drink technology Brasil to debut in São Paulo in 2027
The Cosmos continues to grow: With drink technology Brasil, YONTEX is expanding its international event portfolio with a new trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry in South America. The inaugural edition will take place from 21 to 23 September 2027 at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo. To deliver the event, YONTEX is partnering with NürnbergMesse Brasil, a well-established trade fair organiser with strong roots in the local market. Together, they are creating a platform for manufacturers, suppliers and technology providers covering the entire beverage and liquid food production value chain.
The tailor-made platform for the Brazilian market builds on the experience gained from the successful launch of drink technology India. The new event in São Paulo will take place on a biennial basis and is set to become a regular meeting point for the industry in South America.
“drink technology Brasil creates a platform for exchange in another market that combines significant potential with a strong willingness to invest. The beverage and liquid food industry in Brazil and neighbouring countries is undergoing an exciting phase of development. We want to support this transformation with a strong industry platform,” says Rolf Keller, Managing Director of YONTEX.
Brazil is one of the world’s most important beverage markets
Brazil ranks among the world’s leading markets for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The country accounts for around 25 per cent of the entire Latin American market for non-alcoholic beverages and, with a volume of 29 billion litres, is the sixth-largest beverage market worldwide. At the same time, Brazil is the world’s third-largest beer producer and also has significant markets for spirits, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
Demand continues to grow, particularly in emerging beverage categories. In the non-alcoholic segment, functional beverages, ready-to-drink products and energy drinks are developing especially dynamically. Analysts expect the functional beverage market to achieve an average annual growth rate of 8.75 per cent between 2025 and 2030. In the alcoholic beverage sector, premiumisation, new product concepts and growing demand for innovative beer, spirits and RTD offerings are driving investment throughout the industry.
The entire value chain in one place
drink technology Brasil follows the proven concept of drinktec. The event covers the entire beverage and liquid food production process – from raw materials and ingredients to processing and filling technology, packaging, labelling, logistics, automation and digital solutions.
Target groups include manufacturers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including breweries, soft drink producers, water bottlers, juice manufacturers and spirits producers, as well as suppliers of ready-to-drink and functional beverages. Producers of liquid food, importers, exporters, brand owners and co-packers are also part of the target audience.
“We are bringing together the entire beverage industry in Brazil as well. Visitors to drink technology Brasil will find solutions for every stage of their production process,” says Keller.
New opportunities through the EU-Mercosur Agreement
The gradual reduction of tariffs on machinery and technologies under the EU-Mercosur Agreement is creating new opportunities for the exchange of products, technologies and expertise between Europe and South America.
Both exhibitors and visitors to drink technology Brasil stand to benefit. International suppliers gain easier access to one of the world’s most important beverage markets. At the same time, the agreement improves the framework conditions for investment, technology transfer and cooperation between companies in Europe and South America. drink technology Brasil will provide a meeting place where manufacturers, suppliers and technology providers can establish new contacts and strengthen existing business relationships.
A strong local partner for the South American market
As the owner of the event brand, YONTEX is working closely with NürnbergMesse Brasil to deliver the event. The local team is firmly established in the Brazilian trade fair market and brings extensive experience as well as close connections to key industry stakeholders across South America.
“With NürnbergMesse Brasil, we have a strong partner at our side that understands the market, the industry and the needs of local businesses. This combination of international industry expertise and local market knowledge creates ideal conditions for the long-term success of the event,” explains Keller.
drink technology Brasil will take place for the first time in São Paulo from 21 to 23 September 2027. The event is being developed from within the market itself, with a deep understanding of the needs of the regional beverage and liquid food industry.
Eight cities, one topic: how Europe’s beverage markets are evolving – and how manufacturers can respond
- Exclusive tour across eight European locations
- Stable markets, shifting consumption patterns
- BrauBeviale 2026: solutions for a beverage industry under pressure to adapt
Before Europe’s beverage sector gathers in Nuremberg from 10 to 12 November 2026, BrauBeviale is heading out on the road: from April onwards, the organising team will visit eight European cities as part of the “BrauBeviale meets Europe” tour – from Copenhagen via Budapest, Warsaw and Milan through to Madrid. The aim is to discuss current market developments directly on site and to gather input from industry stakeholders. The focus is on what works in existing production environments and where manufacturers need to act to remain competitive.
Across the eight stops of the tour, market analysis, industry perspective and consumer insight come together. Markus Kosak, Executive Director at YONTEX GmbH & Co. KG, outlines current developments in the European beverage industry – both in an international context and with regard to local conditions. Representatives of the conceptual sponsor contribute the industry perspective: Kilian Kittl, Managing Director of Private Brauereien Bayern e.V., will accompany the opening stop in Copenhagen. This is complemented by insights into changing consumer behaviour.
