One of the food and ingredients industry’s biggest global gatherings is expanding its focus on pets — and this year, the pet nutrition category is getting a stage of its own.
Registration is now open for Fi Europe 2026, which returns to Messe Frankfurt in Germany from November 17 to 19. Organisers expect the event to be among the largest editions yet, with more than 1,650 exhibitors and around 27,000 visitors anticipated across the three-day show.
A Global Meeting Point for the Ingredients World
Fi Europe has long served as a major convergence point for the food, beverage, and pet food industries, bringing together everyone from early-stage startups to global heavyweights. This year’s exhibitor lineup includes major players such as ADM, AGRIFLEX, Beneo, Bühler, Cargill, Givaudan, GEA, and Nexira, alongside a broad mix of newer companies looking to break into the ingredient supply chain.
“The food, beverage and pet food sectors continue to evolve rapidly, driven by changing consumer expectations, advances in technology and growing demand for products that support health, well-being and sustainability,” said Yannick Verry, Fi Events Brand Director at Informa Markets. “Fi Europe reflects these shifts, ensuring attendees have access to the knowledge, ideas, partnerships and solutions needed to stay ahead.”
Pet Nutrition Finally Gets Its Own Dedicated Forum
The standout addition for 2026 is the brand-new Pet Food and Nutrition Forum, created specifically to explore trends, challenges, and growth potential within one of the food industry’s fastest-growing categories. The forum will bring together professionals, decision-makers, and innovators through networking sessions, expert-led talks, exhibitor showcases, and interactive experiences.
This expansion reflects a broader shift the event’s organisers are tracking directly: the continued “humanisation” of pets, which is opening up new opportunities for ingredient suppliers and manufacturers as demand grows for products supporting pet health, wellbeing, and nutrition. The event’s existing Pet Food & Nutrition Hub is also being expanded this year, featuring a wider range of ingredients, formulations, technologies, and market solutions.
Ingredient Innovation Still at the Core
Beyond the new pet-focused programming, Fi Europe’s Food ingredients and Health ingredients areas remain central to the show, giving attendees access to thousands of innovative and best-in-class ingredients, including a wide range of natural and organic options.
The event’s content programme, delivered through the Innovation Hub and Fi Europe Conference, continues to bring in expert-led insight across the industry. Notably, the third day of the conference will spotlight weight management, examining how the rise of GLP-1 medications and shifting eating behaviours are reshaping food innovation — a theme increasingly relevant to pet nutrition as well, given the parallel research happening in weight-management treatments for companion animals. Other sessions will cover plant-based and clean-label solutions, alongside ingredients supporting healthspan, gut health, and cognitive wellbeing.
New Areas Focused on Getting Products to Market
This year’s event also expands its focus on the commercial journey from ingredient to finished product. The Ready to Market area will connect product development with commercial opportunity, spotlighting finished products, packaged formats, sustainable solutions, and private label offerings designed to help businesses accelerate their route to market.
Alongside it, the growing Tech, Services & Equipment area will showcase processing technologies, packaging innovations, automation tools, and digital solutions for modern food and beverage manufacturing — helping attendees turn early-stage concepts into scalable, finished products.
Built for Networking, Not Just Browsing
Organisers are also emphasising connections beyond the show floor itself. “We’re always looking for ways to bring our community together, ensuring Fi Europe is not only a place for learning and discovery, but also one that creates meaningful face-to-face connections beyond the event itself,” Verry said.
To support that, the event has upgraded its official app and introduced a new Supplier Pass, giving attendees access to the complete visitor list so they can identify relevant contacts and schedule meetings in advance, including inside a dedicated Meeting Lounge. Combined with early app access, the pass is designed to help visitors plan their time at the show more strategically.
Additional networking highlights include a Women’s Networking Breakfast for women shaping the future of the food and beverage industry, a Future of Nutrition Lunch & Learn for senior decision-makers, and the return of the Fi Europe Innovation Awards, celebrating standout innovations and fostering future industry collaboration.
How to Register
Registration for Fi Europe 2026 is open now, with super early bird pricing available until September 6. For pet food brands, ingredient suppliers, and nutrition innovators tracking where the industry is headed next, this year’s expanded pet-focused programming makes Frankfurt a genuinely important stop on the calendar.
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