Now in its 45th edition, HostMilano is the leading international event for professional hospitality, out-of-home and food retail, organised by Fiera Milano. Held every two years, Host is the place where the sector’s trends are anticipated, international demand meets supply, and innovation is turned into business opportunities. From professional catering to the art of baking, from ice cream and confectionery to coffee, and from furnishings to technology for the table, the event brings together the various industry supply chains within a single ecosystem, where craftsmanship and traditional know-how engage with industry and the most innovative formats.

Host will be held at Fiera Milano from Friday 22 to Tuesday 26 October 2027.

Over 1,000 companies confirm their participation

More than 1,000 companies from 50 countries around the world have already confirmed their participation in HostMilano 2027, directly during the previous edition of the event, through the rebooking process.

This figure further consolidates the results of the 2025 edition, which closed with more than 2,200 exhibitors and over 183,000 professional visitors from around the world, alongside particularly significant growth in international attendance: +27% from the United States, +29% from Brazil, +21% from the United Arab Emirates, and +20% from Australia.

These figures confirm the confidence that industry professionals place in HostMilano’s strategic role as the world’s leading platform for the sector.

A complete ecosystem, from large-scale equipment to craftsmanship

The unique concept of HostMilano combines a comprehensive overview of professional hospitality with in-depth sector-specific insights, in a journey that highlights the connections and cross-pollination between industry supply chains: Professional Catering with Bakery, Pizza, Pastry and Ice Cream; Coffee and Tea, with Bars, Coffee Machines and Vending; Furniture, Technology and Tableware.

Host 2027 will place particular emphasis on the sectors that showcase the identity and creativity of Italian taste around the world, including gelato and pastry, the art of baking, and coffee.

A special focus on Bakery in 2027

In 2027, Bakery will have a particularly prominent role at HostMilano, reflecting the importance of a sector where traditional craftsmanship and new professional expertise engage with the Italian and international industry. The sector is undergoing a period of deep transformation, driven by technological innovation, new consumption formats and growing internationalisation. Host brings together the tradition of breadmaking with the technologies that are reshaping the profession, from large-scale leavened products and slow fermentation processes to emerging nutritional needs.

The HostMilano Observatory

The journey towards Host 2027 is supported by the HostMilano Observatory, an analysis and insight programme that, throughout the two-year period, tracks the figures and trends across the sectors represented at the event, turning them into business opportunities.

According to an analysis prepared by ExportPlanning exclusively for the HostMilano Observatory, in 2025 global production across the sectors represented at the event exceeded €243 billion, more than 26% higher than in the pre-pandemic period, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of +4.0%. Global trade stands at €174.2 billion, while Italian exports exceed €8.7 billion (+3.8%), confirming the leading role of Made in Italy in global markets. Projections for the 2027–2029 three-year period point to further acceleration, with a CAGR of +4.2%, bringing global trade to €200 billion by the end of the decade.

With Host Global Network across the world’s most dynamic markets

With Host Global Network, the event is extending its model beyond Milan, bringing professional hospitality directly to the world’s most dynamic markets. Following the launch of Host Arabia in Riyadh at the end of last year — organised in partnership with Semark, with its second edition scheduled to take place from 7 to 9 December 2026 — the journey continues to North America with Host America. Organised in collaboration with NAFEM – North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, Host America will take place in Orlando from 11 to 13 February 2027, in the halls of The NAFEM Show.

Milan, Riyadh and Orlando are creating a network of complementary events, in which each stop highlights the opportunities offered by a specific market while, together, strengthening HostMilano’s role as a global platform for the sector.

These trajectories will come together in Milan, at the 45th edition of Host Milano, bringing together leading Italian and international suppliers with highly targeted buyers from around the world. The event will take place at Fiera Milano from Friday 22 to Tuesday 26 October 2027.

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ -- Today, Top Chef Canada announced Season 13 sponsors featuring six premium brand partners with custom in-show integrations, challenges, custom viewer experiences, branded prize packages, and select retail extensions. Season 13 of Top Chef Canada, last fall's #1 Lifestyle specialty program*, premieres Tuesday, October 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Flavour Network and streaming exclusively on STACKTV.

