VegProject brings 12 companies together at “VEG FOOD EXPO 2026”—April 15–17 at Tokyo Big Sight, with a new vegan selection area and over 50,000 visitors expected

The NPO Vege Project Japan will exhibit "VEG FOOD EXPO 2026" within the Premium Food Show held at Tokyo Big Sight, East Hall 2, from April 15 to 17, 2026. The newly established special area "Vegan Selection" gathers 12 companies handling certified vegan products, displaying plant-based meat, seafood, and cheese alternatives all in one place. It will be a large-scale exhibition expecting over 50,000 visitors across three days.

The Full Picture of VEG FOOD EXPO 2026

VEG FOOD EXPO is a vegan-dedicated exhibition and business-negotiation area hosted by Vege Project Japan. By running concurrently with FABEX Tokyo 2026 and the Premium Food Show, it is designed so that commercial food buyers touch vegan products in the flow of their usual rounds. The exhibit booth is at PF-2.

Overview

The New "Vegan Selection" Area

The biggest feature of 2026 is the new "Vegan Selection" area. It consolidates vegan products that had been scattered across the venue into one place, creating a route where buyers can compare efficiently. It is the first attempt to line up plant-based meat, seafood alternatives, cheese alternatives, retort pouches, and frozen foods side by side in one area.

The Lineup of 12 Exhibitors

Vegan Selection gathers ingredient makers, processed-goods makers, and seasoning makers. The lineup spans everything needed to build a vegan food-service operation—alternative meat, alternative seafood, seasonings, soup bases, and sweets.

Seminar: "How to Get Your Products Across"

On the final day, April 17, from 11:00 for 40 minutes, a special seminar will be held. Its title is "How Do You Portray Your Own Products? Communication That Builds Empathy, Considered by a Vegan Expert × a TV Director." Takahiro Shirakawa, a director in NHK's news division, and Yoko Kawano, representative director of Vege Project, will take the stage to explain video and story design for makers to deliver their vegan products to consumers. Free to attend.

Seminar Details

Reactions from the Industry and Experts

Moves on the Food-Maker Side

In the tone of industry trade journals, the assessment stands out that "switching to concurrent hosting with a general commercial-food show, rather than a standalone vegan exhibition, is realistic." More chances for general food buyers to encounter vegan products by chance raise the odds of menu adoption at restaurant chains and catering operators.

Interest from Food-Service and Catering Operators

Restaurant chains hold a need to compare alternative meat, alternative seafood, and soup bases across the board for developing vegan-exclusive menus. A structure where you can sample 12 companies' products in one area is valued as a mechanism that speeds up menu development.

The Gaze of Consumers and Media

Vegan-focused media such as "VegeTime" position this exhibition as a "place to discover the potential of the vegan business" and are organizing coverage. More opportunities for general-media coverage may also make it a starting point for spreading awareness of plant-based foods.

Market Background—Japan's Vegan Food Market to Reach $2.93 Billion by 2034

According to research firm Fortune Business Insights, Japan's vegan food market is forecast to reach $1.32 billion in 2025 and $2.93 billion in 2034. The compound annual growth rate is 9.3%. By product, dairy alternatives account for 46%, and by raw material, soybeans lead with a 30% share. Rapid growth in plant-based seafood alternatives and innovation in dairy alternatives using fermentation technology are driving the market.

The Scale of the Domestic Market

Practical Information for Visitors

Ripple Effects on the Industry—The Vegan Market from "Points" to a "Plane"

Until now, Japan's vegan market has stayed at "point" deployment—specialty shops, mail order, some hotel restaurants. Being built into a general commercial-food show like VEG FOOD EXPO 2026 moves it into a "plane" stage, where vegan products permeate the front lines of restaurant chains, catering operators, and convenience-store product development.

Impact on Food OEM and Contract Development

OEM makers that have already obtained vegan certification can expand touchpoints with food-service and retail buyers who want to develop private-brand products. Inquiries for OEM development of plant-based soup bases and alternative meat are likely to increase after this exhibition.The "OYASAI FARM" Urban AI Hydroponic Unitand other strengthening of domestic plant-material supply also sit within the same current.

The Connection to Organic and Domestic Ingredients

Since the vegan market handles plant-based materials, interest in domesticating and organic-izing raw materials rises. As shown inBuying Organic Food Is Decided by Trust More Than Taste, consumers tend to prize certification and trust. Combining vegan and organic certifications becomes a foundation for brand trust.

A product catalog that shows around 100 items we handle

Agriture, flexibly handling everything from small lots to large lots

• Available from small lots of 100 g
• We handle heirloom vegetables from across Japan
• Dried fruit and herbs also supported

Download the materials here

Summary—Three Points to Catch on the Morning of April 17

For food-maker and food-service staff, there are three points to nail at this exhibition. First, the efficiency of comparing sampling from 12 Vegan Selection companies at once. Second, the chance to get "a TV director's perspective on product communication" at the 11:00 seminar on April 17—information unavailable at other shows. Third, the structure, thanks to concurrent hosting with FABEX, that makes it easy to strike vegan × commercial × OEM deals. Because advance registration waives the 5,000-yen admission, prospective visitors are advised to register early.

Related exhibitions and industry trends—checkingZEROCO Freshness-Preservation Technologyandand MAFF's April 2026 Vegetable Price Outlooktogether brings the linkage between the vegan market and the general vegetable market into fuller relief.

Source

• NPO Vege Project Japan press release (PR TIMES, April 7, 2026)https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000016.000113857.html
• VegeProject Japan「Vegan Area & Business Seminar at Premium Food Show 2026」https://vegeproject.org/en/en_premium_foodshow_2026_report/
• Fortune Business Insights, "Vegan Food Market Size, Share and Growth Analysis, 2034"https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/vegan-food-market-106421