62 • May | June 2026 • abasto.com BY VIOLETA MONTES DE OCA G uadalajara, Mexico, will welcome more than 52,000 professional visi- tors from 70 countries for three days of business and opportunity: Expo ANTAD 2026. This trade show is where purchasing decisions happen in Latin America. The National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores (ANTAD) annually organizes the most influential business forum for the retail and HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant, and Café/Catering) sectors in Latin America. Expo ANTAD has established itself as an international benchmark that drives innovation, competitiveness, and growth in one of the economy’s most dynamic in- dustries. In the 2025 edition alone, 2,500 buyers from ANTAD-associated chains attended. More than 1,800 domestic and international exhibiting companies pre- sented innovations in food, technology, furniture, equipment, and much more across 52,000 square meters (nearly 560,000 square feet) of exhibition space. Program, activities, and conferences Expo ANTAD 2026 will offer plenty of rea- sons for manufacturing, distribution, and retail companies to do business. What’s New “For the first time, we have a presence from Russia (…) and the Jalisco Ministry of Economic Development did an extraordinary job bringing in a group of buyers from Korea,” shared Manuel Álva- rez, General Coordinator of Expo ANTAD, in an interview with Abasto Media. Addi- tionally, during the trade show’s inaugu- ration, figures from the Mexican Football Federation will speak on the significance of teamwork. Trade Show: Dates: May 19, 20, and 21 Hours 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Business Floor) Location: Expo Guadalajara The Most Important Business Gathering in Latin America EXPO ANTAD 2026: Guadalajara, Mexico, will host the 43rd edition of this trade show from May 19 to 21 Flavors and Aromas (Sabores y Aromas) A space where beverages are experienced, tas- ted, and negotiated. Here, brands present their products through live demonstrations, creating direct experiences with buyers and decision-makers to foster business encoun- ters with professional visitors. Retail Talks Forum Theory turns into experience and inspiration. Retail leaders and experts share success stories, lessons learned, and strategies that have trans- formed their organizations. The format is fast-paced and accessible, allowing atten- dees to not only listen but also interact and ask direct questions to the speakers. Solutions and Cutting-Edge Technology Forum (STP) The epicenter of technologi- cal innovation at Expo ANTAD 2026. This forum presents tools and developments such as AI for inventory management, advanced analytics to understand consu- mer behavior, logistics automation, and frictionless payment solutions, among others. GS1: Retail Code This space addresses topics such as barcodes, master data ma- nagement, traceability for fresh products, food safety, and e-commerce. This year’s fo- cus includes analyzing the migration to 2D Codes, smart inventory, business factories, and the syncfonía+ electronic catalog. • FOOD INDUSTRY