National Restaurant Association Show® 2023 Reports 61% Surge in New Exhibitors

CHICAGO (May 11, 2023)—The National Restaurant Association, Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show®, the food-service industry’s premier event, will welcome more than 2,100 manufacturers and suppliers as they showcase their products and services at the 2023 event. Of those companies, over 800 will make their Show debut—a 61% increase over 2022’s first-time exhibitor total—and over 1,300 will return. The National Restaurant Association Show, taking place May 20-23, 2023 at McCormick Place in Chicago, is the place to find creative new solutions to today’s challenges in the restaurant industry, from the latest food and beverage trends to emerging technologies and operational innovations that will address labor challenges and boost the bottom line.

 “The National Restaurant Association Show is a large, legacy event with a reputation for driving innovation,” said Tom Cindric, President of Winsight Exhibitions. “Each year, the Show does what no other event can—it provides a full picture of where the industry is now and where it’s heading. Every exhibiting company helps create that picture. We’re thrilled to welcome so many newcomers this year, and look forward to seeing the latest from our returning exhibitors.”

 With more than 11 football fields (659,000+ sq. ft.) worth of exhibit space, the Show floor will serve as the ultimate sourcing destination for restaurant and hospitality buyers looking for cutting-edge products across 900+ categories, including food and beverage, equipment, technology, tableware, sanitation and more. More than 60,0000 industry professionals are expected this year alone, bringing together more buyers, suppliers and manufacturers than any other industry event. Each year, the Show provides both new and returning exhibitors the opportunity to build strategic partnerships that will elevate their businesses.

Returning exhibiting companies shared their experiences and why are looking forward to the 2023 Show:

• “Attendees are looking for ideas, what’s new, what’s innovative, and how they can appeal to today’s consumers with premium center-of-the-plate options. We look forward to exhibiting at the Restaurant Show every year because of the opportunity to talk directly with leading restaurateurs and chefs who are shaping the food service industry.” – Steven Ginsburg, National Director of Sales at Halperns' Steak & Seafood (Booth 3854, South Hall), a 16-year exhibitor at the Show
• “After attending the Show for the past 35 consecutive years, first as a distributor and then as a manufacturer, we know very well the value that the Show brings to the exhibitors. This is why we decided that it would be the first show we would exhibit at, as a young start-up enterprise.” – Nestor Ibrahim, President of Monaco Companies, Ugolini (Booth 7747, North Hall)
• “The Show has been a great way for us to connect with leading foodservice operators and offer them a first-hand look at our order pickup technologies. The Show’s increasing focus on food-service technology reflects the tremendous cultural shift toward increasing customer choices and convenience for anywhere, anytime dining.” – Ashley McNamara, Vice President of Global Marketing at Apex Order Pickup Solutions (Booth 5839, North Hall)

Many of this year’s new exhibitors can be found in one of seven featured pavilions: A Taste of the States, Bellavita Italian Pavilion, Iberica Spanish Pavilion, The Beverage Room, Global Food Expo, Organic & Natural, and The Culinary Experience. The Startup Alley will also feature many first-time exhibitors showcasing food and beverage items, equipment and supplies, technology and more that are helping the industry move forward with fresh, new ideas in foodservice.

Both new and returning exhibitors have received specialty awards and will be featured in designated areas on the Show floor. This year, the Show has awarded a record-setting 42 exhibitors with Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards and 20 with Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards.

To help facilitate these business opportunities, the Show offers a unique matching program, RestaurantShowXchange, which connects interested buyers and sellers based on information and selections provided during the registration process. Britany Vinson, Owner of Tome Catering, stated, “The program is amazing and greatly appreciated. I enjoyed the 1:1 access to the companies I needed to talk to the most.”

For a complete list of companies exhibiting at the 2023 Show, click here. For more information and to register to attend, visit nationalrestaurantshow.com. Connect with the Show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for event updates.

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The National Restaurant Association Show is owned and operated by Winsight LLC in equity partnership with the National Restaurant Association.

About Winsight LLC

Winsight LLC is a business-to-business information, event and market intelligence company serving the restaurant and noncommercial foodservice, convenience and petroleum retailing and grocery industries. Winsight provides research and analytics, branding solutions, face-to-face opportunities, lead generation initiatives and content marketing services through products including subscription data products, reports, research tools, research programs, fully custom studies, conferences, custom marketing services, meetings, print, digital trade media and trade-shows, including the National Restaurant Association Show.