The National Restaurant Association Show (NRA Show) is an annual trade show for the restaurant and food service industry that is held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The show has a long history that dates back to the early 20th century.
1919: The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is founded in Chicago, Illinois.
1920: The first NRA Show is held in Chicago, featuring exhibits from over 100 companies.
1922: The NRA Show moves to the Chicago Coliseum, where it is held until 1976.
1976: The NRA Show moves to McCormick Place, where it has been held every year since.
1988: The NRA Show expands to include a food and beverage area called "The Flavors of America," featuring culinary demonstrations and tastings.
2004: The NRA Show expands to include a health and wellness area called "Healthy Ideas," featuring products and services related to nutrition and wellness in the foodservice industry.
2008: The NRA Show introduces "Sustain," a sustainability-focused area featuring products and services related to environmental responsibility in the foodservice industry.
2013: The NRA Show introduces "Innovations in Food & Beverage," a showcase of the latest trends and technologies in the industry.
2018: The NRA Show introduces "The Food Experience," a hands-on culinary demonstration area featuring cooking demonstrations and tastings.
Today, the NRA Show is the largest annual trade show for the restaurant and foodservice industry, featuring over 2,300 exhibitors and attracting over 40,000 attendees from all 50 states and over 100 countries.
