National Convenience Show 2027 – Birmingham, United Kingdom

What to expect

National Convenience Show is the biggest event for the convenience retailing sector, your one stop destination to discover the latest c-store specific products, services and innovations. Whether you are looking to boost footfall, increase basket spend or gain competitive edge, NCS is the place to be. It is integral part of esteemed UK Food & Drink Shows, known as largest event of its kind.

The event brings together over 1,500 exhibitors and 30,000 trade visitors when combined with four co-located exhibitions: Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, Forecourt Show and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions, all under one roof at NEC Birmingham. For convenience stores and forecourt businesses comparing food, drink, retail products and services, it runs alongside these shows providing single platform for whole market to come together.

Visitors leave with heightened awareness of sector’s supply chain and wholesale capabilities as well as latest innovations. Expect jam-packed show floor, big-name exhibitors, live demonstrations, tastings, business advice and dedicated stages. NCS is only place to see, sample and source c-store-specific products and services that will give site retail edge and help drive business forward, generate additional footfall and cash in on increased basket spend.

With over 1,200 exhibitors, 75 sessions across five stages and thousands of products to discover, it is event not to be missed. Four shows, three days, one free ticket provides access to all.

Event dates

Event Dates: April 12–14, 2027. The event runs Monday to Wednesday at NEC Birmingham, with opening times 10:00 to 17:00 on first two days and 10:00 to 16:00 on final day. Registration opens earlier for pre-registered badge collection.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

The venue is National Exhibition Centre, NEC, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, Hall 4. Tel +44 121 780 4141, email info@necgroup.co.uk. The NEC is UK’s largest exhibition centre with more than 16,500 parking spaces, 20 interconnected halls and direct links to Birmingham International Railway Station and Birmingham Airport via covered walkway and Air-Rail Link.

National Convenience Show occupies Hall 4 and adjacent areas within UK Food & Drink Shows footprint, taking over six halls of NEC in total across all shows. The site offers themed cafes serving light snacks within halls alongside numerous bars, restaurants and seating areas outside halls, plus cloakrooms in main piazza at all entrances, banking facilities at Natwest Bank located in Piazza outside Hall 4, and free WIFI throughout show halls.

The venue is located 8 miles east of Birmingham city centre at Junction 6 on M42, at heart of UK motorway network, making it accessible for national and international visitors. NEC North Ave Marston Green location provides easy access for professional visitors only, cycle annually.

Full event programme

Full programme combines exhibition, live theatres, advice hubs and innovation competitions.

• Exhibition: Nearly 230 exhibitors expected on show floor for NCS alone, 1,200+ across UK Food & Drink Shows, showcasing c-store-specific products including food to go, fresh food to go, grocery, alcohol, tobacco, vaping, non-food, technology and services.
• Live @ the Counter: Three-day programme of events, panel debates, live interviews, product demonstrations and tastings designed to inform, challenge and entertain.
• Ask The Experts: Offers visitors private one-on-one consultations on retail challenges they face, new and interactive feature.
• Business Advice Hub: Dedicated area providing exhibitors and visitors access to free business advice and services, including legal, financial, marketing and operations support.
• Retailer Hub: Sessions on crime impact on shop staff, staff culture building team to thrive, and convenience trends, with speakers from Association of Convenience Stores, Spar, Central England Co-op and others.
• Taste The Future: Competition stage giving standout brands opportunity to present and sample new products.
• Book Signings and Meet & Greet: Some of biggest influencers, chefs and operators from across industry giving away copies of latest books as well as offering meet and greet sessions along with photo opportunity.
• Sustainability Zones: Get up to speed on free-from, organic, vegan, veggie and nutrition brands, and non-food and drink lifestyle products with sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly message.

Key speakers & keynote speakers

Speakers for 2027 will be announced closer to event, with 21 sessions involving over 60 speakers in previous editions and 75 sessions across five stages.

