Foodservice Innovation Zone

NRF’s Foodservice Innovation Zone Expands in 2025

Retailers are constantly innovating. Adding foodservice has become a strategy to increase consumer dwell time and drive sales. Whether it’s full-service dining, fresh gourmet food or a pre-ordered meal, how prepared food is experienced continues to evolve.

At NRF 2025, attendees will step into the future at the Foodservice Innovation Zone, an interactive exploration of the technologies and innovations transforming the customer foodservice experience.

Check out highlights from the 2024 Foodservice Innovation Zone below.

2024 Foodservice Innovation Zone recap

Check out this video from NRF 2024

The 2025 Foodservice Innovation Zone will feature:

  • Interactive foodservice tech activations
  • 75 food tech-focused booths
  • A food tech stage featuring food tech leaders and innovators
  • Area focused on the future of vending
  • Full-service future-forward restaurant showcasing the latest in restaurant technology

If your company and tech partners want to join the Foodservice Innovation Zone to create a unique activation area, call today to become Michelin Sponsors!

Now located in the main level 1 Expo!


All products showcased in the FIZ, either through sponsorship or within a booth,  must be fit certain criteria, be vetted and approved by NRF. Products should be future forward and must have a primary focus on foodservice for retailers hoping to incorporate foodservice into their operations. General solutions that span all types of businesses will not be accepted.


2025 SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

2025 FLOOR PLAN

See what foodservice companies attended in 2024

Foodservice Innovation Zone Activations

Tomorrow’s Technology Today

The future of foodservice comes to life at Retail’s Big Show. Attendees will walk a curated path around the Zone to see how tomorrow’s technology will enhance the customer journey, highlight connectivity and increase profits for operators and retailers. Other notable stops along the way could include:

  • Robotics in foodservice
  • Fresh food/beverage vending
  • C-store
  • Grab-and-go
  • In-restaurant tech
  • Drive-thru tech
  • Take-out/delivery tech

Future-forward technologies are designed to enhance the customer experience or improve the operator’s business, allowing companies to digitally connect with customers, transform front- and back-of-house operations, enable a seamless grab-and-go experience and more.

Foodservice Innovation Zone conceptual renderings

  • NRF 2025 Foodservice Innovation Zone conceptual rendering
  • Birdseye view
  • NRF 2025 Foodservice Innovation Zone conceptual rendering
  • Center of the Plate
  • NRF 2025 Foodservice Innovation Zone conceptual rendering
  • Drive Thru
  • NRF 2025 Foodservice Innovation Zone conceptual rendering
  • Grab and Go
  • NRF 2025 Foodservice Innovation Zone conceptual rendering
  • C-Store

2024 photo gallery

  • Big Show 2024
  • Big Show 2024
  • Big Show 2024
  • Big Show 2024
  • Big Show 2024
  • Big Show 2024
 

See technology come to life

Specialty activation areas

The Foodservice Innovation Zone will also feature collaborative areas for sponsors to show the value of their products and offerings.

Activation areas will consist of:

  • Center of the Plate – full-service Restaurant
  • Hospitality of the Future
  • Drive-thru tech
  • Vending – “Fresh Food in a Box”
  • C-Store
  • Command Center

These future-forward technologies are designed to enhance the customer’s journey or improve the operator’s business, allowing companies to digitally connect with customers, transform front- and back-of-house operations, enable grab-and-go and more.

See technology come to life

Specialty activation areas

The Pavilion will also feature collaborative areas for sponsors to show the value of their products and offerings. 

Collaboration areas will consist of: 

  • Convenience store food/beverage tech 
  • Vending/kiosk/fresh food/beverage offerings 
  • Grab-and-go/delivery/drive-thru tech 

These future-forward technologies are designed to enhance the customer’s journey or improve the operator’s business, allowing companies to digitally connect with customers, transform front- and back-of-house operations, enable grab-and-go and more.

50+ foodservice tech-focused booths

Conveniently located in the Foodservice Innovation Zone and around the activations, a maze of booths will allow companies to showcase products and technologies focused on innovative food tech, connected kitchen and more.

EXPLORE FLOORPLAN

Do you want to be showcased? 

Check out current sponsorship opportunities.

Areas of focus:

  • Customer experience (reservations, loyalty, at-table menu tech, payment, etc.) 

  • Front of house (signage, smart menus, seating, etc.) 

