FAQs
What is the Dispensed Beverage Forum?
The Dispensed Beverage Forum is an annual industry event that educates, connects retailers and suppliers, and provides research, insights, and networking opportunities focused on hot, cold, and frozen beverage programs for convenience stores. The forum features expert speakers, trend analysis, and innovative solutions to help retailers optimize their beverage sales and operations.
When and where is the 2026 Dispensed Beverage Forum?
The 2026 Dispensed Beverage Forum will take place from Wednesday, April 27, through Friday, April 29, 2026, at the Westin Lombard in Chicago, IL.
What beverage trends will be covered at the Dispensed Beverage Forum?
The forum covers the latest trends across all dispensed beverage categories, including hot beverages (coffee, tea, specialty drinks), cold beverages (fountain drinks, teas, infused waters), and frozen beverages (slushies, frozen coffees, smoothies). Sessions will address consumer preferences, equipment innovations, flavor trends, and operational best practices to maximize beverage program performance.
Who should attend the Dispensed Beverage Forum?
The forum is ideal for convenience retailers, category managers, foodservice directors, operations executives, and anyone responsible for beverage strategy and sales. Suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and service providers in the dispensed beverage industry will also benefit from attending to connect with retail decision-makers and showcase their solutions.
What are the different fees and registration types?
Retailer:
An individual who works, manages or owns a retail outlet in the convenience and petroleum industry.
Registration fees are complimentary for those who have received an invitation, thanks to the support of our sponsors. Please contact Mike Marino at michael.marino@informa.com for more information.
Sponsor:
An individual who works for a company that is a sponsor of the conference.
If you are not yet a sponsor and would like additional information, please contact Brandy Mulcahy at fssponsorrelations@informa.com.
I was contacted by a housing provider that offered to assist with making my Dispensed Beverage hotel reservation. What should I do?
Please be vigilant if approached by any company representing themselves as the housing provider for the Dispensed Beverage Forum. These companies will offer to make hotel reservations within the room block on your behalf or misrepresent themselves as agents of the hotel. Please note that Dispensed Beverage Forum does not rent, share or sell your contact information to any third parties.
The companies that we have been made aware of are Convention Housing Planners Corp, Expo Housing Services and Exhibitors Housing Management. Please let us know as soon as possible if another company reaches out to you.
Dispensed Beverage Forum is not utilizing the services of any housing agent or third party and the host hotel will never reach out to attendees to solicit booking rooms. Please only make your accommodations using the link in your registration confirmation email.
Is there wireless internet in the meeting space?
Complimentary wireless internet will be provided throughout the meeting space. Login details will be provided during the meeting.
What is the meeting attire?
The Dispensed Beverage Forum attire is business casual.
Who is Informa and How Does it Connect to CSP?
Informa is a leading international business-to-business information services group that connects people with knowledge to help them learn more, know more, and do more. Through its Informa Connect division, the company delivers content-led live and on-demand events, training, and specialist content to businesses and professionals across various industries.
As part of the Informa family, CSP benefits from global reach, industry expertise, and the infrastructure necessary to host gatherings that assemble key decision-makers and financial partners in environments specifically designed for meaningful business connections and actionable insights across the convenience retail landscape.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
Informa Connect is dedicated to creating experiences that deliver positive impact while minimizing environmental footprint. Through the FasterForward sustainability program, events like ours will move faster to become zero-waste and net-zero carbon by 2030.
In the future, we will actively help partners, customers, and wider markets achieve their own sustainability goals. By attending CSP Cannabis Forum, participants will not just gain valuable industry knowledge and connections, but they will also support a more sustainable future for their industries.















