Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

13 – 15 July 2025

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For more than two decades, the Metcash Food Expo has been a highlight of the independent retail calendar. Since 2004, the event has returned year after year to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), highlighting both its significance to the retail sector and the venue’s capability to deliver large-scale, complex exhibitions.

The 2025 exhibition, held from 13-15 July, brought together 350 exhibitors and 1000 delegates from across Australia. The exhibition floor became a dynamic hub of innovation, showcasing the latest food products, retail technologies, and business insights. Beyond business, it was also a chance to strengthen networks and celebrate the power of shopping local.

Why GCCEC? A Venue That Delivers on Every Level

The enduring partnership between Metcash and GCCEC is built on consistency, service, and location. Nick Jeffrey, GCCEC General Manager, explains,

“Metcash is really important to the Gold Coast as a city and I think they return for a number of reasons, one of them being the service, from the planning and development, right through to the delivery of the event. It’s been 22 years Metcash has been here, and the service has been a key factor, it ticks all the boxes for a large exhibition,” he says.

“Also, the fabulous thing about the location of the centre is the close proximity to accommodation venues, the restaurants, the public transport – it’s all there, right here on the doorstep.”

Managing Scale and Complexity with Precision

Behind the scenes, staging an exhibition of this magnitude requires meticulous planning, coordination, and a sharp focus on safety. The event’s bump-in and bump-out process is a feat in itself, involving hundreds of contractors.

Matthew Barton, GCCEC Risk and Compliance Manager, oversees the health, safety, and wellbeing of all visitors entering the venue during these critical stages.

“Metcash is one of our largest events of the  year, bringing in hundreds of contractors onsite, extensive truck movement and forklifts, as well as deliveries bringing pallet upon pallet of goods into the centre. We successfully manage it by implementing rigorous procedures and practices to ensure a safe environment for everyone,” he says.

Every participant – whether an exhibitor, contractor, delegate, or visitor is required to complete an induction and provide insurances prior to arrival.

“Our contractors are fully compliant and known to our safety and security teams. Once onsite, they present themselves to security to receive a wristband, having already been inducted in advance. It doesn’t matter the size of the event; we manage it in the same way. The bigger the event just means more resources, but the approach remains consistent to ensure success.”

This structured, scalable approach is a key reason organisers and suppliers alike value GCCEC as a partner.

A Supplier’s Perspective: Logistics on a Grand Scale

For suppliers like Exponet, who are responsible for much of the event build, the scale of Metcash demands months of preparation and precision execution.

According to Matthieu Desprez, State Manager (NSW) of Exponet, “There is a lot of logistics and preparation that goes into it – hundreds of trucks, more than 1,000 power points, and countless custom builds. Everything needs to work seamlessly to create the experience that exhibitors and delegates expect.”

Dean Fenwick, Director of stand builders Visible Projex, says collaboration with the venue is essential.

“When it comes to designing an event like this that has so many perishable products, the number of people involved – plumbers, electricians, build staff, installation staff – is significant. From six months out we start to communicate with the venue, working through emergency evacuations, aisle distances, and logistics. By three months out, we are full-time building. The client speaks highly of the venue – GCCEC is a fantastic facility for us, which is why we keep coming back.”

He also emphasises the importance of venue support once the event is underway.

“Once the event is fully operational, we need venue security 24 hours, particularly overnight, to check temperatures and monitor the condition of the food, which is all sent to charity at the end of this event.”

The Exhibitor and Retailer Experience

For retailers and exhibitors, GCCEC’s location and facilities enhance the overall event experience.

Ben Ryan, Group General Manager at Ryan’s IGA, shared onsite, “I love the expo. I catch up with people I haven’t seen for 12 months, we do some great deals, and we see some fantastic new product. GCCEC is great, I can walk to wherever I need to.”

The convenience of the venue’s location is echoed by exhibitor Monique St Pierre, Head of Grocery at Unilever who says, “There are restaurants and hotels right across the street so it’s easy to come and go. You really couldn’t ask for a better area and the weather is great. I’ve even asked myself, ‘Why don’t I live up here?”

For Metcash itself, exhibitor satisfaction is a crucial measure of success. Madeleine Fitzpatrick, General Manager Retail, Metcash, highlights, “The exhibitors love coming here and bumping-in, bumping-out couldn’t be easier for them. They love coming back and their stands just get bigger and better every year.”

She also points to GCCEC’s infrastructure as a drawcard, “It’s easy to access, it has very high ceilings, so from a rigging perspective that means we can have really spectacular stands as well.”

Economic and Community Impact

The 2025 Metcash Food Expo once again featured GCCEC’s strengths as a venue to deliver large, complex exhibitions with precision, safety, and style. With more than two decades of partnership, Metcash’s ongoing commitment to the venue is a testament to GCCEC’s service, infrastructure, and destination appeal.

