• FOOD INDUSTRY 80 • Noviembre / Diciembre 2026 •abasto.com IN THE HALLWAYS 1. Gabriel Cicero, Gustavo Blanco, and Yesenia Salas Blanco from Amaruyamyu. 2. Opening of the event. 3. Mauricio Menéndez, Francisco Menéndez, Sandra Martínez, and Erik Chet from Mesoamerica Foods. 4. Mariana Asayag, Valeria Vida, and José Miguel Fal- cón from Alicorp. 5. Mario Deras and Gracia Elías from Bocadeli. Americas Food & Beverage Show Marks its 30th Milestone BY VIOLETA MONTES DE OCA T he Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference (AF&B), organized by the World Trade Center Miami (WTCM), concluded its 30th edition on September 16 at the Miami Beach Conven- tion Center. The event drew 11,700 attendees and representatives from 115 countries and territories over three days of hemispheric food and beverage trade, marking one of the broadest international presences in the show’s history. More than 13,000 professionals registe- red for this historic edition, and 990 exhi- biting companies occupied 22 internatio- nal pavilions in the exhibition hall. Thirty years ago, AF&B started as a gathering of a hundred companies with one goal: connecting the Americas through food and beverage trade,” said Ivan Barrios, President & CEO of World Trade Center Miami. “This year, we welcomed nearly 12,000 people and 115 countries and territories to Miami Beach, a true testament to what three decades of relationship-building can do for small and medium-sized businesses across our hemisphere.” Iván Barrios / President and CEO of the World Trade Center Miami Every number behind this show represents a real connection made on the floor,” said Alice Ancona, Chief Operating Officer of World Trade Center Miami. “Nearly 1,000 exhibiting companies and 22 international pavilions give you a sense of scale, but what stood out this year was the depth of participation – buyers and producers coming back year after year, and new markets showing up for the first time.” Alicia Ancona / Director of Operations at World Trade Center Miami. In their words • Continues on page 82 2 3 5 4 1