Previous editions featured:

• Natalie Lightfoot: Store owner, Londis Solo Convenience, Baillieston, Glasgow, speaking on independent retail success and community retailing.
• Susan Connolly: Connolly Spar, discussing crime impact and retail resilience.
• Debbie Robinson: Central England Co-op, covering co-operative retail models and staff welfare.
• Ed Woodall: Association of Convenience Stores, providing regulatory and crime updates.
• Stephanie Wood: Managing Director, One Stop Stores Ltd, participating in female leaders shaping convenience panels.
• Katie Secretan: Sales & Retail Director, Nisa, discussing wholesale and symbol group support.
• Carol Welch: CEO, AF Blakemore, sharing leadership insights.
• Sunjaya Nagaraja: Lumina Intelligence, presenting The Convenience Shopper Who, What, When, Where, Why.
• Andrew Reed: Managing Director Wine & Exhibitions, William Reed, commenting on NCS as must-visit event for anyone looking to invest, improve or advance business.

Women in convenience and grocery panels address what still holds female leaders back and what works, based on sessions delivered at National Convenience Show and Food & Drink Expo.

Conference sessions & tracks

Conference sessions delivered across five stages: The Grocer Stage, Farm Shop & Deli Stage, Chefs Stage, Restaurant Stage, Convenience Store and Forecourt Trader Stage, presenting standout programme of seminars with industry experts.

• The Convenience Store and Forecourt Trader Stage: Core track for NCS, covering food to go as biggest potential for growth, fresh food to go trends, forecourt retail, future of retail, customer experience, retail innovation and technology.
• Retailer Hub: Sessions on crime impact on shop staff, staff culture building team to thrive at 1:45pm, convenience in 2024, community retailing, changing face of competition.
• Female Leaders Track: The female leaders shaping convenience at 12:45pm, discussing careers, leadership and what works for women in sector.
• Shopper Insights Track: Convenience shopper insights from Lumina Intelligence, consumer and market trends to watch, who what when where why analysis based on Eating and Drinking Out panel and robust market intelligence.
• Sustainability and Free-From: Free-from, organic, vegan, veggie, nutrition brands, non-food lifestyle products with sustainable, ethical, eco-friendly message.
• Business Advice Hub Sessions: Free business advice on marketing, finance, legal, HR, energy and technology.

Sessions include panel debates, live interviews, product demonstrations and tastings.

Session times & schedule

Opening Times:

• Monday: 10:00 – 17:00
• Tuesday: 10:00 – 17:00
• Wednesday: 10:00 – 16:00

Daily Flow:

• Morning: Exhibition opens, Ask The Experts one-on-one consultations begin, Business Advice Hub opens, Retailer Hub sessions start with registration and coffee.
• Midday: Keynote panels such as The Convenience Shopper at 11am and Female Leaders Shaping Convenience at 12:45pm, Live @ the Counter interviews and tastings.
• Afternoon: Continued seminars across five stages, Taste The Future presentations, book signings and meet and greet sessions.
• All Day: Exhibition remains open with continuous product sampling and business advice.

Sessions run first come first served, arrive early. Pocket maps available at entrance.

Ticket types & registration

• Visitor Pass: Free $0 USD when you register in advance online via www.nationalconvenienceshow.co.uk. One free ticket provides access to all four co-located shows: Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show and Forecourt Show, plus Foodex Manufacturing Solutions. Welcome to National Convenience Show free pass is standard.
• Onsite Registration: Available but may involve queuing, pre-registration strongly recommended for free pass and faster entry.
• Trade Only: Professional visitors only, ID may be required as proof of company name as show is only open to trade visitors, business card acceptable.
• Exhibitor Pass: For exhibiting staff, included with stand booking via William Reed.
• Hosted Buyer: Invitation-only for senior buyers may include lounge access.

Registration includes confirmation email to print badge, badge mailing closer to event, ability to collect from registration kiosks onsite if forgotten. Register free today to secure free ticket.

Registration deadlines

Registration for National Convenience Show 2027 is open via official site.

• Online Pre-Registration: Open now, recommended to complete before arrival to avoid queuing. Register free for 2027 at nationalconvenienceshow.co.uk.
• Badge Mailing: Closes approximately one week before event, after that collection onsite.
• Free Pass: Remains free throughout pre-registration period, no hard deadline but early registration ensures access to all five shows.
• Group Registration: Available for teams.

