Johannesburg, January 2026 – From a single hall at NASREC in 1986 to one of South Africa’s longest-running trade shows, Hostex 2026 marks with legacy a major milestone: 40 years of connecting professionals in food, drink, and hospitality.
Demonstrations by FoodServ Solutions at Hostex 2024
The story began when Gerald Dreyer, then publisher of Professional Caterer magazine, launched Caterex in March 1986. He aimed to bring the magazine’s community together in a live setting. It worked — the inaugural show drew over 3,000 visitors to the Johannesburg Expo Centre. When a trademark issue arose, the organisers renamed the event Hostex, a name that has endured ever since.
The growing non-alcoholic beverage sector is showcased at Hostex
“It was a hands-on, high-energy event,” remembers Lindy Taylor, who joined the team from the very beginning and worked on Hostex for 32 years. “Exhibitors built large, impressive stands, there was food everywhere, and visitors came for the experience.”
Hostex Legacy: A Show Anchored by Chefs
In the early 1990s, Hostex formalised a long-standing working relationship with the South African Chefs Association (SA Chefs). Under the leadership of the late Bill Gallagher, then Chairman of SA Chefs, the association agreed to support Hostex exclusively. The SA Chefs Pavilion became — and remains — a dynamic feature of the show, hosting culinary demonstrations, student competitions, and industry showcases.
Ambience Hospitality at Hostex 2024
“It added life and legitimacy,” says Lynn Chamier, who served as Exhibition Director for 25 years. “And it’s remained a key part of what makes Hostex special.”
Memories and milestones
In the early 2000s, SA Chefs introduced the Global Pizza Challenge to the Hostex floor, led by Martin Kobald. For one edition, the late DJ Jeremy Mansfield made a guest appearance, adding theatre and fun to the live competition.
Barista in action at Hostex 2024
Hostex has also maintained longstanding exhibitor relationships with brands such as Adriatic Shipping, Vulcan, Ecolab, Woodlam, Anker Data Systems, and many others that helped define the show’s stature.
Experimentation and evolution: the F&HA years
From 2016 to 2018, Hostex formed part of a larger co-located event: Food & Hospitality Africa (F&HA), alongside the International Food & Drink Africa Expo (IFEA). The organisers designed the merged format to appeal to a broader mix of buyers from hospitality, foodservice, and FMCG retail.
Beverage innovations shine at Hostex
This expanded platform offered cross-industry engagement but later streamlined to refocus Hostex on its core audience. By 2020, Hostex returned as a standalone event, with a more refined structure of industry-specific zones like Equipment Africa, Food & Drink Africa, Contract Furnishings Africa, and Technology Africa.
Coffee takes centre stage at Hostex
Through transitions, one constant
Over the decades, a succession of organisers has managed Hostex — from Penman Communications and Times Media, to Reed Exhibitions, Exhibitions for Africa, and now Specialised Exhibitions Pty Ltd, now Montgomery Group Africa, part of the global Montgomery Group.
“Hostex has stayed relevant because it delivers value,” says Gary Corin, Managing Director of Montgomery Group Africa. “It’s trusted by exhibitors and valued by visitors. And it connects the industry in a way that no other event does. That’s why it’s lasted 40 years.”
Hostex provides a platform for the wine industry to showcase their products to the hospitality, retail and food & beverage sectors
Says Sandy Angus, former chairman of the Montgomery Group, “Being part of the Hostex journey and continued evolution remains something I’m incredibly passionate about, particularly through initiatives like the Bryan Montgomery Bursary Fund, which we have proudly supported over the years in partnership with the SA Chefs Association to help nurture future talent in the industry.”
Hostex visitors at the Beverage Seal stand
Hostex Legacy 2026: Opening Doors
The 40th edition will take place from 8 to 10 March 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, themed Opening Doors. The event will celebrate the show’s history while introducing new zones — including the Beverage Hub, the SME Pavilion, and a Retail Innovation Hub.
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[…] Hostex, which continues to bring together suppliers, operators and decision-makers. As explored in Hostex at 40: A Legacy of Trust, Taste and Tenacity, the show has played an important role in shaping the hospitality sector over the past four […]