Fi South America 2026

Overview

Fi South America (FI SOUTH AMERICA) is a leading food and health ingredients trade show serving the Latin American food and beverage market, taking place 4–6 August 2026 at São Paulo Expo, São Paulo, Brazil. Organized by Fi Global/Informa Markets, the event brings together ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, brands, and R&D professionals to source new ingredients, discover formulation solutions, and track regulatory and market trends across South America.

With more than 12,000 expected attendees and around 290+ exhibitors, Fi South America is positioned as a key annual marketplace for buyers and decision‑makers in the regional F&B industry.

What to Expect

At Fi South America, visitors can expect a comprehensive food and health ingredients marketplace tailored to the Latin American region. The show gathers ingredient producers, distributors, formulators, and solution providers across categories such as flavors, colors, functional ingredients, proteins, sweeteners, stabilizers, health and wellness ingredients, and clean‑label solutions. Buyers are able to compare a wide range of suppliers and technologies under one roof, from large multinationals to regional specialists. The event offers a mix of exhibition, content and networking. Exhibitors showcase new ingredient launches and application concepts, supported by technical staff ready to discuss formulations, scale‑up and regulatory considerations. Attendees can join conference sessions, seminars and presentations—around 70+ hours of content are advertised—covering market trends, consumer insights, product development, and innovation in areas such as plant‑based, sugar reduction, fortification, and sustainable sourcing. Multi‑track content programs create opportunities to update technical knowledge and benchmark strategies against peers. Networking is a central feature: with 12,000+ expected attendees and participants from 50+ countries, Fi South America facilitates meetings between suppliers, manufacturers, brands, and service providers across the value chain. Many visitors use the show to meet existing partners, identify alternative suppliers, and initiate new projects for the Brazilian and wider South American markets. Digital tools and matchmaking from the organizer help attendees plan meetings and navigate the exhibitor list efficiently. The venue, São Paulo Expo, provides a modern exhibition environment with easy access from Jabaquara metro station and nearby airports, plus amenities such as catering and business services. Safety and comfort measures include age restrictions, clear visitor guidelines, and facilities such as a dedicated lactation room for nursing mothers. Overall, attendees can expect a busy three‑day show combining product sourcing, technical learning, and regional market intelligence in one focused event.

Who Should Attend

Fi South America is designed for professionals in the food, beverage, nutrition, and ingredient supply chain who are active in—or looking to enter—the South American market. This includes buyers and procurement teams from manufacturers and brand owners seeking new suppliers, alternative ingredients, and solutions for reformulation or new product development. R&D scientists, food technologists, product developers, and innovation managers will find extensive opportunities to explore functional ingredients, health‑focused solutions, and application concepts addressing demands such as clean label, plant‑based, fortification, and sugar or salt reduction. Commercial and marketing teams benefit from insights into consumer trends, competitive launches, and regional regulatory developments presented in the conference and seminar programmes. Distributors, traders, and import/export specialists will find potential principals or customers interested in expanding their distribution networks within Brazil and across neighboring markets. Service providers—such as lab testing companies, formulation consultancies, regulatory and compliance advisors, and equipment suppliers tied to ingredient processing or application—also gain value from the concentrated audience of F&B manufacturers. Given that a high proportion of visitors are stated to be buyers and decision‑makers and that nearly 90% of visitors come from South America, the event particularly suits companies aiming to influence purchasing and specification decisions in the region. International ingredient suppliers looking to deepen their presence or test new concepts for Latin American consumers will find Fi South America a relevant platform to validate their approach and meet local partners. The show is not intended for the general public: visitors must be industry professionals, and minors face strict entry restrictions, with under‑16s not allowed and exhibition hall access limited to those over 18 except for specific student access windows.

Why It Matters

Fi South America matters because it acts as a central marketplace and knowledge hub for the fast‑evolving food and beverage sector in Brazil and the wider Latin American region. For ingredient suppliers and manufacturers, the show condenses months of prospecting and market research into three days of direct contact with qualified buyers, technical experts, and brand decision‑makers. This accelerates sourcing decisions, shortens innovation cycles, and supports more resilient supply chains, especially in categories where regional production and logistics are critical. From a market‑development perspective, Latin America is seeing rising demand for healthier, more sustainable and more convenient foods and drinks. Fi South America provides a dedicated platform to showcase health and nutrition ingredients, clean‑label solutions, and novel technologies adapted to local preferences and regulatory frameworks. By bringing together global and local players, the event helps align innovation pipelines with regional consumer expectations and price structures, which can differ markedly from those in Europe, North America or Asia. The event also has strategic importance for companies navigating regulatory and compliance requirements. Through its content programme and the presence of specialist exhibitors, Fi South America offers insights into labelling rules, fortification standards, and safety regulations relevant to Brazil and neighboring markets. This knowledge sharing reduces the risk of reformulation missteps and supports smoother product launches. For the broader ecosystem—including distributors, service providers and equipment manufacturers—the show is a focal point for building partnerships and distribution networks across South America. As many visitors are confirmed buyers or decision‑makers, meetings at Fi South America often translate directly into contracts, trials, or joint development projects, giving the event tangible impact beyond its three‑day duration. Finally, Fi South America sits within the global Fi portfolio, linking regional innovation to worldwide trends. Insights and launches from São Paulo feed into global conversations on topics like plant‑based proteins, sugar reduction, and functional nutrition, while international best practices are localized for South American conditions. This two‑way flow of ideas makes the show relevant not only for regional stakeholders but also for global ingredient and F&B companies seeking a coherent, informed strategy in Latin America.