Hospitality operators will have the opportunity to explore new products, hear from industry leaders and pick up practical ideas for their businesses at Bidfood’s Taste of Summer Auckland Industry Event on Tuesday 18 August.
The Auckland event is the flagship Bidfood food show, with other events running around the country in August and September. Find out when the events are happening here.
In Auckland, over 125 exhibitors will be at the Auckland Showgrounds, showcasing food, beverages, technology, equipment and other innovations shaping the sector.
For businesses continuing to manage cost pressures, changing customer expectations and an evolving market, the event is an opportunity to see what is emerging across the industry—and gather ideas that can be taken back into their own operations.
Practical ideas from the kitchen
A full programme of live chef demonstrations will run throughout the day, covering menu inspiration, cooking techniques, reducing waste and getting more value from ingredients.
Demonstrations include sous vide cooking as a way to save time while delivering consistent results, using baking mixes to reduce costs and create additional menu opportunities, and breaking down a whole chicken to maximise yield and minimise waste.
Chefs will also prepare a range of dishes, from potato gnocchi and Wagyu short rib through to Madurai lamb rack, baked salmon and black truffle-inspired dishes.
Conversations about the future of hospitality
Three seminar sessions will explore some of the wider issues and opportunities facing hospitality businesses:
- Women at the Head of the Table: A conversation with women helping to shape the future of hospitality.
- Future Proof: From economic pressures to customer expectations—what comes next?
- Award-Winning Innovation That Delivers Business Value: How sustainability can support innovation and provide a competitive advantage.
Restaurant Association General Manager Nicola Waldren will join Lee Brown from Hospitality Association, Rebecca Brook from Rise Growth Lab and Tim Read from Hospitality Association for the Future Proof discussion at 11.30am.
The session will look at the trading environment facing hospitality businesses, how customer behaviour and expectations are changing, and what operators should be thinking about as they plan for the future.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore new food and beverage products, hospitality technology and business innovation from exhibitors across the show.
Event details
Event: Taste of Summer – Bidfood Auckland Industry Event
Date: Tuesday 18 August 2026
Time: 9.00am–3.00pm
Venue: Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane