SCIFTS Suppliers Night Expo 2027, March 2 in Garden Grove, CA
Dates
2 Mar 2027
City / country
Garden Grove, United States
Venue
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Time
3:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Are you the organiser of this event?
Event overview
The SCIFTS Suppliers Night Expo 2027 takes place on March 2 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, California.
This one-evening tabletop show puts ingredient suppliers, equipment vendors and service providers in front of food formulators, R&D staff and procurement teams from across the Western United States.
Exhibitor tables are limited and allocated on a first-come basis, so suppliers should book early.
TL;DR
Visit to meet ingredient and processing suppliers in one room, compare specifications and samples, and get technical answers from supplier food scientists. The evening format suits working formulators: you can cover many suppliers after hours, follow up on formulation or compliance questions, and reconnect with the Southern California food-science community without giving up a full day in the office.
Exhibit because the show delivers qualified food-industry buyers in a compact, low-cost tabletop format. One evening puts your technical and sales team in front of formulators, R&D managers and procurement leads from Western states, with samples and specification sheets doing the talking. Tables are limited, sell out early, and the organiser actively markets the event to drive attendance.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840, United States
Entrances & gates
Harbor Boulevard lobby entrance
Main hotel entrance; registration and event signage are in the lobby.
Food options
Hotel restaurant and lobby bar
On-site diningParking: The Hyatt Regency Orange County has on-site self-parking and valet off Harbor Boulevard; confirm the current event rate at the parking booth before leaving your car.
Gate: Enter through the hotel's Harbor Boulevard lobby and follow event signage to the ballroom foyer for badge collection.
Attend
Event days & opening times
Ticket info
Badge collection
Collect a badge at the ballroom foyer registration desk; bring a business card and photo ID.
Ticket notes
No visitor ticket price or registration deadline is printed. The evening is marketed to food-industry professionals; exhibitors book tabletops directly with SCIFTS.
Registration deadline
Not published; confirm attendance terms with SCIFTS before travelling.
Who runs the show
Southern California Institute of Food Technologists (SCIFTS)
Organiser
What's on
How the last edition performed
Last edition
2026
Exhibitors: 600
This edition
2027
Visitors: 1,200
Exhibitors: 600
Next edition
Not announced yet
Edition recap
The March 3, 2026 SCIFTS Suppliers Night drew more than 600 exhibitors to the Hyatt Regency Orange County, according to an exhibiting company. The one-evening tabletop format packed ingredient, equipment and service suppliers into a single ballroom session.
New this edition
Early tabletop sell-out
SCIFTS reports that the last edition sold out by December and maintained a waiting list of more than 50 companies.
SourceImpact
Suppliers Night matters because it concentrates Southern California's ingredient buyers into one evening. A tabletop puts a supplier's technical team in front of formulators and procurement staff who are actively working on products, which shortens the path from sample to specification request. The show's scholarship purpose also keeps it connected to university food-science talent.
Audience quality
The audience is narrow but relevant: food scientists, product developers, quality and regulatory staff, and ingredient buyers from Western-state manufacturers, plus food-science students. Because the floor is a tabletop format, conversations tend to be technical rather than casual. Exhibitors should expect specification and sample questions, not mass consumer traffic.
Exhibitor outcomes
ROI comes from qualified conversations rather than booth volume. A supplier that arrives with samples, spec sheets and application data can leave with named formulation projects; a supplier with only brochures will find the evening expensive. The low-cost tabletop and short duration keep the break-even point modest, but follow-up within a week is essential.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
The Los Angeles-Orange County corridor is a major North American food and beverage manufacturing and product-development cluster. Ingredient suppliers, flavor houses and testing labs sit close to brand owners and co-packers, so an evening show can shorten sourcing cycles. Suppliers Night also funds local food-science scholarships, tying the commercial floor to the region's future technical workforce.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Clean-label reformulation
Brands keep simplifying ingredient decks, pushing suppliers to show natural colors, alternative proteins and functional blends that survive real processing conditions.
What it changes: Formulators need samples and data, not just brochures, so technical tabletops win attention.
