Monday, February 16

5:00pm            GFS Sample Order Form Due

Tuesday, March 10

5:00pm Advanced order deadline for ShowTime

Tuesday, March 17

5:00pm Deadline for Advanced Pricing on Global Convention Services Utility Orders

Sunday, March 29

9:00am                  Deadline to upload content/POS into the Perenso Portal for your iPad

Monday, March 30     

  8:00am - 9:00pm Sample Deliveries Arrive
12:00pm - 5:00pm Vendors & Brokers Move-in
  Badge Pick-Up Available (BALLROOM LEVEL - 5th FLOOR)  
2:00pm Mandatory Vendor Training with GFS Events & Perenso  (BALLROOM LEVEL - 5th FLOOR)       

Tuesday, March 31       

  6:00am Venue Opens
  8:00am  GFS Sales walk through-All vendor booths set and staffed
  10:00am - 4:00pm    Show Floor Open
  4:00pm - 7:00pm   Vendor tear down

Exhibitor Booth Packages - Included in Booth Fees

Standard booth (10x10): pipe & drape, identification sign, carpet, one trash bin and one eight foot (8'x30") skirted table.
*Exhibitors are responsible for individual booth needs, samples, marketing materials, and staffing *

Exhibitor Booth Ordering: Showtime Event and Display

• • STEP 1: To gain login access please email our exhibitor services team at Infodesk@showtimedisplay.com.  In some cases you may have already received your login email from show management or a previous order. 

  • STEP 2: Please click the link provided in the login email, you will be redirected to the online store Boomer, and will be asked to enter your email and password provided in your login email. You will then be prompted to change the password for your account

  • STEP 3:  Once you have successfully logged into the site, please select the show that you will be exhibiting at. Basic information should be viewable for the show such as the items included in your booth package. 

  • STEP 4: On the left-hand side of the page, there will be a list of available Departments. Click on these to browse through the items available to order.

  • STEP 5: Once you are ready to check out click, “View My Cart”, in the top right-hand corner and follow the check out prompts  

**please note ALL shipments will be subject to show site receiving charges. Any shipment received without a Show Site receiving will be held for payment. 

Advanced pricing order deadline:  March 10, 2026
Final day to order standard pricing: March 17, 2026

Advanced Pricing is only valid for orders placed through the online ordering portal. Orders received via email will be charged at standard rates.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Customer Service, Team Phone toll-free at 1-800-721-0029 ext. 2240 or email at infodesk@showtimedisplay.com. 

Exhibitor Information & Order Package PDF Link

Exhibitor Utilities Ordering: Global Convention Services

• • Electrical Ordering Form - All Electrical Services must be ordered from Global Convention Services. 

    • Pre-show Pricing Ordering Deadline: March 17, 2026

    • Ordering Deadline:  March 24, 2026 - contact office for availability after this date

*To view the Venue Electric Order Form click here* 

Sample Order Form 

• Please use the NEW Food Show Vendor submission portal and refer to the Vendor Submissions Instructions for step-by-step instructions on using the APP.

Recommended Hotels:

The Courtyard by Marriott Halifax Downtown

Moxy Halifax Downtown

*Please note: We do not have a contracted block of rooms for vendors this year. Please book directly through your hotel of choice. 

*NEW - NO SHOW FEE*

A $500.00 no-show fee will be incurred and billed back to the vendor if a reserved booth space has not been set-up prior to 1 hour before the show.   The Gordon Food Service Events team will check all exhibit booths one hour before the show opens to ensure proper set-up. Empty, unmanned booths will be turned into customer seating. The No Show Fee covers the costs of the seating rental that is incurred by Gordon Food Service.   

Exhibitor Booth Cleanup

Please wait until the announcement after 4pm to commence tear down of your booth.  No vendor should begin tearing down their booth prior to the announcement that the show has closed.  If you are found to not be compliant with this rule, you may be subject to a $1,000 fine.  Booth tear down must be completed by 11pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Do NOT leave garbage at your booth; receptacles will be available for you to dispose of your garbage.  Boxes that have been broken down and stacked neatly can be left. Any booths that are left with garbage (including boxes not being broken down, POS, decorations and food) will be subject to a cleaning fee.  

To abide by local health code, please DO NOT give away product at the end of the show to Gordon Food Service Staff or customers. 
A no wagon nor wheeled carts policy will be implemented by Security at our entry doors to the exhibit halls. All guests will be requested  to leave these items in their personal vehicles during  show hours.
If you have a wagon or wheeled cart needed for vendor set-up / tear-down, please enter via the loading dock and staging area. 

Any leftover food will be donated to a local Food Bank.  Please place a pink “RESERVED FOR FOOD BANK” sticker on the items that you wish to donate.  Left dry or shelf stable items at your booth will be picked up by the local food bank after the show concludes.  Products left in the cooler or freezer after 3pm will be considered as a donation to the food bank or other charity. We appreciate your cooperation in assisting us with helping others in our community. 

