Kaoba at the UK Food & Drink Expo: Sharing the Future of Refreshment with Cacaofruit

We’ve just wrapped up an unforgettable few days at the UK Food & Drink Expo at the NEC Birmingham and wow, what an experience. Having a stand for Kaoba in the heart of one of the UK’s biggest food and beverage shows was a huge milestone for us and we’re still buzzing from the energy, conversations and connections made.

This was more than just an expo for us — it was a chance to share the Kaoba story and introduce people to the power of cacaofruit - a delicious and 100% sustainable superfruit that’s changing the way people think about soft drinks.

The Rise of Cacaofruit in the Ready-to-Drink Category

Visitors to our stand got to taste Kaoba for the first time and the reaction was everything we hoped for - surprise, delight and a big “wow” when they realised this refreshingly fruity drink comes from what’s usually discarded: the cacao pod. With just two natural ingredients and no compromise on flavour, Kaoba is leading a new wave of ready-to-drink beverages that put sustainability front and centre.

People were genuinely amazed that cacaofruit doesn’t taste like chocolate (because it doesn’t!) and we loved sparking conversations about zero waste, circular supply chains and how overlooked ingredients can be game-changers.

A Full-Circle Moment: Our Founder on Stage

One of the highlights of the expo? Our founder, Mathew Halford, was invited to give a keynote speech on the main stage, where he shared Kaoba’s journey and our commitment to sustainability in the drinks space. From our roots in using discarded cacao pods to now seeing Kaoba stocked across retailers and gyms, it was a proud moment to be part of a wider conversation about the future of food and drink innovation.

Mathew’s talk covered how functional beverages can also be low impact and how cacaofruit is the next big thing for conscious consumers looking for great taste, natural ingredients and a positive footprint.

New Customers, New Friends and a Big Thanks

We were blown away by the number of businesses, buyers and industry leaders who stopped by our stand, curious about cacaofruit and excited about Kaoba. We’re thrilled to have gained new customers, new retail interest and new opportunities to grow.

A huge shout-out to our amazing stand neighbours who made the expo even more special - Doughboys https://doughboys-pizza.co.uk, AU Vodka https://auvodka.co.uk, The Tofoo Co. https://tofoo.co.uk and so many others. Your energy and support made all the difference!

What’s Next for Kaoba?

Events like this remind us why we do what we do. Kaoba isn’t just a drink - it’s a mission. A mission to make better refreshment possible, with radical sustainability and a bold new flavour the world is just beginning to discover.

If you missed us at the expo and want to learn more, follow us on Instagram @drinkkaoba or check out www.drinkkaoba.com to get your first taste of Kaoba — the sparkling cacaofruit soda that’s changing the game.