Cost and supply resilience
Ingredient price volatility and shipping disruption have made dual sourcing and domestic supply a board-level concern for Western-state manufacturers.
What it changes: Suppliers who can document origin, lead time and backup capacity have an advantage at the table.
Science-backed health claims
Protein, fiber, sugar-reduction and gut-health claims continue to drive development, with quality and regulatory teams scrutinising substantiation.
What it changes: A supplier that brings application data and regulatory support shortens the path from sample to approved formula.
Buyers often pair Suppliers Night with a larger West Coast ingredient or natural-products show, then follow the IFT section circuit through the year. Dates for future editions are planning estimates and should be reconfirmed with each organiser.
Natural Products Expo West 2027
Anaheim, United States
Dates are an estimate based on the early-March pattern; reconfirm with the organiser.
websiteIFT FIRST 2027
Chicago, United States
Dates are an estimate; IFT publishes the final calendar.
websiteLonghorn IFT Suppliers Expo 2027
Frisco, United States
Dates follow the November pattern and are an estimate.
websiteEarly March
Both fall in the same Anaheim-Garden Grove week, so one trip can cover two audiences.
Circuit dates beyond the fetched 2027 show date are editorial planning estimates.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Closest airport; Santa Ana/Orange County.
About 14 miles
to venue
20-30 minutes
by car
Los Angeles International Airport
Larger international gateway; allow extra time in the afternoon peak.
About 40 miles
to venue
50-75 minutes depending on traffic
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 95–140 / night
Simple rooms 10-15 minutes from the venue; book early in convention weeks.
sourceUSD 160–220 / night
Walkable or short rideshare to the Hyatt; parking usually charged.
sourceUSD 230–320 / night
Host hotel and full-service alternatives; rates rise during major conventions.
sourceGet around the city with these convenient transport options.
Rideshare
15-25 minutes outside peak traffic.
OCTA bus
Local bus service; check the OCTA trip planner for the stop nearest the hotel.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-1 business visitor | Visitors who are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program or ESTA | $185.00 | Weeks to months, depending on consulate | |
| ESTA / Visa Waiver Program | Eligible nationals of VWP countries | $40.00 | Usually minutes to 72 hours |
No nationality is automatically visa-free for business travel; VWP eligibility depends on nationality and prior travel history.
The US is not a full ATA Carnet member for this purpose; use a customs broker and temporary import paperwork for samples and display goods.
Official visa pageWeather
Early March in Garden Grove is mild and variable: daytime highs around 18-22 C (65-72 F) and cooler evenings. Bring a light jacket for the 8:00 pm exit and a compact umbrella for occasional rain.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Free Wi-Fi is normally available in the hotel lobby and meeting space; confirm the event network and password at the registration desk. US mobile plans and eSIMs work throughout Orange County.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Tip and service culture
Restaurant servers and drivers expect 18-20 percent tips; tax is added separately and is not a tip.
Business etiquette
Introductions are informal and first names are common. Bring plenty of business cards and keep technical conversations concise.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: SNA (John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana)
Book 6-8 weeks ahead; early March overlaps with the Anaheim convention season.
Book flightsGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Rideshare from SNA takes 20-30 minutes and costs about USD 25-40; LAX is 50-75 minutes.
Hotel → venue: The host hotel is walkable; nearby Harbor Boulevard hotels are a 5-15 minute rideshare.
Ride-hail: Uber and Lyft operate throughout Orange County; use the hotel's designated pickup zone.
Public transit: OCTA buses serve Harbor Boulevard; fares are about USD 2 per ride and service is less frequent in the evening.
Parking: On-site self-parking and valet at the Hyatt; confirm the event rate.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: March
Temperature: 18-22 C daytime / 10-12 C evening
Seasonality: Occasional rain; early March is mild but not reliably dry.
Packing: Light layers, a compact umbrella and comfortable shoes for standing on the tabletop floor.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Tuesday, March 2, 2027
The expo runs for one evening only, so the whole show fits in a single 3:30-8:00 pm window. Arrive at 3:30 for the quietest access to technical staff and stay through the evening for networking.
