Held from 9 to 12 December at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre (EIEC) in Cairo, the two events welcomed around 37,000 visitors and, for the first time, approximately 1,200 exhibitors. The expanded exhibition grounds, including an additional lightweight hall, were fully booked, reflecting the strong and growing demand from the market.
Due to high exhibitor and visitor interest, the fairs were extended to four days for the first time, underlining the need for a stable and well-structured business hub serving the food industry as well as the processing and packaging sectors. Egypt’s economic growth, relative stability and strategic geopolitical position continue to reinforce its role as a gateway between Africa and the Middle East.
A new milestone for the trade fair duo
“The successful 2025 editions are a testament to the exceptional development of Food Africa and pacprocess MEA in recent years, reaching a new milestone this year,” said Wolfram N. Diener, Chairman and President of Messe Düsseldorf. “The growth of our trade fairs showcases the potential of Africa and the MEA region, which we are unlocking for our customers here. It is a strategic mission for Messe Düsseldorf to continue expanding this framework together with our partners.”
Food Africa and pacprocess MEA are organised by Messe Düsseldorf in cooperation with local partners IFP Egypt and Konzept, and form part of the global interpack alliance portfolio.
Strong international growth across all segments
With exhibitors from 51 countries and a total exhibition area of 50,000 square metres, the 2025 edition marked a substantial increase compared to the previous year. The number of exhibitors, the exhibition space and the level of international participation all grew significantly compared to 2024.
This expansion was driven both by the introduction of new country pavilions and by the strong return of long-standing exhibitors. Alongside host country Egypt, Turkey and India ranked among the top three exhibiting nations. In total, companies were grouped into 17 national pavilions, further reinforcing the international profile of the event.
Food Africa marks its 10th anniversary
A gala evening attended by around 400 invited guests marked the highlight of Food Africa’s 10th anniversary celebrations. The event paid tribute to companies and institutions that have played a key role in the trade fair’s growth over the past decade.
Several awards were presented, including the “Food Africa Pioneer Exhibitor” distinction, recognising companies that had participated in the very first edition of the event in 2015 and have supported its development ever since.
pacprocess MEA to become interpack MEA
Over the past six years, pacprocess MEA has established itself as a central platform for packaging and processing technologies in Egypt and the wider region. From 2026, the event will operate under a new name: interpack MEA.
This strategic rebranding aims to strengthen its integration within the interpack alliance and provide clearer positioning for processing and packaging technologies across Africa and the Middle East. The joint staging with Food Africa will remain unchanged.
The next editions of Food Africa and interpack MEA are scheduled to take place from 7 to 10 December 2026 in Cairo.