February 13, 2024
Virginia’s Premier Specialty Food and Beverage Expo Returns March 27
Contact: Michael Wallace

Food industry trade buyers should register today for the 2024 Virginia Food and Beverage Expo and make plans to grow their business by finding the latest specialty food and beverage products, building new business relationships, gaining knowledge of current and emerging trends, all while tasting the best of Virginia. Sponsored by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia’s premier specialty food and beverage event is set for March 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North 3rd Street, in Richmond, Va.

The Virginia Food and Beverage Expo is the perfect place for retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and foodservice representatives to find Virginia products that are packaged and labeled for a retail setting. Food and beverage industry buyers rely on this biennial event that highlights the best products in the Commonwealth, to include foods such as meats, cheeses, soups, seafood, peanuts, pasta, breads, baked goods, sauces, chocolates, condiments, dressings, and more. Some Virginia artisanal and craft beverages being exhibited are spirits, beer, mixers, wine, tea, and artisan water. Exhibitors showcase and provide samples of their specialty food and beverage items, which allows buyers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with producers, select new items, take advantage of show specials or other on-site product discounts, and place orders right on the show floor.

This year’s expo will feature a few expansions and new areas to highlight more of Virginia’s specialty food and beverage products. The Virginia Grown pavilion, featuring local produce and growers, and the Hatch Incubator Section, which highlights new start-up businesses, will have expanded areas during this year’s expo. New this year are the Virginia Specialty Food Association Accelerator Section, a gathering of emerging businesses ready for full retail expansion, and the Virginia Spirits Board Beverage Garden, which will include about a dozen of the of the Commonwealth’s distillers and their products. The Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr will attend the expo again this year to announce the Best New Food, Best New Beverage, and Best Product Overall competition winners.

There is no fee for buyers to attend this exclusive event however registration is required. Members of the media are welcomed to attend and should pre-register as well. For more information on the expo or to register as a buyer, sponsor, or member of the media, please visit www.vafoodbeverageexpo.com. This event is not open to the public.

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