Johannesburg, January 2026 – From a single hall at NASREC in 1986 to one of South Africa’s longest-running trade shows, Hostex 2026 marks a major milestone: 40 years of connecting professionals in food, drink, and hospitality.
The story began when Gerald Dreyer, then publisher of Professional Caterer magazine, launched Caterex in March 1986. The goal was to bring the magazine’s community together in a live setting. It worked — drawing over 3,000 visitors to the inaugural show at the Johannesburg Expo Centre. When a trademark issue arose, the event was renamed Hostex, a name that has endured ever since.
“It was a hands-on, high-energy event,” remembers Lindy Taylor, who joined the team from the very beginning and worked on Hostex for 32 years. “Exhibitors built large, impressive stands, there was food everywhere, and visitors came for the experience.”
A show anchored by chefs
In the early 1990s, Hostex formalised a long-standing working relationship with the South African Chefs Association (SA Chefs). Under the leadership of the late Bill Gallagher, then Chairman of SA Chefs, the association agreed to support Hostex exclusively. The SA Chefs Pavilion became – and remains – a dynamic feature of the show, hosting culinary demonstrations, student competitions, and industry showcases.
“It added life and legitimacy,” says Lynn Chamier, who served as Exhibition Director for 25 years. “And it’s remained a key part of what makes Hostex special.”
Memories and milestones
In the early 2000s, SA Chefs introduced the Global Pizza Challenge to the Hostex floor, led by Martin Kobald. For one edition, the late DJ Jeremy Mansfield made a guest appearance, adding theatre and fun to the live competition.
Hostex has also maintained longstanding exhibitor relationships with brands such as Adriatic Shipping, Vulcan, Ecolab, Woodlam, Anker Data Systems, and many others that helped define the show’s stature.
Experimentation and evolution: the F&HA years
From 2016 to 2018, Hostex was part of a larger co-located event: Food & Hospitality Africa (F&HA), alongside the International Food & Drink Africa Expo (IFEA). The merged format was designed to appeal to a broader mix of buyers from hospitality, foodservice, and FMCG retail.
This expanded platform offered cross-industry engagement but was later streamlined to re-focus Hostex on its core audience. By 2020, Hostex returned as a standalone event, with a more refined structure of industry-specific zones like Equipment Africa, Food & Drink Africa, Contract Furnishings Africa, and Technology Africa.
Through transitions, one constant
Over the decades, Hostex has been managed by a succession of organisers — from Penman Communications and Times Media, to Reed Exhibitions, Exhibitions for Africa, and now Specialised Exhibitions Pty Ltd now Montgomery Group Africa, part of the global Montgomery Group.
“Hostex has stayed relevant because it delivers value,” says Gary Corin, Managing Director of Montgomery Group Africa. “It’s trusted by exhibitors and valued by visitors. And it connects the industry in a way that no other event does. That’s why it’s lasted 40 years.”
Says Sandy Angus, former chairman of the Montgomery Group, “Being part of the Hostex journey and continued evolution remains something I’m incredibly passionate about, particularly through initiatives like the Bryan Montgomery Bursary Fund, which we have proudly supported over the years in partnership with the SA Chefs Association to help nurture future talent in the industry.”
Hostex 2026: Opening Doors
The 40th edition will take place from 8 to 10 March 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, themed “Opening Doors”. The event will celebrate the show’s history while introducing new zones — including the Beverage Hub, the SME Pavilion, and a Retail Innovation Hub.
Key Takeaways
- HOSTEX celebrates 40 years of connecting food, drink, and hospitality professionals in South Africa, starting from its inception as Caterex in 1986.
- The event has evolved to include the SA Chefs Pavilion, enhancing its legitimacy and showcasing culinary talent.
- Through various phases, including co-locating with Food & Hospitality Africa, HOSTEX maintained focus on its core audience and industry-specific zones.
- The 2026 edition, themed ‘Opening Doors’, will introduce new features while honouring the show’s rich history.
- Management of HOSTEX has transitioned through multiple organisers, ensuring it stays relevant and valuable to exhibitors and visitors alike.
Stephen is a hospitality professional from Johannesburg South Africa. His career started with THF hotels in the UK and subsequently with the Southern Sun Hotel group in Johannesburg. Stephen’s first steps into entrepreneurship was Hickmore Recruitment / CareerMap, a leading supplier of Senior and Exec recruitment services. Stephen was a founder of Pple Hospitality (formerly HSC) the largest Hospitality Industry full-service outsourced staffing company in South Africa. In March 2020 Stephen became a director and owner of the Swiss Hotel School South Africa, which is now his full time endeavour. Stephen writes for a number of publications on food and hospitality industry matters, trends and opinions.
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