Confirm the 2027 date, venue and any registration instruction on the SCIFTS event page. — The page carries the date and exhibitor invitation but no separate visitor registration link.
Book the flight into SNA and a refundable hotel near Harbor Boulevard. — Early March overlaps with Anaheim convention demand.
Build a target list of tables and prepare specification questions. — Prioritise ingredients or services tied to a live project.
Print or save the event page, hotel confirmation and a business card for badge collection. — Registration is on site at the ballroom foyer.
Plan the 3:30-8:00 pm window and arrange transport back after the show. — Allow 30 minutes for the hotel-to-airport ride the next morning.
Arrive, collect badge and scan the tabletop layout
Hyatt Regency Orange County ballroom foyerWork priority ingredient and flavor tables with a spec-question list
Expo floorTake a short break and compare notes with colleagues
Hotel lobby barVisit equipment, testing and regulatory tables, then close networking conversations
Expo floorDisneyland Resort
Theme Park
About 15 minutes by rideshare
Easy add-on for a family stay or an evening after the show.
Huntington Beach
Coastal Day Trip
About 30 minutes by car
Pacific beach walk and casual dinner before flying home.
Hyatt Regency lobby bar
Hotel bar
Closest place for a post-show debrief with a supplier.
Anaheim Packing District
Food hall
Informal group dinner with a range of local vendors.
Suppliers Night compresses many conversations into one evening; leads go cold quickly. A five-day follow-up with the exact sample or data requested is the difference between a project and a business card.
Budget
Shell scheme
USD 120–180 / m²
Raw space
USD 250–450 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
No 2027 tariff is printed. Bands are benchmarked to one-evening regional tabletop shows and should be confirmed with SCIFTS.
sourceAdjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
Tabletop exhibit
exhibitor · standard
USD 1200–2500 / per table
Hotel
both · mid
USD 160–220 / per night
Per diem
both · standard
USD 60–90 / per day
Visa / ESTA
international · standard
USD 40–185 / per person
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tabletop exhibit | exhibitor | standard | USD 1200–2500 / per table | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| Hotel | both | mid | USD 160–220 / per night | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| Per diem | both | standard | USD 60–90 / per day | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| Visa / ESTA | international | standard | USD 40–185 / per person | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
Decision
Answer six quick questions to see whether to visit, exhibit or skip.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your travel and stand budget?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You have a live formulation question and can reach Orange County cheaply.
Best for
Food scientists, buyers and students who want to scan suppliers without a stand.
Min. budget
$300.00
Timeline
One evening; book travel 3-6 weeks out.
Risks
No published visitor registration link
Limited evening time
exhibit
You have samples, spec sheets and a follow-up owner.
Best for
Ingredient, equipment or service suppliers selling to Western-state food manufacturers.
Min. budget
$1,500.00
Timeline
Reserve 90 days out and ship 3-4 weeks ahead.
Risks
Tables sell out early
High exhibitor-to-visitor ratio
skip
Travel cost is high and no live project exists.
Best for
Suppliers with no US West Coast pipeline or visitors with no food-science project.
Timeline
Revisit before the 2028 edition.
Risks
Missing relationship-building
No alternative date this year
Book with
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Host hotel and ballroom venue at 11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove.
Venue named on the official event page.
John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Closest airport to the venue, about 14 miles and 20-30 minutes by car.
Regional gateway; not an official event partner.
Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce
Local business body for the host city and Orange County corridor.
Useful local resource; no partnership was confirmed.
Southern California IFT (SCIFTS)
Organiser of Suppliers Night and the regional section of the Institute of Food Technologists.
Organiser named on the official event page.
Recommended providers
Check B-1 and ESTA eligibility before booking.
Host hotel; book a refundable rate early.
Compare SNA and LAX fares; SNA is closer to the venue.
Use a customs broker for food samples and display freight.
Travel and exhibitor property coverage; compare deductibles.
Ideas for Disneyland, beaches and local dining.
Portable lead capture with CRM export; bring a paper backup.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
5 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
4
References
3
Publishers
4
Date checked
SCIFTS
Austrade Inc.
Institute of Food Technologists
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.