As previously announced, Top Chef Canada Season 13 sees 12 chefs battle for the opportunity to achieve the Canadian culinary dream and earn the title of Canada's Top Chef. In the end, only one chef will rise to the top and take home the grand prize package, which includes $10,000 courtesy of SharkNinja, McCain® French Fries, and Furlani respectively, a culinary trip to Italy courtesy of Peroni Nastro Azzurro, DoorDash for a year, and a feature in alive Magazine.

SharkNinja joins the season as the series' small appliance partner, outfitting the Top Chef Canada kitchen with its latest generation of culinary innovations while also lending its name to the SharkNinja Locker Room. The brand sponsors a casino-inspired Quickfire Challenge that sees chefs create bold dishes using randomly selected ingredient pairings determined by cards and a culinary roulette wheel. Throughout the season, competitors will utilize SharkNinja products including the Ninja Slushi XL and Ninja Crispi Pro Air Fryer. SharkNinja will have an additional campaign element for consumers, to be revealed in-show. SharkNinja contributes a $5,000 Quickfire prize and $10,000 toward the season's grand prize. 

McCain® French Fries joins Season 13 with a Quickfire Challenge celebrating one of Atlantic Canada's most beloved traditions: the East Coast Kitchen Party. Inspired by the traditional flavours and community spirit of Atlantic Canada, chefs will compete to create craveable, elevated bites using iconic McCain® French fries for the chance to win $5,000. McCain® branding will also be integrated throughout the season, further showcasing the brand's connection to great food moments. As a grand prize contributor, McCain® will also contribute $10,000 toward the season champion's winnings.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro joins as the exclusive beer sponsor for Season 13, bringing a taste of the Italian aperitivo lifestyle to the competition. The brand is featured in a special Elimination Challenge inspired by the beauty of Italian ingredients, traditions, and entertaining culture. Peroni also contributes a culinary trip to Italy for the winning chef, along with a $5,000 challenge award. 

In a competition where every second counts, DoorDash returns as the season's official countdown clock sponsor, helping keep chefs on track as they race against time. DoorDash also sponsors a heartfelt Quickfire Challenge inspired by the meals that bring people together. Joined by two Toronto-based food creators, the chefs are tasked with creating a dish inspired by a favourite delivery order they love to share with family and friends. Adding to the emotion of the challenge, each chef is surprised with the opportunity to cook alongside a loved one before presenting their creations to the judges. The winning chef receives a $10,000 cash prize, while the eventual Season 13 champion will receive "DoorDash for a year" valued at $10,000 as part of the grand prize package.

Furlani brings the flavours of a Canadian summer to the competition with its Cottage Cooking Quickfire Challenge. Inspired by the cottage traditions enjoyed from coast to coast, chefs must create elevated dishes that capture memorable cottage moments while incorporating Furlani Garlic Bread bringing the flavour pop to everyday moments, and Furlani products are also featured throughout the season. The partnership extends beyond broadcast with Top Chef Canada featured on product packaging, an integrated consumer contest where the lucky winner will receive a Top Chef Canada dinner experience for two curated by Chef Mark McEwan. Furlani, Canada's favourite garlic bread, also contributes a $5,000 challenge prize and $10,000 toward the grand prize package. 

alive Magazine joins Top Chef Canada as the series' first-ever official magazine partner. As sponsor of the season's first challenge, alive Magazine lends its name to a high-stakes competition that awards the winning chef a $10,000 cash prize. The partnership also includes branded placement within the Shark Ninja Locker Room and extends across multiple platforms through co-branded promotional content and custom broadcast integrations throughout the season. As part of the grand prize package, the Season 13 champion will also receive a featured profile in alive Magazine, further showcasing their culinary achievements to audiences across Canada.

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ - The Teen Burger™ you know and love just got hotter! A&W Canada, in partnership with BULL'S-EYE, is launching a sweet and spicy ("swicy"), BBQ-inspired twist on the Canadian classic on October 8. Introducing the Hot Honey BBQ Teen Burger; it features a perfectly seasoned grass-fed beef patty topped with real cheddar cheese, mouth-watering bacon, crisp lettuce, onion, tomato, and the new Hot Honey BULL'S-EYE BBQ sauce that delivers the perfect balance of sweet heat.