  • Back of house (kitchen, analytics, staff tech) 

  • Vending 

  • Grab-and-go, delivery, ordering 

  • Marketing/social media support 

  • Smart bathroom tech 

  • Other ideas are always welcome!

Foodservice Innovation Zone Sponsorships

For sponsorship information, contact Tami Sakell at sakellt@nrf.com or by phone at 202-661-3044.

Foodservice Innovation Zone created in partnership with
Association Partners
 

More than 1100 people from these Foodservice Companies attended in 2023:

7-Eleven Inc
100% Detail Inc.
A.S. Watson & Co. Ltd.
Ahold Delhaize
Aisle One Supermarket
Albertson's-Safeway Group
Albertsons
ALDI AHEAD GmbH
ALDI Data & Analytics Services GmbH
ALDI International Services SE & Co. oHG
ALDI North America
ALDI South
ALDI SUISSE
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc
Almarai
Alquibia Manipulação Medicamentos
AMBEV
Amyris, Inc
ANEDIK KRITIKOS SA
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Aramark Corporation
Arcor
Armarinhos Jobel
Asahi Group Holding, Ltd
AS Watson
Auchan Group
Axel Johnson AB
Azizia Panda United Co.
Bahniuk Supermercados
Bayer
Bayer Corporation
Beisia Group Co., Ltd.
Belcorp
BFFC - Brazil Fast Food Corporation
BGF Retail
Big Y Foods, Inc.
Boar's Head Provisions
Bobs Florianopolis
Bobs Rio de Janeiro
Borders Distillery
Boxed
BP p.l.c.
Brookshire Grocery Company
Brown's Family ShopRite Inc.
Burlap & Barrel
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc.
Cadena Comercial OXXO
Casa do Pao de Queijo
Centres Distributeurs E. Leclerc
Centros Comerciales Carrefour S.A.
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Chima Steakhouse
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chocolates Brasil Cacau
Choice Market
Church & Dwight Co, Inc.
CKE Restaurants, Inc.
Co-operative Group Ltd.
Coca Cola Israel
Coca Cola USA
Coles Group Limited
Colgate-Palmolive Company
College of the Ozarks
Colruyt Group N.V.
Compare Foods Supermarkets
Compass Group USA
CompraCa Supermercados de Proximidade SA
CONAD
Controladora de Negocios Comerciales SIX Stores
COOP Jednota
Coop Norge AS
Copec Retail
Corporación El Rosado
CSD Varejo
Cuatro Caminos Coffee States
Dalben Supermercados
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
Dawn Foods, Inc.
Defense Commissary Agency
DekaMarkt
Delaware North Companies
Delaware Supermarkets Inc.
Delhaize Group
Diageo
Dine Brands Global
Dirk Rossmann GmbH
DOMINO'S
Donatos Pizza
East Japan Railway Company
Eataly
Ecornaturasì spa
EDEA Retail JSC
EDEKA DIGITAL GmbH
Ekono
Elkos Trading Center ETC
Emerald Imports
Engwit
Esselunga S.p.A.
Eszak Kelet Pro Coop Zrt.
Evergreen Kosher Market
Fairprice Group
Fareway Stores Inc
Farmacias Sao Joao
FARM Superstore
Federated Co-operatives Limited
FEMSA Comercio
Five Guys Enterprises LLC
Flavours Catering by Sodexo
Focus Network Agencies (S) Pte Ltd
Food Circus Super Markets, Inc
Food Lion, LLC
Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets
Frito Lay, Inc.
Friulmarket s.r.l.
GIANT FOOD
GM Food Iberica
Goldco, LLC
Golden Pantry Food Stores, Inc
goPuff
Goya
Grand BK
Grown
Grupa Maspex Sp. z o.o Sp.k.
Grupo Calimax
GRUPO DINOSOL
Grupo Exito
Grupo Panona
Grupo Pereira
H-E-B Grocery Co.
Hapco Farms
Harmons Grocery
Heineken
Heineken Brasil
H Mart Company
Hofer KG
Hometown Spirits
Hyde Park Markets
Iceland Foods Ltd.
In-N-Out Burger
Ingles Markets Inc
Inserra Supermarkets Inc.
Inspire Brands, Inc.
Iqbal Foods
Jacksons Food Stores, Inc.
Jacques Janine
Jau Serve Supermercados
