Flavours, Footfall and Fresh Opportunities: Inside Day One of GTCO Food & Drink Festival 2026
Small businesses, bold flavours and bustling crowds set the tone as Day One of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival 2026 came alive in Lagos, transforming the GTCO Centre into a vibrant marketplace of enterprise, culture and culinary discovery.
From the early hours, a steady stream of visitors poured into the venue, weaving through rows of colourful stalls, sampling everything from gourmet pastries to handcrafted drinks. For many vendors, the energy translated immediately into brisk sales, new customer connections and a surge in brand visibility an outcome that underscores the festival’s growing relevance in Nigeria’s small business ecosystem.
Where Opportunity Meets Exposure
Organised by Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, the three-day festival is more than just a food fair it is a strategic platform designed to break down barriers for entrepreneurs. By offering free exhibition space, it allows small businesses to interact directly with thousands of consumers without the financial burden of traditional marketing channels.
For first-time participants like Oluwadamilola of Buzz Cocktails, the impact was immediate and measurable.
“We’ve had a lot of customers, and people are already following us on Instagram,” she said, beaming with excitement. Rating the experience a “10 out of 10,” she noted that the exposure had already begun translating into tangible growth, with expectations of even stronger sales in the days ahead.
Her story reflects a broader trend seen across the festival grounds young brands leveraging physical interaction to strengthen digital presence and customer loyalty.
Returning Vendors, Renewed Strategy
For returning exhibitors, the festival has evolved into a dependable marketing engine.
Segun Morountonu of Sophisticated Wobia, back for a second year, described the event as a critical touchpoint for customer acquisition.
“Our goal is to create awareness and bring customers to our store. Once people taste our products, they come back,” he explained.
With the festival coinciding with International Workers’ Day celebrations, Morountonu anticipates even higher foot traffic an intersection of timing and opportunity that vendors are keen to maximise.
From Startup Struggles to Breakthrough Moments
Perhaps the most compelling narratives are those of transformation.
Dolapo Daramola, founder of Ajara Foods, shared how her business has rapidly scaled since launching just a year ago.
“We sold out within four months. Now people know us, they follow us, and they come back to buy again,” she said.
For Daramola, the festival represents more than sales it is a gateway to visibility that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive.
“This is a mighty opportunity. If we had to pay for this kind of exposure, it would cost millions.”
Her experience highlights a critical gap in Nigeria’s business landscape limited access to affordable market platforms and how initiatives like this are helping to bridge it.
A Festival Shaped by Its Audience
While vendors drove supply, consumers shaped the experience.
Returning attendee Qudus Adeniji described the festival as “fantastic,” pointing to noticeable improvements in organisation and crowd management. Though he mentioned minor issues with vendor interactions, he acknowledged the steady evolution of the event year after year.
For first-time visitors like Benita, the appeal lay in discovery.
“There are a lot of new things to try,” she said, echoing the sentiment of many newcomers navigating the rich diversity of offerings.
Families were not left out. Mrs Ijeoma, attending with loved ones, emphasised the festival’s role as a bridge between online brands and real-world engagement.
“You can discover vendors close to your home and decide to visit them later,” she noted, adding that the improved layout and comfort made it more enjoyable for families.
Beyond Food: A Vision for Growth
At its core, the festival reflects a broader vision articulated by GTCO’s Group CEO, Segun Agbaje, who sees food as a unifying force.
“Food connects cultures, tells stories, and creates moments that linger long after the experience itself,” he said.
But beyond the sentiment lies strategy creating ecosystems where small businesses can thrive, scale and sustain growth.
In a country where entrepreneurs grapple with high operating costs, logistics challenges and limited market access, platforms like the GTCO Food and Drink Festival offer a rare leveller bringing thousands of potential customers within reach at no cost.
Momentum Builds for the Days Ahead
As Day One draws to a close, optimism hangs in the air. Vendors are restocking, refining their pitches and preparing for larger crowds, while organisers continue to fine-tune logistics to sustain the momentum.
With two more days to unfold, the festival is poised not just to serve food, but to nourish ambition one customer, one connection and one small business at a time.