Exhibitor list & major companies

Event brings 25000+ visitors and 1200+ exhibitors across UK Food & Drink Shows, with nearly 230 exhibitors expected specifically for NCS show floor. Big-name exhibitors expected include:

• Grocery and Wholesale: Booker Group Stand EE280, Booker, Budgens, Londis, Nisa, Costco, Association of Convenience Stores, MyHermes, Paypoint.
• Food and Drink: Muller Stand BB308, Britvic Stand Y370, Asahi UK Stand X358, Beavertown Brewery Stand AA361, Hovis Stand W280, Galbani Stand CC309, Homefire Stand V380, Lucky Saint Stand Y371, Andros Chef, James White, Innocent, Radnor, Bridor, Campden BRI, Radnor Hills Mineral Water, The Vegetarian Society, Coffee Central.
• Snacks and Confectionery: Burtons Biscuits, Mars Ice Cream, Mars Petcare, Nestle UK, Perfetti Van Melle, Pork Farms, Ginsters, Kerry Foods, Bobbys Foods, Rollover.
• Alcohol and Tobacco: Heineken, Molson Coors, JTI, Camelot.
• Technology and Services: HTEC, plus non-food lifestyle products, sustainable and ethical brands.

Full list available via official exhibitor directory closer to event. William Reed publisher organizes show.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

Exhibition takes place in Hall 4 at NEC Birmingham, North Ave Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, as part of six halls taken over by UK Food & Drink Shows.

• Hall 4: Main hall for National Convenience Show and co-located shows, housing exhibition, Live @ the Counter theatre, Business Advice Hub, Retailer Hub.
• Floor Plan: Available via official site and ExpoFP.com, showing 3D layout, stand numbers like H100 for Convenience Store stand, X358 for Asahi UK, EE280 for Booker Group.
• Features: Themed cafes within halls, street food areas, book signing areas, business advice area.
• Navigation: Electronic signage, traffic team guiding to correct car park, free shuttle buses from car parks, signposted footpaths, pocket maps at entrance.
• Facilities: Cloakrooms in main piazza at all entrances from $1.27 USD per item, banking at Natwest Bank in Piazza outside Hall 4, free WIFI via NEC Free Wifi.

Networking & business meetings

Networking is core to NCS as single platform for whole market to come together.

• Ask The Experts: Private one-on-one consultations on retail challenges, ideal for independent retailers seeking personalized advice.
• Live @ the Counter: Programme of events, panel debates, live interviews, product demonstrations and tastings designed to inform, challenge and entertain, facilitating networking.
• Business Advice Hub: Dedicated area providing access to free business advice and services, enabling meetings with experts.
• Retailer Hub: Sessions on crime, staff culture and competition, encouraging peer discussion among independent retailers.
• Co-Located Shows Access: One free ticket provides access to all five shows, enabling cross-sector meetings with grocery, specialist retail, wholesale, foodservice and hospitality professionals.
• Meet & Greet: Book signings and photo opportunities with influencers, chefs and operators.

Invite others for coffee and plan day via official app.

Industry sectors & highlights

Industry sectors covered:

• Convenience Retail: Core sector, largest event of its kind, convenience stores, symbol groups, independent retailers, community retailing.
• Forecourt Retail: Forecourt businesses, fuel, forecourt trader, food to go, fresh food to go.
• Grocery and Wholesale: Grocery, wholesale, supply chain, wholesale capabilities, Booker, Nisa, Londis, Budgens.
• Food To Go: Biggest potential for growth identified as food to go, fresh food to go trends, future of retail, customer experience, retail innovation.
• Technology and Services: Retail technology, payment solutions like Paypoint, logistics like MyHermes, plus sustainable and ethical products.
• Food & Drink: Food and drink expo overlap, farm shop and deli, specialist retail, organic, vegan, free-from.

Highlights include 25,000+ visitors, 1,200+ exhibitors, 4 shows, 3 days, 1 venue, 1 free pass, biggest event for convenience retailing sector.

Event rules & visitor information

• Professional Visitors Only: Audience professional visitors only, trade only event, general public not admitted, ID may be required.
• Admissions Policy: Available via quick links on official site, includes age restrictions, business ID required.
• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Information available via official site, accessible facilities at NEC.
• Badge: Bar coded badge issued on entry, must be worn, allowing scan consents to passing registration details.
• First Come First Served: Conferences run first come first served, arrive early.
• Cloakrooms: Available in main piazza at all entrances, prices start at $1.27 USD per item, large cases accepted within reason at own risk.
• Banking: Full banking at Natwest Bank in Piazza outside Hall 4.
• WIFI: Free WIFI throughout show halls via NEC Free Wifi.
• Behaviour: Organizers reserve right to refuse entry for inappropriate behaviour.
• No Dogs: Typically no dogs except assistance dogs.