Exhibitor Show Etiquette

• • Use your provided iPad(s) for lead capturing. See Lead Retrieval tab below for more information.

  • No smoking is allowed in the building.  Please also refrain from smoking by the doors where our customers will be entering.  Your discretion and courtesy with respect to smoking is greatly appreciated.

  • Please do not use your cell phone for personal use while in your booth during show hours.

  • Do not remove chairs from seating areas throughout the show floor. 

  • Please wait until the announcement after 4pm to commence tear down of your booth.

  • iPad return is NOT permitted prior to the close of the show.  

  • Specific Fire Code Regulations MUST be followed per venue. See Fire Code Rules & Regulations tab below for more information. 

  • Please remember to bring a reusable water bottle for our refillable station.

Fire Inspector Guidelines - Vendor Requirements

Sample Order DEADLINE for Halifax Show: Monday, Feb 16, 2026

NEW: Sample Order Form 

• Please use the NEW Food Show Vendor submission portal and refer to the Vendor Submissions Instructions for step-by-step instructions on using the APP.

Stocked and open items can be presented at your booth during the show. Please refer to the list of items that are available in the show portal. For any questions, please contact your contact in Grand Rapids or the category leader from your division.

Please be as specific as possible when detailing your food prep instructions as we will have HCC staff preparing the samples and you will not be permitted into the kitchen during the show.

On Monday, March 30, you MUST check that all of your samples are on site. 

If you are using samples for display purposes, you MUST come to the trailers/reefers to pick them up.

For any Gordon Food Service brand suppliers, please ensure that Gordon Food Service branded products are also presented at your booth.

Halifax Show Distribution Center: Amherst

Food/Beverage Sampling Rules & Information

Gordon Food Service is committed to procuring and delivering safe food to our customers. Please designate one person to be responsible for food safety and sanitation for your booth. We realize that you may be staffing your booth with people that do not have a strong food safety background and therefore we ask to please keep in mind the following guidelines:

• • • Vendor/Broker representatives must wash hands before beginning food preparation.

    • Food service gloves must be worn during preparation and service of food.

    • Replace food products according to safe food handling guidelines that apply to your particular product.

    • Do not add fresh food to food already on display.

    • Any uncooked protein products of any kind on display MUST be covered by cellophane or plexiglass.

    • Proper hot holding units must be provided in booths that store cooked perishable foods. These units must be capable of maintaining a temperature of 140°F or 60°C. These units are only for holding the food at temperatures - not for cooking. The food must be a minimum of 140°F or 60°C when placed in these units. 

    • For safety reasons, if you opt to prepare food at your booth, you should have your own fire extinguisher for easy accessibility. 

*UPDATED HALIFAX KITCHEN FEE: $150 per item, max 4 items*

Cold Chain Compliance / Transportation of Samples: 

Gordon Food Service is committed to operating our business in a manner which minimizes food safety risks to customers and consumers. We therefore require that all refrigerated/frozen products be transported to the show site in our trucks. As a valued business partner, we expect that you share our concern for maintaining a safe food supply. 

In order to achieve this, we ask that all suppliers, brokers, and their support staff follow our cold chain compliance procedure. There will be no exceptions. It is imperative that you plan accordingly as your failure to satisfy these requirements will prevent you from offering product at the show. 

Vendors are responsible for checking their samples in the reefers we will supply as storage area. If the Venue is prepping food for you, those items will be in the kitchen already. However, it is still recommended that you speak to one of our team members to double check we have all your samples.

*To view the Cold Chain Compliance PDF click here* 

Schedule & Information

Please adhere to the schedule below for All Vendor Move-In. **Note that no earlier access will be permitted.
Reminder that exhibitors are responsible for checking their samples Tuesday morning. 

Monday, March 30

12:00pm - 5:00pm All Vendor Move-In
2:00pm Mandatory Vendor Training with GFS Events & Perenso  (BALLROOM LEVEL - 5th FLOOR) 

On Tuesday, March 31, the hall will be open at 6am for those who did not have the opportunity to get ready the day before. 

Exhibitor name badges must be worn once on the show floor and can be picked up at the Perenso booth near Information (BALLROOM LEVEL - 5th FLOOR) 

*NO SHOW FEE* A $500.00 no-show fee will be incurred and billed back to the vendor if a reserved booth space has not been set-up prior to 1 hour before the show.   The Gordon Food Service Events team will check all exhibit booths one hour before the show opens to ensure proper set-up. Booths that are considered empty with personnel and display materials will be turned into customer seating. 

Dock Information: 

Exhibitors are required to follow all venue loading and unloading guidelines.

