Food Tech Event: the trade fair for food production

The Food Tech Event on 14 and 15 May at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch is the ultimate one-stop trade fair for food production and processing. It brings everything you need for your processing and production environment in the food and beverage industry together under one roof.

Sure, you could drive around the country to meet people in person—whether you know them or not. Or sit behind your computer, clicking through websites to gather information. But there’s one moment in May when everything and everyone comes together in one physical location. ‘Shopping’ might not be the right word, but the feeling comes close: at this trade show, you can ‘surf’ in real life across a wide range of companies, organisations, and educational and knowledge institutions—all focused on solutions for food and beverage. From food safety and hygiene solutions to packaging machines and materials, and from flooring and wall systems to conveyor belts and vision technology.

At the Food Tech Event, you’ll find answers to how you can set up, optimise, and manage your entire factory environment and processing operations. The fair also offers a unique opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and spark new ones. Chances are, your visit will lead to unexpected meetings and surprising insights.

Solutions!

Keeping your knowledge sharp and relevant is essential in these turbulent times. The sector is facing more than enough challenges. Geopolitical tensions and wars make it difficult to plan far ahead, while long-term vision is more important than ever due to the growing urgency for a more sustainable food system—driven by climate change, the energy transition, the protein transition, labour shortages, and the list goes on.

Technology and innovation are key to tackling these challenges. On the exhibition floor, food producers will find the tools and insights they need. You’ll get a clear view of the latest trends and developments—and, most importantly, where your opportunities lie.

Knowledge Programme

There’s more to experience than just visiting the exhibitors during this two-day event. The programme includes a full and engaging conference schedule, featuring keynote talks from Marianne van Keep, Director of Sustainability and Procurement at Verstegen Spices & Sauces, and Tijs Roeland, Manager of Technology & Projects at CONO Kaasmakers. Expect in-depth panel discussions with experts from the industry—on Wednesday 14 May, organised by Next Tech Food Factories and Vakblad Voedingsindustrie. There will also be plenty of live demos and, as always, a friendly networking reception hosted by the OSV (Ondernemers Sociëteit Voedingsindustrie). Over 110 exhibitors have already booked their spot on the show floor—promising a lively and energetic edition!

www.food-tech-event.nl

Talks

Come and hear inspiring talks and keynotes by leading experts. You’ll find the full programme on the event website. Below, we highlight the 15 May sessions organised by Vakblad Voedingsindustrie.

The sword of Damocles of UPF

IJsbrand Velzeboer, Food Technologist and Director at Scienta Nova

There are signs that Ultra-Processed Foods may cause long-term health issues. But unprocessed foods aren’t risk-free either—just think of the recent Hepatitis A outbreak from hand-picked fruit. IJsbrand uses real-world examples to delve into the risks linked to different forms of processing. His perspective on food and the sector is sharp, always delivered with a good dose of humor.

Help, my AI took the weekend off!

John Wallbrink, AI expert and speaker, owner of Wallbrink Crossmedia

In this hands-on inspiration session—subtitled ‘Working smarter without tech headaches’—you’ll see how AI can help you work more efficiently, speed up creative processes, and seize new opportunities. Blending humour with practical examples, John shows how AI can deliver direct value to your daily work. No abstract theories here—just immediately useful insights and interaction. Whether you're just starting with AI or already have experience, this session will take you a step further.

Fire suppression without the damage

Jan de Bruin, Manager at ANSUL Solutions BV

Jan has worked at ANSUL Solutions for over 20 years and chairs the fire suppression systems section of the trade association ‘Federatie Veilig Nederland’. In this informative session, he offers a clear overview of the applications and techniques behind gas-based fire suppression and detection systems—tailored specifically to the food sector, from production through to storage.