For event organisers seeking a proven venue that combines scale, professionalism, and destination appeal, GCCEC continues to set the benchmark.

3 – 5 May 2025

Returning to Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) in May 2025 for its second consecutive year, Expo4Barbers has quickly cemented its reputation as Australia’s leading barbering event.

Drawing 40 exhibitors and more than 2,000 attendees from across Australia, New Zealand, the expo offered a dynamic blend of education, competition, and connection. From live demonstrations and hands-on workshops to high-energy battles and a buzzing expo floor, Expo4Barbers featured vibrant, immersive experiences for professionals across the barbering industry.

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Elevating the Exhibitor Experience

For Lino D’Adderio, Owner and Founder of King Louis IX, the expo is all about community and engagement. With over 25 years in the industry and his own innovative styling tool on display, Lino came to Expo4Barbers to connect with both customers and industry peers.

“It’s a strong community, a progressive industry,” he said.

Praising GCCEC’s modern, functional design, Lino appreciates how well the venue adapts for the exhibition space.

“It’s been fantastic for us at the venue – it’s a very cool vibe. I love the high ceilings, the all-black and the floors and lighting are great for our work – as a facility, it’s fantastic.”

He also emphasised the convenience of GCCEC’s location. With accommodation, restaurants, and social spaces just across the road, Lino noted how everything fit together perfectly.

“All the interstate exhibitors love that accommodation is right across the road. Team dinners within walking distance – everything just works so well.” He added, “The GCCEC team have been great, and the size of the space works well as the event continues to grow.”

Jarred Stedman, General Manager of Mocha Group, attended the expo to build brand awareness for the media company, which produces 16 industry magazines annually and runs multiple awards programs – including some already hosted at GCCEC.

“I really like the venue – it’s easy to find, staff are great to work with, the food is fantastic, and there’s always lots of coffee! The barber industry is on a global stage of excellence at this exhibition, and delegates have come from all over Australia and NZ.”

Jarred highlighted the flexibility of the venue, noting its ability to accommodate simultaneous activities, which allowed organisers to design an engaging and diverse program.

He added, “It’s great having a venue with easy access logistically, and with lots of space backstage for operations. The international guests, live podcasts, and multi-brand showcases all under one roof have really highlighted the depth of the industry.”

Arne Compagne, Managing Director of Global Scissors, a barber by trade with nearly 30 years in the hairdressing industry, also returned to the event after the inaugural exhibition in 2024.

“We come here to connect directly with our market,” he said. “It’s very convenient, wellspaced, and the GCCEC team has been really supportive.” Arne particularly appreciated the flow of the space and the energy on the floor.

“There’s been a good vibe, a lot of return customers from last year. That speaks not only to the success of the event but to the appeal of the location and the venue. Accommodation and restaurants are nearby – everything’s close and easy.”

He also praised the operational ease of working with GCCEC. “The bump-in was seamless – fantastic, actually. Everything we needed to get our stock and supplies in was taken care of without a hitch.”

Tanya Nelson, National Education Manager at Dateline Imports, a leading importer and distributor of hair and beauty products in Australia, travels extensively to attend industry events. She finds the atmosphere at Expo4Barbers refreshingly different.

“There’s been a really good energy – very different to other shows we attend throughout the year,” she says.

Dateline’s large footprint at the expo meant bump-in and bump-out needed to be stress-free, and GCCEC delivered.

“It’s an ideal convention centre to work with. We stay across the road, so it’s convenient to get to, and it’s easy for us to get stock in and out and set up.”

Tanya also commended the responsiveness of the venue staff. “They’ve been great – reconfiguring stands, making sure we had what we needed. Nothing’s been too much trouble.”

Organising for Impact

For Fraser Forsey, Director and Lead Educator of 4Barbers and the driving force behind Expo4Barbers, the growth of the event in just its second year has been incredibly positive. His passion for raising the profile of professional barbering through education is central to the expo’s mission.

“Our attendance has grown significantly this year, and we also had six international artists join us,” Fraser said.

While there’s been interest in taking the event to other cities, Fraser is committed to the Gold Coast – and GCCEC.

“We’ve been asked to take it to other locations, but we choose the Gold Coast. It’s destinational: the climate, the vibe. What better place to be?”

The support from the GCCEC team has also been a key factor in that decision.

“It’s amazing here – we love the team and the venue. Everything we request is always accommodated. I want to book it for the next five years.”

A Seamless Fit for EXPO4BARBERS

From high-end scissor makers and educational leaders to media brands and international guests, everyone at Expo4Barbers 2025 agreed on one thing – GCCEC made it all possible.

With its flexible space, excellent logistics, helpful staff, and prime location near accommodation, dining and experiences, GCCEC proved to be the ideal venue for a growing industry event that demands professionalism, adaptability, and atmosphere.

Expo4Barbers isn’t just returning to the Gold Coast—it’s growing with it. As organiser Fraser Forsey put it, “We just want to be here every year.”