European beverage markets: stable base, shifting consumption
In 2025, consumption and market volumes across beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages in Europe remained at a largely constant level. “Growth and opportunities are less about increasing volume and more about developments within categories, such as different use cases and new products,” says Kosak. “This is where the dynamics lie – and where both the tour and the trade fair are focusing on this year.”
A key driver is changing consumer behaviour alongside stable volumes. According to Statista Market Insights, per capita consumption of non-alcoholic beverages reached almost 177 litres in 2025, while alcoholic beverages stood at around 73 litres. A study by Private Brauereien shows that the volume of alcohol-free beer is increasing from 2.29 to 2.5 billion litres by 2030, while alcoholic variants are declining.
Europe remains a key production location. Many companies are adapting existing facilities and expanding their product range. According to a VDMA/Euromonitor market overview, global trade in machinery for food and beverage processing and packaging totalled around 52.6 billion euros in 2023, with approximately 41 per cent accounted for by Europe.
At product level, demand is shifting towards offerings with a clear practical benefit. “Consumers increasingly expect more than just refreshment or traditional enjoyment,” says Kosak. “What matters is practical benefit. This means products that fit specific use cases and consumption occasions.” Research by market analyst thefoodpeople highlights examples from international markets, including flavoured sparkling water with new taste profiles, sugar-free or reduced-sugar energy drinks, and RTD iced tea and cold brew variants with caramel, mocha or vanilla notes. Trends such as Dubai-style creations – for example chocolate lattes with pistachio topping and kadayif garnish – are already present in the market.
BrauBeviale 2026: solutions for today’s production reality
Under the claim “All Beverages. One Future.” and with an international exhibitor share of around 50 per cent, BrauBeviale 2026 brings together all steps of beverage production. “The focus is on applications across all beverage segments that provide manufacturers with solutions they can implement in existing operations to expand their portfolios and utilise facilities more effectively,” explains Kosak.
These developments are also reflected in the supporting programme in Hall 9: on the Main Stage, Charles Nouwen will deliver a keynote on the role of beer in the context of changing consumption habits. The Pilot Area will showcase concrete projects, including systems for flexible process energy supply and data-based approaches to utilising by-products. The Discovery Bar in Hall 6 will present new beverage concepts, particularly in the non-alcoholic segment. The Wine Area in Hall 7 provides a dedicated special-interest space for exchange within the wine sector.
The programme is complemented by formats such as the European Beer Star awards ceremony, hosted by Private Brauereien, on 11 November, and the FoodBev Award on 10 November.
The exhibitor and product database will go live on 7 May 2026, offering an initial overview of the range on display. Visitor registration via the ticket shop will open at the same time as the launch of the “BrauBeviale meets Europe” tour.
The two most important international trade fairs for the beverage and liquid food industry will join forces to strengthen their positions in the world market. drinktec from Munich (GER), the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry, and Nuremberg’s (GER) BrauBeviale, the leading capital goods trade fair for the beverage industry in Europe, have joined forces to form the joint venture “YONTEX” as of 1 July 2023. The company is based in Nuremberg and CEO will be Rolf M. Keller, previously divisional director at NürnbergMesse. Both trade fairs will continue to operate as independent brands, retain their names, and keep their events at the respective locations in Munich and Nuremberg, but under the shared umbrella of YONTEX.
The merger of drinktec and BrauBeviale into one company is the largest merger of two trade fair flagships in Germany to date. Both trade fairs will be able to continue their individual growth unimpeded, widen their national and international reach in terms of customer contacts, and bundle their resources to the benefit of their exhibitors and visitors.
The new company YONTEX will present itself for the first time with the BrauBeviale to be held in Nuremberg from November 28 to 30, 2023. Both events will be held as before at their accustomed venues, both will retain their prestigious brand names and their well-known contact persons. Moreover, they will be held in the same cycles as before: drinktec will be held at the Munich Exhibition Centre every four years, the next event being in 2025, and BrauBeviale will still be held annually at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, as before, except for the “drinktec years”. In addition to Munich, drinktec is also held at two additional venues: an annual event in India (drink technology India) and a biennial event in China (CHINA BREW CHINA BEVERAGE).
A 19-person team of experienced trade fair professionals from drinktec and BrauBeviale, as well as some new trade fair professionals, will be the foundation of YONTEX in the future. This new team includes CEO Rolf M. Keller and Executive Vice President Petra Westphal, who had previously been a project manager for drinktec and its international exhibitions, Executive Director BrauBeviale Andrea Kalrait, Executive Director drinktec Cluster Markus Kosak and Executive Director Operations Moritz Müller.
