Catering & Food Services Events in Canada
Restaurants Canada Show
Restaurants Canada Show (formerly the CRFA Show) has long been recognized as a central meeting point for the restaurant and hospitality industry in Canada, and its relevance continues to grow as the sector evolves. From the first moments on the show floor, it becomes clear that this is not simply an exhibition of products, but a living reflection of how food service businesses adapt, innovate, and connect. Industry professionals come here not only to see what is new, but to understand what will matter tomorrow.
The show attracts thousands of decision-makers who operate in a highly competitive environment. Restaurateurs, hotel managers, chefs, distributors, and consultants all share the same space, creating an atmosphere where ideas travel quickly and practical conversations take priority. This direct contact between buyers and exhibitors remains one of the strongest values of the event.
A focused platform for the restaurant and hospitality industry
At its core, the Restaurants Canada Show is designed to serve the real needs of food-service professionals. It brings together international, national, and local suppliers, allowing visitors to compare solutions across different scales of business. Whether someone is running a single independent restaurant or managing a multi-location operation, the Expo provides access to products and services that fit a wide range of budgets and concepts.
The diversity of exhibitors makes the experience especially valuable. Specialty and niche producers stand alongside large commodity suppliers, giving visitors a complete picture of the market. This mix reflects the modern hospitality landscape, where uniqueness and consistency must coexist.
Many attendees appreciate that the show is structured around practical discovery rather than abstract promotion. Products can be seen, tested, discussed, and evaluated in real time, which shortens decision-making and reduces uncertainty.
Face-to-face connections that drive business forward
One of the defining strengths of the Restaurants Canada Show is the opportunity for personal interaction. Meeting suppliers face to face allows for more honest discussions about pricing, logistics, customization, and long-term cooperation. These conversations often go beyond a single transaction and develop into lasting partnerships.
The show is also an efficient networking environment. In a short period of time, visitors can connect with:
Food distributors offering new sourcing options
Equipment manufacturers presenting the latest technologies
Food-service suppliers and dealers supporting daily operations
Such concentrated access is difficult to replicate outside an event of this scale. For many professionals, it becomes a yearly checkpoint to reassess suppliers and explore alternatives.
Products, solutions, and trends under one roof
The exhibition floor showcases a broad spectrum of products that reflect both current demand and emerging trends. From kitchen equipment to packaged foods, from sustainable packaging to digital tools, the range highlights how complex modern restaurant operations have become.
Common areas of interest include:
Commercial kitchen equipment designed for efficiency and safety
Ingredients and products responding to changing consumer preferences
Technologies that support inventory control and cost management
Seeing these solutions side by side helps operators make informed choices and identify gaps in their own businesses.
Learning through observation and shared experience
Beyond sourcing, the Restaurants Canada Show functions as a learning environment. Simply observing how suppliers present their products and how other professionals respond can offer insight into market direction. Conversations on the floor often touch on labor challenges, menu innovation, and the balance between quality and profitability.
Supporting growth at every stage
For new entrants, the show provides orientation in a complex industry. For established players, it offers renewal and perspective. This balance is one reason the event continues to attract a broad audience year after year.
Key benefits for attendees include:
Exposure to innovative products without losing sight of core necessities
Understanding how peers adapt to economic and consumer shifts
Building confidence in strategic decisions through direct comparison
Why the Restaurants Canada Show remains essential
In an industry shaped by constant change, the value of a reliable meeting place cannot be overstated. The Restaurants Canada Show (formerly the CRFA Show) remains relevant because it evolves alongside the businesses it serves. It does not focus solely on trends or solely on tradition, but creates space for both.
By bringing together thousands of professionals and exhibitors in one setting, the show reinforces the importance of collaboration in hospitality. For anyone serious about operating, supplying, or supporting restaurants and food-service businesses in Canada, participation is not just useful it is strategically important.
Gordon Food Service Vancouver Show
Inside the Gordon Food Service Vancouver Show: A Culinary Celebration of Innovation and Community
In the heart of Vancouver, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and snow-capped mountains, something remarkable happens each year at the Vancouver Convention Centre East. It’s not just another trade event it’s the Gordon Food Service Vancouver Show, a pivotal gathering point for Canada’s dynamic and ever-evolving food and beverage industry.
From the moment you step through the doors, the energy is unmistakable. The buzz of chefs, suppliers, restaurateurs, and innovators fills the air with excitement. This isn’t just a place to shake hands and exchange business cards it’s a place where food culture meets business strategy, where passion meets opportunity, and where the future of food is tasted, debated, and shaped.
A National Stage for Food Service Professionals
The Gordon Food Service Vancouver Show draws a wide and diverse audience from across Canada. As one of the premier tradeshows in the industry, it offers a platform that connects key players big and small from all corners of the food and beverage world.
