California Restaurant Show

• DatesSeptember 12–14, 2027
• LocationAnaheim, CA, United States
• CategoryFood & Beverage
• Official websitecaliforniarestaurantshow.com

About California Restaurant Show

California Restaurant Show is a food and beverage trade show taking place September 12–14, 2027 in Anaheim, CA, United States. It runs for three days, opening on Sunday and closing on Tuesday. With more than 11 months to go, there is time to plan the booth, the budget and the meetings properly. The dates were checked against the official show website.

Shows like this one typically draw retail and grocery buyers, distributors, importers, restaurant and hospitality operators, and category managers. For registration, exhibitor packages and the floor plan, go to the official website, californiarestaurantshow.com.

ShowFloorTips is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the organizer. Dates, venues and rules can change, so confirm the details with the organizer before you book.

What to expect at California Restaurant Show

Food and beverage shows are hands-on. Visitors taste, compare and ask about pricing, shelf life, certifications and minimum orders. Expect busy aisles around sampling and buyers moving quickly from stand to stand.

Over three days, traffic usually peaks on the first two days and thins out on the last one. The quieter final day is a good time for longer conversations, visiting other stands and meeting suppliers. Expect most visitors to be retail and grocery buyers and their colleagues, often with a short list of suppliers they want to see.

How exhibitors should prepare for California Restaurant Show

Here is a working timeline counted back from the opening day, September 12, 2027:

1. 16 weeks before (May 23, 2027)
   Confirm your booth space and read the exhibitor manual. Book hotels in Anaheim while rates are still normal.
2. 8 weeks before (Jul 18, 2027)
   Order booth services (power, internet, furniture, cleaning) before the early-rate deadlines, and send graphics to print.
3. 4 weeks before (Aug 15, 2027)
   Ship freight to the advance warehouse if the organizer offers one. Book meetings with the visitors you most want to see. Set up lead capture and train the team on it.
4. One week before (Sep 5, 2027)
   Confirm freight arrived, share the staffing schedule, charge every device, and test your lead capture app with Wi-Fi turned off.

Preparation tips for food and beverage shows

• Confirm sampling rules, food safety requirements and any electricity or refrigeration you need with the organizer early.
• Print a spec sheet with pack sizes, shelf life, certifications and case pricing; buyers ask for it constantly.
• Ship product samples with extra time; customs and refrigerated freight both add delays.

Booth tips for California Restaurant Show

• Sample in small, clean portions and keep the line moving; a crowd attracts more visitors than a perfect display.
• Ask every taster one question: "Are you buying for retail, food service or distribution?"
• Keep the price sheet behind the counter and hand it only to qualified buyers.
• Plan shifts of three to four hours. Standing and talking for three days wears people out, and tired staff let good leads walk past.
• Capture every conversation the moment it ends: scan the badge or card, add a one-line note about what the visitor needs, and rate the lead hot, warm or cold. Notes written that evening are already half forgotten.

For a full list of what to bring, use the free booth checklist, and plan the money side with the trade show ROI calculator.

Following up leads after California Restaurant Show

Most of the value of a trade show is created after it closes. Buyers review many products after the show, so a follow-up with photos, pricing and the sample they tasted helps them remember you.

1. Within 24 hours (by Sep 15, 2027)
   Send a short personal email to every hot lead. Mention one detail from your conversation so they remember you.
2. By Sep 17, 2027
   Send everything you promised at the booth: prices, samples, demo links. Log each lead in your CRM with its rating and notes.
3. By Sep 28, 2027
   Make a second, useful touch: a case study, a short video or an answer to the question they asked. Warm leads often reply to this one.
4. By Oct 14, 2027
   Review results: how many leads became meetings, what each lead cost, and whether California Restaurant Show is worth returning to.

Ready-to-edit messages for each step are in our trade show follow-up email templates.

Getting to Anaheim

The closest airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County; Los Angeles International (LAX) is about an hour away in normal traffic. The Anaheim Convention Center is next to the Disneyland Resort area, with many hotels within walking distance. International visitors should check whether they need a visa or an ESTA before booking travel.

Hotels closest to the venue sell out first during show week, and many organizers offer discounted room blocks that close weeks before the show, so book early. Our city travel guides cover hotels, transport and budgeting for the busiest show cities.

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