Central Asia’s Largest Food Industry Gathering
FoodExpo Qazaqstan has firmly established itself as the number one exhibition for the food industry in Central Asia, serving as the definitive meeting place for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and technology providers across the region. Held annually at the Atakent Exhibition Center in Almaty, the event has grown into a comprehensive platform that reflects the rapid development and growing international significance of Kazakhstan’s food sector.
A Barometer of Regional Growth
The exhibition’s expansion mirrors the broader momentum of Kazakhstan’s food industry. In 2025, food production in the country increased by 8.4%, while beverage production grew by 9.7%. This positive trend accelerated in 2026, with food production rising by a further 14.7% in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2025.
Kazakhstan is also strengthening its focus on agricultural processing. In 2025, 53 investment projects in the processing sector with a total value of KZT 120.4 billion were commissioned. From January to April 2026, fixed capital investment in the sector exceeded KZT 389 billion, more than doubling year on year. Exports of processed products reached USD 3.6 billion, accounting for 51.4% of the country’s total agricultural exports.
Record-Breaking 2025 Edition
The 27th edition of FoodExpo Qazaqstan, held from November 12 to 14, 2025, alongside the QazPack exhibition, demonstrated the event’s scale and regional reach. The combined exhibitions brought together 529 companies from 34 countries, attracting 9,685 professionals from 51 countries.
FoodExpo Qazaqstan itself featured 412 companies in its food, beverage, ingredients, and equipment sections, including 151 domestic companies and 261 international participants. Notably, 193 companies—47% of all exhibitors—made their debut at the 2025 exhibition, reflecting growing international confidence in the Kazakh market.
Participating countries spanned Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Belgium, Germany, Egypt, India, Italy, China, South Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Turkey, France, Japan, and many others. National stands from Belarus, Poland, and South Korea drew particular attention, alongside collective expositions from 15 regions of Russia and several provinces of China.
The Retail Center: Where Business Happens
One of the most valuable features of FoodExpo Qazaqstan is the Retail Center, a dedicated platform for direct B2B negotiations between suppliers and retail chains and distributors from Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In 2025, this initiative facilitated 1,156 direct meetings, during which more than 3,500 new products were introduced to the Central Asian market.
This practical focus on commercial outcomes distinguishes FoodExpo Qazaqstan from purely showcase-oriented events. Manufacturers gain direct access to the buyers who decide what appears on shelves across the region.
The 2026 Edition: Expanding Scale and Scope
The 28th Central Asian International Food Industry Exhibition, scheduled for November 11-13, 2026, will mark a significant expansion. For the first time, the exhibition area will exceed 15,000 square meters, occupying five pavilions at the Atakent Exhibition Center.
More than 600 companies from 35 countries are expected to participate, representing food products and beverages, ingredients, additives and spices, food production equipment and technologies, and packaging, containers, and labels.
The 2026 edition will also feature a substantial expansion of Asian participation. Manufacturers and suppliers from Vietnam, India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Japan will participate on a large scale. China alone will be represented by more than 100 companies. For the first time, companies from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore will present their products as part of a dedicated halal exhibition.
European presence will also be strong, with technology and equipment suppliers from Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and other countries. Poland’s exhibition will include not only food and beverage suppliers but also companies offering ingredients, packaging, and equipment.
Launch of Business FoodForum Qazaqstan
A major new feature of the 2026 edition will be the launch of Business FoodForum Qazaqstan, a unified professional discussion platform dedicated to the most in-demand issues of the food industry and FMCG market. The forum will bring together manufacturers, retail chains, distributors, experts, and executives to discuss market trends, sales channel development, new product launches, digitalization, and the practical implementation of artificial intelligence.
The forum’s first day will focus on the market, FMCG retail, and new products, featuring an analytical report on the Kazakhstan and Central Asia food market, sessions on how retail chains are changing and what they need from suppliers, and discussions on realizing the commercial potential of new products. The second day, themed “AI & Digital Food Day,” will address the practical application of artificial intelligence and automation in the food industry, including an “AI Reality Check” session examining why AI projects fail and how to make them effective.
A Comprehensive Exhibition Profile
FoodExpo Qazaqstan covers the full spectrum of the food industry through dedicated sections including equipment and technologies, ingredients, additives and spices, bakery equipment, and food products and beverages. The exhibition serves as a meeting point for professionals from across the supply chain—from ingredient suppliers and equipment manufacturers to finished product producers and retail buyers.
The event also features a professional tasting competition, where products are evaluated by an independent expert commission under the chairmanship of the Kazakhstan Academy of Nutrition. Winners receive the gold medal and quality mark “Best Product FoodExpo Qazaqstan,” providing valuable promotional advantages and visual differentiation on store shelves.
Institutional Support and Organization
FoodExpo Qazaqstan enjoys official support from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Almaty, the Union of Poultry Farmers of Kazakhstan, KAGiR, UCIMA, and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. The exhibition is organized by Kazakhstan’s exhibition company Iteca in partnership with ICA Events Group.
Participant Perspectives
Exhibitors consistently emphasize the exhibition’s effectiveness as a business platform. Alexander Kurnosov, General Director of TOO Storm Technology, shared: “We have participated in FoodExpo Qazaqstan annually since 2021. We believe this exhibition helps us acquire new clients, opens new opportunities, and maintains relationships with old partners. After each exhibition, new cases emerge for development, new contacts—both with clients and suppliers. For us, this platform is very important, it fully justifies itself and supports the company’s image, so we will gladly continue to participate.”
For food industry professionals across Central Asia, FoodExpo Qazaqstan remains the essential annual gathering for discovering new products, forging partnerships, and shaping the future of the region’s food sector. As Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its position as a regional leader in food production and processing, the exhibition serves as both a reflection of and a catalyst for that growth.