Whether you're a small café owner in Victoria, a regional distributor from Alberta, or a product innovator from Toronto, this show presents a unique chance to showcase, network, and collaborate in an environment designed for meaningful exchange.
Attendees typically include:
Restaurant and café owners
Foodservice operators and franchise managers
Institutional and healthcare food providers
Local and international distributors
Culinary professionals and executive chefs
Food and beverage entrepreneurs
The scope of participants is proof that the foodservice ecosystem is more interconnected than ever and this event is where those connections thrive.
Exhibitor Excellence: A Showcase of Innovation
Elevating Canadian Foodservice with Cutting-Edge Solutions
One of the key highlights of the Vancouver Show is the curated lineup of exhibitors. Gordon Food Service brings together an impressive mix of established brands and rising stars, ensuring attendees experience a full spectrum of what’s trending and what’s next.
Exhibitors present a range of innovative solutions, including:
New food and beverage products
Sustainable packaging options
Advanced kitchen equipment
Point-of-sale and ordering technology
Ready-to-eat and time-saving culinary solutions
Health-conscious and allergen-free offerings
Each booth is more than just a display it’s a conversation starter. You’re not just handed a brochure you’re invited to taste, touch, question, and experience firsthand the products and services that could revolutionize your operation.
Trending Tastes and Culinary Demos
Where Flavors Meet Function
Food trends are constantly evolving, and the Gordon Food Service Vancouver Show is a front-row seat to what’s coming next. From the latest in plant-based protein to global flavor infusions and locally sourced ingredients, the event is a melting pot of culinary creativity.
Throughout the day, live cooking demonstrations and sample stations draw crowds eager to explore new textures, techniques, and tastes. These aren’t just for show they’re practical, actionable insights into what your customers will be craving next season.
Current foodservice trends featured at the show:
Plant-forward menus with bold, international flavors
Functional beverages like kombucha and adaptogen teas
Allergen-friendly and inclusive dining solutions
Zero-waste kitchen practices
Fusion of traditional and modern cooking methods
The event isn’t only about product discovery it’s about understanding the bigger picture: consumer behavior, industry challenges, and how to adapt to them with creativity and agility.
Workshops and Seminars: Learn from the Best
Beyond the exhibition floor, the Vancouver Show offers a thoughtfully curated lineup of educational sessions, panel discussions, and workshops. These sessions feature insights from industry veterans, trend analysts, and innovative entrepreneurs.
Key topics covered typically include:
Menu engineering and pricing strategies
Labor-saving kitchen technologies
Sustainability and ethical sourcing
Digital transformation in foodservice
Post-pandemic consumer expectations
For many attendees, these knowledge-sharing sessions are the highlight of the show. It’s where big ideas are sparked, and real strategies are born.
Why the Vancouver Show Matters to the Canadian Market
Canada’s foodservice industry is both vast and diverse. From Indigenous culinary traditions to multicultural urban tastes, from remote roadhouses to luxury dining in major cities Canadian food culture is layered and rich. The Gordon Food Service Vancouver Show acknowledges and embraces that complexity.
This tradeshow plays a vital role in:
Bridging regional gaps by bringing together East and West Coast businesses
Promoting local Canadian suppliers to a national audience
Fostering innovation and competition through exposure to global trends
Creating direct supplier-to-buyer relationships, essential for small businesses
Encouraging knowledge-sharing across the foodservice community
In a market as competitive and fast-moving as food and beverage, staying relevant means staying informed. This event helps ensure businesses aren’t left behind.
Beyond Business: The Community Spirit of GFS Vancouver
Building More Than Just Vendor Lists
What truly sets this show apart is its focus on community. Gordon Food Service has built a reputation not just as a distributor, but as a partner to the businesses it serves. That culture of support and collaboration is palpable at the event.
You’ll find yourself in conversations that go beyond transactions. It’s common to see chefs exchanging recipes, operators sharing stories of pandemic survival, and newcomers receiving genuine advice from veterans in the industry.
The show also places a spotlight on social responsibility, with a growing emphasis on:
Supporting local farmers and sustainable seafood
Reducing food waste through smart technology
Encouraging diversity in food entrepreneurship
Making foodservice more inclusive and accessible
This commitment to building a better, more resilient industry gives the Vancouver Show a depth and purpose that resonates with attendees long after the final booth is packed away.
A Must-Attend for F&B Professionals in Canada
For anyone working in, or aspiring to enter, the Canadian foodservice sector, the Gordon Food Service Vancouver Show is more than an event it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to connect, to grow, to be inspired, and to taste the future of food.
Whether you're hunting for the next big product, trying to solve operational challenges, or simply looking to spark new ideas, this tradeshow delivers on all fronts. The Vancouver Show doesn't just respond to market needs it anticipates them.
And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us why we got into this business in the first place: to serve good food, build strong communities, and never stop learning.