• COMING SOON

Floor Plan Link

Floor plan links are live and considered final 30 days before the show. After this time, they have been sent over for fire marshal approval and we may not be able to make further adjustments. Any questions, please reach out to events@gfs.com

Click on this Vendor Registration Link to Register - COMING SOON

*You must register for a name badge in order to work your booth*

Save time during setup and register today!  Print your badge on site using your express QR code, emailed to you after registering. On-Site Registration and badge printing will take place during set-up Tuesday afternoon at the Perenso booth.

For detailed instructions on how to register for name badges, please click HERE.

Badge Pick-Up is available 12:00pm - 5:00pm the day before the show; as well as the morning of the show. 

**Please note: each booth worker MUST register for a new name badge for each Show. The same badge cannot be used Show to Show.**

Cooking in your Booth

Cooking is permitted in exhibit booths when food or food equipment products are featured in the event, and with advance written approval from the Halifax Convention Centre. Please note the following:

• Devices producing open flames are not permitted in the facility.

• Acceptable cooking devices are : induction heaters, hot plates, element burners.

• Fuel must be a contained propane/butane cylinder with auto shut off or device must be powered by electricity.

• Deep fat fryers are prohibited

• Frying equipment must be equipped with a grease shield

• A fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 20 lbs, type ABC, must be displayed in each booth that features cooking.

• Only one (1) propane tank is permitted in a booth at a time. Additional tanks must go to a designated storage area.

Please note that equipment that does not meet these standards will be removed from event space.

Vendors and Brokers will have the ability to download the show app on their personal devices to capture leads. All booths will still receive their booth ipad(s) but this will increase the number of booth users capable of taking leads on the show floor. 

Instructions: 

• Personal Device Lead Capture Training PDF 

• Personal Device Lead Capture Training Video 

• iPad Ordering and Lead Retrieval step-by-step 

• iPad Lead Capture Training Video - how to use on show floor 

Gordon Brand Content / POS:

We have gone paperless on Gordon Food Service Branded point of sale / content. All branded content will be accessible on the sales tablets at your booth. You will be able to email the materials to the customer directly from the tablet.

National Brand Content:

To email customers your Point of Sale marketing content from the booth iPad, all content must be uploaded to the Show Portal. If you have already loaded content into the portal you do not have to load it again. 

Here's how:

• • You'll receive an email from events@gfs.com with instructions

  • Click this Show Portal Link

  • Enter your User ID (same ID used to enter allowances)

  • Click the "Content" tab

  • Follow the instructions on the document in the email from events@gfs.com to upload your content.

  • For a detailed tutorial with step by step images please CLICK HERE.

Deadline to upload content to the show portal is 2 days prior to the show date before Noon. 

**If you miss the Sunday deadline to upload your content, please email showsupport@perenso.com** 

Exhibitor Parking Information: Coming Soon!

PRICE / OFF-INVOICE DISCOUNTS

Customers receive automatic price discounts on all eligible products delivered from 04/19/2026 - 06/13/2026 just for attending the show. They don't have to commit to these items at the show to get the discount; it will happen automatically. Off - invoice discounts are not offered to program accounts with contract pricing.

Truckload Delivery Dates: 5/24/2026 - 5/31/2026

GIVEAWAYS & BOOTH ACTIVITIES

We would like to help communicate your booth giveaways or activities to our Customers and Sales Teams via our internal show site, customer app & email communication. Please fill out the Food Show Giveaways & Activities form to indicate what you are planning on doing - the more information the better!
The form is due 30 days before the show - please reach out to events@gfs.com for further inquiry.

SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY WITH REDUCING WASTE TO LANDFILL

Safe food donations: Feed Nova Scotia

• We have charitable stickers that will be distributed prior to show close. Please leave your identified products on your tables and they will be picked up. All products left in the trailer or cooler after 3:00PM are considered a donation.

Not suitable for donation? 

Help us reduce waste to landfill by utilizing our Compost Bins available at:

• Vendor/Broker Kitchenette areas - Compost food items that are no longer acceptable for samples throughout the show day

• Waste Reduction Zones on the show floor

• Review your Vendor Compost Guide in your booth

• During show tear-down

View our Composting Awareness video to learn the ways we can create further sustainability at our shows!

GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN AT THE SHOW 

Please Note: Adults Only

As mandated by our Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario permit for the event, those under 19 years of age are not permitted entry to the show floor.  You may be asked to provide identification at the door in order to ensure we are in compliance with this permit. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Gordon Food Service Events team will be happy to help you on any show related questions.  Contact us at events@gfs.com. 

For specific show questions contact Danielle Hamell at danielle.hamell@gfs.com and Kayla Peckford at Kayla.peckford@gfs.com. 

For questions regarding show deals, products, and/or approval for sample coordination for the show; contact Kayla.peckford@gfs.com.