Johnson & Johnson Global Strategic Design Office
Juba Supermercados
Jumbo Supermarkten
K&K Island Pride Supermarket
Kellogg Company
Kent Nutrition Group
KFC
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc
Kroger Co.
Krys Group
Kum & Go LC
Kwik Trip Inc
Laboratorio Sao Francisco
Laboratório Expanscience
La Cantinerie
La Comer
Larissa Supermercados
Lidl & Schwarz Stiftung & Co. KG
Lidl US, LLC
Loblaw Companies Limited
Lovbjerg
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
LuLu Group International
M&M Food Market
Mac's Fresh Market
Main Wine
Mallorca Vino
Mama Bev's Bakery
Mars Inc.
Mars Petcare
Mars Retail Group
Maverik
McDonald's Corporation
Meijer, Inc.
Mercadona, S.A.
Mercator d.d.
Merco, S. A de C. V.
Mignosi's Super Foodtown
Migros Genossenschafts-Bund
MIGROS T.A.S.
Mitchell Grocery Corp.
Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd.
Moisha's Supermarket
Molson Coors Beverage Company
Mondelez International
Morrisons
Multicedi SRL
Murphy USA, Inc
Nesto Hypermarket
Netto Marken-Discount AG & Co. KG
New York Mets
NG STORHANDEL AS
Nom Nom
Nutrire
Operadora Hotel Shops SA de CV
Organics Pantry
Organización Soriana, S.A. de C.V.
ORRI s.r.o.
OSolemio inc- Meal Solutions
Ouris Market Inc
Oxxo Corporativo
PAGUE MENOS
Panda Retail Company
Pattison Food Group
PepsiCo
Pfizer Inc
Piccadilly
Pilot Flying J
Plodine
Portillo's Hot Dogs
Portillo Restaurant Group
Porto Seguro Supermercado
Primus Supermercados eirele
Publix Super Markets Inc
Qualimax
QuikTrip Corporation
QUIMICOLOR
RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc.
Reckitt Benckiser North America, Inc.
Red Apple Group, Inc.
Redner's Markets Inc
Red Top Market & Kitchen
Rei do Mate
Reitan Convenience Sweden
Reliance Retail
REMA 1000 i Norge AS
ReserveBar
Revlon, Incorporated
Royal Canin SAS
Royal Farms Inc.
Royal Seafood Market, Inc.
Safeway Inc.
Sakura Alimentos
Salling Group A/S
Sanofi
Sanofi Brasil
Savegnago Supermercados
Schnuck Markets Inc
SEVEN & I HLDGS.Co.,Ltd
SEVEN-ELEVEN JAPAN CO.,LTD.
Shoki Beverages Corp
Shufersal Ltd.
Sligro Food Group Nederland BV
SM Retail Inc
SMU (Unimarc)
Sobeys Inc
Sol Cuisine / PPF
Sourced Craft Cocktails
Southeastern Grocers
SPAR International BV
SpartanNash Company
Spectrum Stores
Starbucks Coffee Company
Stellar Partners, Inc.
Stew Leonard's
Strauss Group
Studenac
Subway Restaurants
Super Andreazza
Superior Liquor Concepts
Supermercado Katucha
Supermercado La Colonia
SUPERMERCADOS CUGAT
Supermercados Internacionales HEB S.A. de C.V.
Supermercados Nagumo
Supermercados Plaza Loiza
Supermercados Rey
Supermercados Trebol
Supermercati Decò
Super San Francisco de Asis, S.A. de C. V.
Supertiendas y Droguerías Olimpica, S.A.
Sushi Maru Express
Tawa Supermarkets
Tchibo GmbH
Tesco plc
Texas Roadhouse, Inc.
The Coca-Cola Company
The North West Company
The Procter & Gamble Company
The Warehouse Group Limited
The Wendy's Company
Thorntons LLC
TONE
Trader Joe's Company
Tropic Maloprodaja doo
Twosome Place
TXB Stores
Unilever
Unilever United States, Inc.
V.S.O.P COMERCIO DE ALIMENTOS E BEBIDAS
Valora Holding AG
Vapiano
Vegan do Brasil
Vila das Frutas
Village Super Market Inc
Wakefern Food Corporation
Wally's Convenience Store
Wegmans Food Markets
Weis Markets Inc
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
YAMO
YesWay
Ype
Yum! Brands, Inc.

Foodservice Innovation Zone Sponsorships

For sponsorship information, contact Tami Sakell at sakellt@nrf.com or by phone at 202-661-3044.