Global Gourmet Conference

• DatesOctober 4–7, 2026
• VenueRAI Amsterdam
• LocationAmsterdam, Netherlands
• CategoryFood & Beverage

About Global Gourmet Conference

Global Gourmet Conference is a food and beverage conference that took place October 4–7, 2026 at RAI Amsterdam in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It ran for four days, from Sunday to Wednesday.

Shows like this one typically draw retail and grocery buyers, distributors, importers, restaurant and hospitality operators, and category managers. We have not been able to confirm an official website for this show yet, so contact the organizer before making any plans.

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 Global Gourmet Conference

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 four 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. At events like this, 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 Global Gourmet Conference

Most exhibitors start planning four months before a show: booth space and hotels first, then booth services and graphics about eight weeks out, freight and meetings four weeks out, and a final check of devices and staffing the week before.

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 Global Gourmet Conference

• 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.
• Walk the hall at RAI Amsterdam during move-in to see which entrances and aisles carry the most traffic, and set up your booth so it faces that flow.
• Plan shifts of three to four hours. Standing and talking for four days wears people out, and tired staff let good leads walk past.
• If you expect local buyers in Netherlands, bring key material in the local language as well as English, and have prices ready in the local currency.
• 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 Global Gourmet Conference

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
   Send a short personal email to every hot lead, mentioning one detail from your conversation.
2. Within 3 days
   Send what you promised at the booth and log every lead in your CRM with its rating and notes.
3. After two weeks
   Make a second, useful touch: a case study, a short video or an answer to their question.
4. After a month
   Review results: meetings booked, cost per lead, and whether the show is worth repeating.

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

Getting to Amsterdam

Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) has direct trains to Amsterdam RAI station, a short walk from RAI Amsterdam, in about 10 minutes. Public transport covers the city well. The Netherlands is in the Schengen area; check whether you need a Schengen visa.

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.

More shows to consider