For Canadians craving a sweet and spicy kick, the Hot Honey BBQ Teen Burger keeps the best of the BBQ season alive into fall. A&W Canada and BULL'S-EYE have fused hot honey and BBQ with our signature grass-fed beef burgers to set a whole new standard for sweet, spicy goodness. BULL'S-EYE brings bold flavour to every BBQ, making them the perfect partner to craft this one-of-a-kind sauce for this new limited-time offer.

"Bringing the sweet heat to our signature juicy grass-fed beef patty brings a fresh twist on our beloved classic," says Karan Suri, Senior Director of Innovation at A&W Canada. "Hot honey is usually reserved for chicken or pizza, but on our Teen Burger, the honey sweetness, subtle heat and smokiness take the swicy to a whole new level."

Try the new Hot Honey BBQ Teen Burger for a limited time by visiting your local A&W Restaurant or by ordering on the A&W mobile app starting Thursday, October 8th.

Milan, 2 October 2026 – This year, International Coffee Day received official recognition from the United Nations for the first time. The initiative, launched by the ICO – International Coffee Organization in 2015 in Milan during Expo, is celebrated worldwide on 1 October. It is further recognition of the importance of a sector that has long been a key feature of HostMilano, the next edition of which will be organised by Fiera Milano from 22 to 26 October 2027, and which supports the livelihoods of around 25 million farmers worldwide.

The figures for coffee consumption are equally impressive: more than two billion cups are estimated to be consumed around the world every day, in an increasingly diverse range of forms. According to the National Coffee Association, in the United States 47% of adults consume espresso-based beverages, while more than one in five daily coffee drinkers choose iced coffee. Elsewhere in the world, creativity takes many forms: in Vietnam, cà phê trứng is topped with whipped egg cream and condensed milk; in Scandinavia, kaffeost is made by pouring hot coffee over cubes of cheese; in Hong Kong, yuenyeung combines coffee with milk tea; while in Senegal, café touba is flavoured with cloves and Selim pepper.

Europe remains at the heart of global coffee consumption. According to the ICO, the region accounts for almost one third of worldwide consumption – 30.1% – making it the world’s leading coffee-consuming region. In Italy, the daily coffee ritual takes place more than twice a day: according to estimates by Unione Italiana Food based on Istat and NielsenIQ data, Italians drink an average of 792 espresso coffees a year, with 28 out of every 100 served out of home, in bars, restaurants and hotels.

International Coffee Day also provides an opportunity to look at the transformation taking place across the sector, which the world’s leading trade show for professional hospitality, out-of-home consumption and food retail is following in the run-up to its 2027 edition through the insights of the HostMilano Observatory – from the coffee bean to the cup, including the technologies that enhance its quality.

“The recognition by the United Nations confirms that coffee is now a shared cultural and economic heritage, connecting millions of producers with increasingly conscious consumers who care about origin, quality in the cup and the story behind what they drink,” says Francesca Cavallo, Head of Hospitality Exhibitions at Fiera Milano. “This growing awareness is affecting the entire value chain and making sustainability an increasingly important driver, from the energy efficiency of coffee machines to the traceability of raw materials. These are some of the themes that Host 2027 will put centre stage, bringing together technologies, coffee roasters and formats on a platform where innovation becomes a business opportunity.”

FROM BEAN TO MACHINE: THE NUMBERS BEHIND A GROWING MARKET

According to Mordor Intelligence, the global coffee market will be worth almost US$186 billion in 2026 and is expected to reach US$239 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of +5.18%. Key growth drivers include the shift towards premium consumption and increasing attention to traceability and sustainable sourcing.

Italy plays a leading role in this scenario as Europe’s largest producer of roasted coffee, ahead of Germany. According to Eurostat data processed by the European Coffee Federation, Italian production exceeds 520,000 tonnes per year, accounting for around 27.5% of the EU total.

The strength of Made in Italy is equally evident in coffee technology. According to ExportPlanning, exclusively for the HostMilano Observatory, global trade in coffee machines and vending equipment reached €7.7 billion in 2025. As the world’s leading exporter, Italy accounted for €1.56 billion of this total, up 1.2% compared with 2024, representing around one fifth of the global market. Trade is expected to accelerate, reaching +3.5% in 2027 and an average annual growth rate of +4.7% in 2028–2029.