How to get there

NEC Birmingham is at heart of UK motorway network, 8 miles east of Birmingham city centre, postcode B40 1NT, North Ave Marston Green.

• By Car: Exit Junction 6 on M42, follow signs for NEC, electronic signage and traffic team guide to correct car park for Hall 4. Follow signs for UK Food & Drink Shows.
• By Train: Birmingham International Station directly connected via covered walkway in around five minutes walk to halls. Services from London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Coventry, Manchester.
• By Air: Birmingham Airport adjacent to NEC, free Air-Rail Link monorail connects airport terminal to Birmingham International Station and NEC in 2 minutes.
• By Coach: National Express and Megabus serve Birmingham Airport and NEC, plus local buses.

Public transport & parking

Parking:

• NEC provides access to more than 16,500 on-site parking spaces that can be booked in advance via NEC website.
• Pre-book via NEC website or validate on day at pay-on-foot machines. Dedicated booking link typically goes live three months before show.
• Once parked, take free shuttle bus or walk via signposted footpaths to Hall 4.
• General parking adjacent to halls, disabled parking near entrances, electric charging points available.
• Parking cost typically $20 USD to $25 USD per day if not included in free parking promotion, but free parking promotion often available for UK Food & Drink Shows when pre-booked.

Public Transport:

• Train is recommended: Birmingham International Railway Station located five-minute walk away from NEC.
• Bus and coach: Air-rail link connects Birmingham Airport and NEC, so all buses going to airport fit purpose.
• Free shuttle buses between car parks and exhibition halls.

Accommodation areas

NEC area offers extensive accommodation:

• On-Site Hotels: Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Crowne Plaza NEC, Genting Hotel at Resorts World, Moxy Birmingham NEC, all within walking distance or short shuttle.
• Birmingham City Centre: 8 miles west, 15 minutes by train, hotels from $70 USD budget to $250 USD premium including Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, Clayton Hotel.
• ExpoBeds Service: Partnered with leading hotels near NEC to bring special rates during event. Contact with requirements and travel consultants send free quote based on group size, budget and location preferences.
• Booking Advice: Book early due to concurrent events, use official accommodation link.

Previous year’s highlights

Previous edition of UK Food & Drink Shows marked busiest ever, with halls of NEC Birmingham filled with excitement as thousands of visitors connected, forged business partnerships and sampled products that will be delighting consumers in weeks and months to come.

Highlights included over 1,200 exhibitors, 75 sessions across five stages and thousands of products to discover. National Convenience Show specifically featured nearly 230 exhibitors including Muller, Britvic, Asahi UK, Galbani, Homefire, Hovis, Lucky Saint and others showcasing wares. Retailer Hub sessions addressed crime impact on shop staff with Susan Connolly, Debbie Robinson and Ed Woodall, while female leaders panels featured Stephanie Wood, Katie Secretan and Carol Welch. Lumina Intelligence session The Convenience Shopper provided insights on who, what, when, where, why.

New interactive features like Ask The Experts and Live @ the Counter were introduced, offering private consultations and three-day programme of panel debates and tastings. Business Advice Hub provided free business advice and services. Book signings and meet and greet sessions with influencers and chefs added value.

Official registration & tickets

Official registration via https://www.nationalconvenienceshow.co.uk/.

• Official Site: https://www.nationalconvenienceshow.co.uk/
• Contact: exhibitions.socialmedia@wrbm.com, reception@wrbm.com, www.william-reed.com for organizer William Reed Business Media Ltd.
• Tickets: Free $0 USD Visitor Pass when pre-registered online, onsite registration available. One free ticket provides access to all five co-located shows: Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show, Forecourt Show and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions. Register free for 2027 at nationalconvenienceshow.co.uk.
• Venue: National Exhibition Centre, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, Hall 4, Tel +44 121 780 4141.
• Organizer: William Reed, member of AEO, social media Twitter @NCSevent, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.