Petfood Forum hosts the largest pet food supplier trade show in the industry with over 375 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, Pet Charity Dog House, lunch, coffee breaks and Tuesday’s evening reception.
With a little planning ahead, 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.
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 30 | 9 am to 6 pm.
- Wednesday, May 1 | 9 am to 3 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 in Aisle 2800. Be sure to wear comfy shoes!
Petfood Tech Talk Stage
See what products and capabilities will give your brand the competitive advantage in the Tech Talk Stage. Petfood Tech Talks were among the most-well attended sessions in 2023 with many presentations at standing-room only. In 2024, we’ve expanded the program 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 30 | 9:50 am to 12:20 pm
- Wednesday, May 1 | 9:50 to 11:35 am
There are 17 sessions to choose from covering a wide range of topics. Stay and see them all or pick the ones most relevant to your job.
See the full tech talk schedule
Future of Petfood Pavilion
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 30 | 9:45 am to 12 pm
- Wednesday, May 1 | 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.
Pet Charity Dog House
Give back to the pet community and take a minute to decompress while petting the puppies. Valor Service Dogs and Polk County Humane Society, along with students from Missouri State University, will be sharing their missions at the Pet Charity Dog House in Aisle 2100. And of course, there will be dogs!
Dog House Hours:
- Tuesday, April 30 | 9 am to 6 pm.
- Wednesday, May 1 | 9 am to 3 pm
The charities are sponsored by ADM/PetDine
The visiting charities will make a special appearance in ADM Booth #1700. Valor Services Dogs are scheduled in the ADM booth on Tuesday, April 30 at 2:25-3 pm and Polk County Humane Society and Missouri State University will be there Wednesday, May 1 from 9:30-10 am. Stop by to see the dogs and show your support!
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.
