Fine Food Australia, the nation’s leading trade event for the food and hospitality industry, is proud to announce the United States as its inaugural Country Partner for the 2026 edition of the show, taking place 31 August – 3 September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Country Partner program is a new initiative designed to spotlight one nation’s food and beverage excellence across the full Fine Food Australia platform.
The United States is a natural fit for the inaugural partnership. Already the second largest supplier of imported consumer-oriented food products to the Australian market – with exports valued at USD $1.5 billion in 2025. U.S. food and beverages maintain a powerful presence across Australia’s retail and hospitality sectors. Australian consumers show a growing interest in American innovation, particularly within the realms of craft beverages, artisanal snacks, and pioneering packaged goods.
Australia and the United States share a highly significant and lucrative food trade relationship. In 2025, beef and meat products accounted for USD $5.1 billion (approximately 611,000 tons) of Australian exports to the United States, nearly 20% of total Australian exports to the U.S. Australian beverages including beer, spirits, wine and non-alcoholic beverages exported to the U.S. are valued at USD $228.7 million with Australian wine and premium spirits well established in the American market.2 For Australian producers, the U.S. is not just a trading partner, it is one of the most important and high-value export destinations in the world.
Expanding trade with Australia is an equally vital component of this partnership. As the second-largest provider of consumer-oriented food imports to the Australian market, the United States is prominent in snack foods, pork, bakery items, dairy, spirits, and confectionery. Notably, these categories represent the core sectors showcased at Fine Food Australia.
As Country Partner, the U.S. will be represented through a dedicated American Pavilion, an exclusive ‘Taste of America’ VIP Networking Reception, chef demonstrations on The Culinary Kitchen and Talking Trends stage, and a comprehensive media and content campaign running from April through to September 2026.
Fine Food Australia Commercial Product Manager Sinead Kavanagh said: “The United States and Australia share a deep and genuinely two-way food trade relationship. This partnership gives both U.S. brands and Australian producers a powerful platform to strengthen those connections and open new doors with the buyers and distributors who matter most.”
Fine Food Australia 2026 takes place 31 August – 3 September at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Four days, thousands of products, and one unmissable event for Australia’s foodservice and hospitality industry. Discover the latest in food, drink, equipment and technology, connect with suppliers, source new products and attend live demonstrations, all under one roof. Entry is free for trade professionals. Register now →