In March 2026, HOSTEX turns 40.
Four decades of ideas exchanged, partnerships formed, trends launched, careers shaped, and an industry that has grown, adapted, regrouped, and re-imagined itself many times over. For Core Catering Supplies, HOSTEX has been a part of that journey for more than 20 years. Not consecutively, not without pause, and certainly not without change, but always with intent.
This year feels different.
HOSTEX 2026 is not only a milestone for the show itself; it marks a defining moment for Core. We’re returning with our largest stand ever, one of the biggest on the exhibition floor, and the most ambitious presence in Core’s HOSTEX history.
A Show That Grew With the Industry
What began in 1986 as Caterex – a single hall at NASREC created to bring the readers of Professional Caterer magazine together, quickly became something much bigger. Rebranded as HOSTEX, the show evolved into South Africa’s most trusted hospitality trade platform, shaped by chefs, suppliers, educators, technologists, and operators who understood the value of meeting face-to-face.
Over the years, HOSTEX has mirrored the industry it serves:
hands-on, energetic, occasionally experimental, and always rooted in connection.
From the establishment of the SA Chefs Pavilion in the early 1990s to live competitions, product launches, and the evolution into focused industry zones, HOSTEX has consistently been about more than selling, it’s about learning, sharing, andopening doors.
Core at HOSTEX: A Longstanding Relationship
Core Catering Supplies has grown alongside this platform. Over the past two decades, HOSTEX has been where we’ve showcased new exclusive brands, introduced global suppliers to the local market, connected with chefs and operators, and even met future Core Franchise owners, all while listening closely to the evolving needs of the hospitality industry.
We’ve seen the industry through boom cycles, consolidation, reinvention, and the pause imposed by COVID – a reminder that nothing in hospitality should be taken for granted. Like HOSTEX itself, Core adapted. We leaned into digital, strengthened our national footprint, expanded our franchise network, and stayed close to the trade when it mattered most.
Returning to HOSTEX now, at 40, feels earned.
2026: Opening Doors, Setting the Bar
The 2026 theme, “Opening Doors,” couldn’t be more fitting.
For HOSTEX, it honours four decades of bringing people together.
For Core, it reflects where we are as a business – opening doors to new regions, new partnerships, new ways of supporting the industry, and new conversations around quality, durability, sustainability, and service.
Our 2026 stand will be the biggest we’ve ever built, not for spectacle alone, but to create space:
space to explore product properly, to talk, to demonstrate, to connect. It will bring together our exclusive brands, preferred suppliers, and Core team members from across the country, a reflection of how we actually work, day in and day out.
Why HOSTEX Still Matters
In an era of online catalogues, virtual meetings, and digital launches, HOSTEX remains irreplaceable. It’s where ideas are tested in real time, where operators compare notes, where young talent sees what’s possible, and where long-standing relationships are reinforced face-to-face.
That’s why it has lasted 40 years.
And that’s why Core continues to show up.
Looking Ahead
As we prepare for March 2026, we do so with a sense of responsibility – to the industry, to our partners, and to the next generation coming through. HOSTEX has always been about more than a moment; it’s about momentum.
We’re proud to be part of its past, present, and future.
And we look forward to opening doors together.
HOSTEX | 8–10 March 2026 | Sandton Convention Centre
Come see what it means to Enjoy the Difference – at scale.
