Messe Frankfurt presents the Food Production Solutions Show in Chicago

With the Food Production Solutions Show, Messe Frankfurt is launching a new trade fair for the food industry in North America. The event will focus on the entire value chain in food manufacturing – from product development, compliance and production to scaling. The new trade fair is designed around the realities involved in building and growing a business in the food manufacturing business.

Messe Frankfurt announced the launch of the Food Production Solutions Show, a new trade show designed to help food manufacturers navigate the challenges that come with bringing products to market and growing production successfully.

Taking place from 26 to 28 October 2027, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, the event is built around a simple observation: food manufacturers rarely face just one challenge at a time.

A new product launch can create regulatory hurdles. A food safety initiative may require new equipment investments. Growth can expose workforce constraints, production bottlenecks, or supply chain issues. Yet most industry events continue to separate these conversations into individual categories.

The Food Production Solutions Show takes a different approach.

Designed around the journey of the food manufacturer rather than the journey of the product, the event brings together the people, technologies, services, and expertise that manufacturers need as they move from concept and commercialisation to production, operations, and scale.

"Food manufacturers don't think in silos, and their challenges don't exist in silos either," said Constantin von Vieregge, President & CEO of Messe Frankfurt Inc. "A growing processor may be dealing with formulation challenges, food safety requirements, labor shortages, automation decisions, and expansion planning all at the same time. We created this event to reflect how food businesses actually operate and to make it easier for manufacturers to find practical solutions that move them forward."

“With the Food Production Solutions Show, we are breaking new ground and consistently expanding our international commitment to food technologies,” says Kerstin Horaczek, Vice President Technology Shows at Messe Frankfurt. “We are drawing on our decades of experience as an organiser of international trade fairs, first and foremost IFFA, as well as on our global network and close cooperation with the industry. Our goal is to create a platform that meets the current needs of the North American market and fosters dialogue on the key challenges facing food manufacturers.”

A new approach to supporting food manufactures

Across North America, food manufacturers are under pressure to do more with less. Labour remains difficult to find. Regulatory requirements continue to evolve. Consumers expect higher levels of quality, transparency, and consistency. At the same time, manufacturers are being asked to improve efficiency while preparing for future growth.

For startup, small, and mid-sized processors in particular, these decisions often shape the trajectory of the business.

The Food Production Solutions Show was created to help manufacturers navigate those decisions by connecting them with the expertise, technologies, and partners needed to solve problems, improve operations, and support growth.

"Our customers are constantly balancing growth opportunities with operational realities," said Michael Lynch, Vice President of Marketing at Reiser. "Whether they're introducing a new product, expanding capacity, improving throughput, or investing in automation, the challenge is rarely isolated to one area of the business. Events that bring together expertise from across the food manufacturing ecosystem create valuable opportunities for learning, collaboration, and better decision-making."

The event is designed to serve emerging brands, entrepreneurs, startup food businesses, small and mid-sized processors, co-manufacturers, and growing food companies while continuing to provide value for larger manufacturers seeking innovation, partnerships, acquisition opportunities, and operational improvements.

By focusing on the needs of manufacturers rather than individual product categories, the event provides a practical roadmap for growth that reflects how food businesses actually operate.

Four solution zones. One manufacturer journey

The show floor is organized into four Solution Zones that mirror the major stages of a food manufacturer's growth journey:

Product Development & Planning

Supporting concept development, formulation, ingredient sourcing, market validation, innovation, pilot production, and commercialization.

Regulatory & Compliance

Providing expertise and solutions for food safety, quality assurance, certifications, labelling, traceability, testing, and regulatory requirements.

Production & Facilities

Connecting manufacturers with processing equipment, engineering services, facility design, co-manufacturing partners, infrastructure solutions, and operational technologies.

Operations & Scaling

Delivering solutions for automation, packaging, workforce development, inventory management, manufacturing software, logistics, distribution, and business growth. 

Together, these Solution Zones create an integrated environment where attendees can identify solutions across their entire operation rather than navigating disconnected segments of the industry.

Where education, collaboration, and solutions come together

At the heart of the Food Production Solutions Show is a commitment to practical problem solving.

The event will feature a series of interactive experiences designed to move beyond traditional conference presentations and create meaningful collaboration between manufacturers and solution providers.

Collaboration labs will bring together industry experts and food manufacturers to work through real operational challenges. Through peer discussion, attendees will gain practical insights and actionable solutions that can be applied within their own organizations.

Education hubs located within each Solution Zone will provide complimentary, solution-focused programming addressing commercialization, food safety, compliance, production optimisation, workforce development, and scaling strategies.

Production line demonstrations will showcase how equipment, technologies, software platforms, and service providers work together to solve common industry challenges such as labour shortages, throughput constraints, food safety requirements, and operational efficiency.

The result is an event designed not only to showcase products and services, but to help manufacturers leave with solutions.

Bringing together the food manufacturing ecosystem

The Food Production Solutions Show will bring together food manufacturers, processors, co-packers, ingredient suppliers, food scientists, engineers, compliance professionals, technology providers, automation specialists, packaging companies, logistics partners, consultants, investors, and industry organizations.

By creating connections across these disciplines, the event aims to accelerate innovation, strengthen partnerships, and support the long-term growth of food manufacturing businesses across North America.

“The food manufacturing industry depends on collaboration across a wide range of disciplines, from product development and food safety to production, automation, packaging, and distribution," said Chris Lyons, President & CEO of the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA). "The Food Production Solutions Show creates a platform where manufacturers and solution providers can connect, discover, and educate. We want attendees to bring the challenges and constraints that are keeping them from growing and scaling to the FPSS, and we want them leaving with a clearer path to their own success and their place in America’s food production industry.”