Explore Petfood Forum’s Expo Hall: Where innovation, networking and learning converge
With more than 400 exhibitors and a full slate of programming, the Petfood Forum 2025 show floor offers suppliers, sessions and strategic connections all in one place.
Petfood Forum's exhibit hall features pet food ingredients, packaging, processing equipment, safety, quality and sanitation solutions, services and software, and testing equipment for the pet food space.
Paul Ward Photogrpahy
Petfood Forum, which will run April 28-30 in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., hosts the largest pet food supplier trade show in the industry with over 400 companies participating. But the expo floor isn’t just about booths, it’s a multifaceted experience. It’s where you’ll find the Future of Petfood Pavilion, Petfood Tech Talk Stage, and numerous networking opportunities during lunch, coffee breaks and Tuesday’s evening reception.
With a little planning, you’ll find time to see it all. For pre-planning purposes, the full agenda is published, with a day-by-day breakout of sessions and expo hall activities.
Opportunities to network are everywhere at Petfood Forum — from casual chats in sessions to dedicated social events.Paul Ward Photography
Meet the suppliers
Find everything you need, from ingredients that cater to the latest nutritional trends to packaging that will make your brand stand out. In the exhibit hall, you’ll see firsthand the most advanced resources for pet food ingredients, packaging, processing equipment, safety, quality and sanitation solutions, services and software, and testing available.
Expo Hall Hours:
Tuesday, April 29 | 9 am to 6 pm.
Wednesday, April 30 | 9 am to 2:30 pm
Start by making a list of which companies are a must-visit. Pro tip: reach out to these companies ahead of Petfood Forum to introduce yourself and schedule a time to meet in their booth.
If you’re not sure where to begin, start in the first aisle (Aisle 600) and walk your way across the show floor ending at Aisle 2800. Be sure to wear comfy shoes.
See what products and capabilities will give your brand a competitive advantage in the Tech Talk Stage. Petfood Tech Talks were among the most well attended sessions in 2024 with many presentations at standing-room only. In 2025, the program has expanded to add even more sessions providing attendees with maximum opportunities to see what’s next in pet food technologies.
Tech Talk Stage Hours:
Tuesday, April 29 | 9:35 am to 12:05 pm
Wednesday, April 30 | 9:35 to 11:35 am
There are 20 sessions to choose from covering a wide range of topics. Stay and see them all or pick the ones most relevant to your job.
Meet the industry’s most promising young professionals in the Future of Petfood Pavilion. This dedicated space on the show floor hosts the Student Program featuring academic pet food research conducted by graduate students from various universities with studies focused on companion animal nutrition. Students will present non-commercial oral presentations and posters on relevant pet food-related research.
The student program is designed to give the industry a chance to see the latest in academic pet food research as well as gain access to those entering the industry in the next few years.
Future of Petfood Pavilion Hours:
Tuesday, April 29 | 9:45 am to 12 pm
Wednesday, April 30 | 9:30 to 11:45 am
If your company is looking for future hires, the Student Program has several opportunities for networking. See the full schedule and find out what universities will be in attendance.
Take a break and refuel
There is a lot of walking, talking and learning that happens at Petfood Forum. Be sure to refuel. There will be several coffee breaks, lunch and networking receptions happening on the show floor. So, grab a cup of coffee and strike up a conversation with other attendees.
View the full agenda to see when you can expect food and drinks to be available.
When it comes to networking at Petfood Forum, stay open to unexpected encounters and strike up conversations with people outside your planned interactions. You never know who you might meet.Paul Ward PhotographyPro tips for building a connection
If you are new to the industry, trying to make connections might seem daunting but Petfood Forum is designed to help you do just that.
From striking up a conversation with the person sitting next to you in a session to dedicated social events – opportunities to build relationships and make introductions are everywhere.
Embrace scheduled networking: Don’t skip the receptions, lunches or breakfasts. These are built-in opportunities to meet fellow attendees. Resist the urge to go back to your room or to a local restaurant – the halls will be packed with your peers.
Seek opportunities: Valuable connections can happen anywhere, anytime. Stay open to unexpected encounters and strike up conversations with people outside your planned interactions. You never know who you might meet!
Pre-event powerhouse: Before the event, leverage LinkedIn or email to reach out to existing contacts and schedule meetings. This is a great way to reconnect with vendors, clients and partners.
Spread the Word (and network!):Share this social media graphic (we’ve got you covered!) to let your network know you’ll be attending. This sparks pre-event connections and gets the ball rolling.
Follow up is key: Don’t let the connection fizzle out after the event. Send personalized emails or LinkedIn messages thanking new contacts for their time and expressing your interest in staying in touch. Remember, networking is a marathon, not a sprint – consistent communication fosters a strong professional community.
Networking at Petfood Forum
APRIL 28
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials opening reception, Kansas City Power & Light District
APRIL 29
7:00 am – 8:00 am: Breakfast, Room 2215
9:00 am – 6:00 pm: Exhibit Hall open
9:15 am – 9:45 am: Coffee break, Exhibit Hall A-D
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch, including Women in Petfood Leadership discussion tables, Exhibit Hall A-D
2:35 pm – 3:10 pm: Coffee break, Exhibit Hall A-D
4:10 pm – 6:00pm: Exhibit Hall networking reception with Women in Petfood Leadership networking area, Exhibit Hall A-D
4:30 pm – 5:15 pm: Student and industry research poster meet-and-greet, Future of Pet Food Pavilion, Aisle 1400
APRIL 30
7:15 am – 8:15 am: Breakfast, Room 2215
9:00 am – 3:00 pm: Exhibit Hall open
9:30 am – 10:00 am: Coffee break, Exhibit Hall A-D
11:50 am – 1:00 pm: Lunch, Exhibit Hall A-D
BONUS NETWORKING: Petfood Essentials is an interactive, informal educational pre-conference seminar, held the day before the opening of Petfood Forum. It’s filled with small-group networking and education. A separate registration is required. Purchase the Petfood Forum 2-Day & Petfood Essentials Combo pass for the best value and the full educational package.
Opportunities to network are everywhere at Petfood Forum — from casual chats in sessions to dedicated social events.Paul Ward Photography
Opportunities to network are everywhere at Petfood Forum — from casual chats in sessions to dedicated social events.Paul Ward Photography
When it comes to networking at Petfood Forum, stay open to unexpected encounters and strike up conversations with people outside your planned interactions. You never know who you might meet.Paul Ward Photography