SMARTER, MORE EFFICIENT MACHINES FOR PROFESSIONALS

The evolution behind the coffee counter is being driven by a dual requirement: helping every barista, from the most experienced to the newcomer, deliver consistent quality, even during peak periods, while at the same time reducing environmental impact.

The traditional espresso machine is therefore becoming increasingly intelligent. Digital parameter controls, thermal stability and automation work alongside the grinder-doser, adjusting extraction in real time and allowing the barista to focus on the craft, the story behind the product and a more valuable interaction with the customer.

Sustainability is also being addressed at the design stage, through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies and new-generation thermal systems capable of significantly reducing energy consumption.

The coffee offering itself is evolving towards increasingly distinctive quality. Consumers are demanding greater transparency about origin, processing and supply chains, while specialty coffee is opening up new opportunities, including in segments that were previously considered niche, such as high-quality decaffeinated coffee and single-origin varieties.

HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY

These developments are confirmed by insights from industry leaders, gathered by the HostMilano Observatory as part of its research into trends leading up to Host 2027.

“We are witnessing a decisive shift in coffee from being a simple functional beverage, a commodity, to becoming a genuine consumption experience. Today’s increasingly conscious consumers are looking for storytelling and full transparency, so they can trace the journey of the bean from the plantation to the coffee shop,” explains Jacopo Bambìni, Group Marketing Director at Cimbali Group. “In this transformation, also driven by the rise of specialty coffee, the espresso machine becomes the cornerstone of the experience offered to the customer. Innovation in this area must necessarily be viewed through the lens of sustainability, which for us translates into ecodesign choices and rigorous protocols.”

This transformation is also reflected in growing international demand for high-end coffee machines.

“Demand for traditional espresso machines is growing particularly in markets where coffee is increasingly experienced as a cultural and premium product. Across these markets, the demand is similar: advanced traditional machines that combine cutting-edge technology, consistency and a strong design identity,” says Marco Feliziani, CEO of Simonelli Group. “At Simonelli Group, sustainability is an integral part of our design philosophy: a machine that operates with greater precision, stability and repeatability creates less waste, reduces operating costs and generates value over the long term.”

QUALITY RAW MATERIALS AT THE HEART OF THE PROCESS

From the coffee counter, the journey continues upstream to the roasting stage, where quality increasingly depends on transparency about origin.

“Traditional espresso remains central to Italian coffee shops, but curiosity about coffees from different origins and new ways of tasting them is growing. A cup prepared and presented with expertise allows consumers to better understand its value,” says Cesare Trucillo, Head of Growth at Caffè Trucillo. “Transparency starts with knowing the origin of the coffees we purchase. In preparation for the new European deforestation requirements, we are strengthening the collection and verification of information from our suppliers, including data relating to production areas.”

Further upstream, quality also depends on decaffeination, a highly specialised segment that is becoming increasingly important in the market and involves processing green coffee before roasting.

“Decaffeinated coffee consumption is growing steadily, and this growth will increasingly enable the specialty coffee sector to offer high-quality decaffeinated coffees, including special selections and single-origin varieties,” observes Massimiliano Fabian, President and CEO of Demus, a company specialising in decaffeination and green coffee processing. “Rather than a single innovation, I would describe it as a continuous evolution of technology and techniques: improving process efficiency while increasingly preserving the coffee’s quality and aromatic characteristics. It is precisely this ongoing evolution that allows us to offer our customers – and ultimately consumers – an ever-better product.”

HostMilano has always dedicated a special role to the coffee and bar sector, with a particular focus on Italian excellence and its value chains. Within the Coffee-Tea and Bar-Coffee Machines-Vending macro-area, roasters, machine manufacturers and technology suppliers will meet buyers and professionals from around the world, in an exhibition journey highlighting the connections between different segments of the industry and featuring a rich programme of events, competitions and workshops.

More than 1,000 companies have already confirmed their participation, with an international share of 50%.

The 45th edition of HostMilano will take place at Fiera Milano, from 22 to 26 October 2027.

For the latest information: host.fieramilano.it, @HostMilano.