The 2^nd edition of the Ethiopia food show was widely acclaimed as a tremendous success by exhibitors, trade visitors, institutional partners and the media.

With 4,315 buyers and industry professionals from Ethiopia and beyond, the exhibition delivered outstanding results and showcased the impressive growth and vast potential of Ethiopia’s F&B industry and trade.

Taking place from 24 to 27 June 2026, the exhibition coincided with a period in which Ethiopia’s rapidly developing economy – driven by reforms and investment – is making enormous strides. According to the IMF, Ethiopia is forecast to grow by 9.2% in 2026, making it Africa’s fastest-growing economy.

So it came as no surprise that 152 exhibitors from across Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East had confirmed their participation. Companies from 18 countries, namely from Brazil, China, Denmark, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom underlined the event’s truly global reach.

A particularly strong presence from Ethiopian exhibitors was complemented by official national pavilions from Brazil, China and Italy.

The event was held alongside

• the 2nd edition of the Ethiopica coffee show, Ethiopia’s leading coffee sourcing event, and
• the 8th edition of agrofood Ethiopia, the country’s No. 1 business platform for the agrofood industry. 

Organised by fairtrade Messe in cooperation with local partners Prana Events, the exhibition brings together thousands of industry professionals from Ethiopia and around the globe, making it a must-attend event for anyone invested in the future of F&B trade in the region.

The Ethiopia food show is evolving! With dedicated partial fairs for F&B and coffee trade, this event offers a more focused, forward-looking experience than ever before.

It’s further enriched by agrofood Ethiopia, creating a dynamic platform that reflects Ethiopia’s potential in full.

Adding even more value, the 8th edition of plastprintpack Ethiopia will be held concurrently.

Exhibition layout:

• Hall 2 Ethiopia Food Show
Ethiopica Coffee Show
agrofood Ethiopia

• Hall 1 plastprintpack Ethiopia

• Ethiopia is making major investments in agro-industries, food and beverage processing, and the food and coffee trade, strengthening its role as a regional powerhouse.
• With a population of 140 million, projected to reach 200 million by 2050, Ethiopia is the largest food & beverage market in East and Central Africa. The F&B sector is also the largest segment of Ethiopian manufacturing, driven by rapidly rising consumer demand.
• In 2024, Ethiopia’s food imports reached US$2.2 billion, while food exports totaled US$2.9 billion. (WTO) 
• This represents a US$5.1 billion food and beverage trade market, positioning Ethiopia among the leading F&B hubs in East & Central Africa. (WTO)

With backing from many respected organisations – including international chambers, government ministries, trade agencies, and industry associations – the 2026 event reinforces its position as Ethiopia’s leading business and innovation hub for the agrofood industry and food trade

(Euromonitor) Ethiopia's packaged food retail sales made up for US$6 billion in 2023, projected to reach US$16.4 billion by 2028. This significant expansion indicates a robust demand for processed and packaged food products.

High growth products in the forecast include:

• Savory Snacks
• Sweet Biscuits, Snack Bars and Fruit Snacks
• Confectionery
• Processed Fruit and Vegetables
• Rice, Pasta, and Noodles
• Breakfast Cereals
• Edible Oils

Leading grocery retailers in Ethiopia include Shoa (Shoa Trading Plc), Safeway (Albertsons Cos Inc), All Mart (All-Mart Plc) and Fresh Corner (Luna Corp). According to Euromonitor about 94% of grocery retailing is done by independent grocers, especially outside of the metropolitan areas. Most distribution in Ethiopia, particularly to regional towns, is conducted through informal business arrangements. For example, after being cleared through customs, many goods will be sold to wholesalers in Addis Ababa’s (and Africa’s) largest open market (Merkato) and then distributed to retailers and small vendors.

Some mid- to high-income consumers in Addis Ababa and other big cities are increasingly choosing to shop from modern grocery retailers. With brightly lit and spacious aisles displaying well-organized assortments, supermarkets provide a much more comfortable and convenient shopping experience than open markets, where crowds and spatial constraints limit the potential for browsing and where goods are often damaged during handling.

Moreover, supermarkets tend to carry higher quality products that are difficult to find elsewhere, including imported brands.