cktail pairings, non-alcoholic innovations, aperitivo culture, global spirits exploration, and health-conscious co*cktail trends, alongside other cutting-edge developments in the beverage industry. Beverage demos can be found here.
