GTCO Food Festival Opens, Vendors Record Strong Sales, Visitors Hail Experience

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The 2026 edition of the GTCO Food and Drink Festival opened in Lagos on Friday, with vendors and attendees expressing optimism over increased business opportunities, improved organisation and a wide variety of food offerings.

The three-day festival, which runs through Sunday, attracted both first-time and returning participants, many of whom described the platform as a major boost for brand visibility, customer engagement and sales.

A representative of Buzz Cocktails, Oluwadamilola, said the brand was already recording strong patronage on its debut outing.

“This is our first time here, and we’ve had a lot of customers already. People are getting to know our brand and even following us on Instagram,” she said.

She added that expectations were high for the coming days.

“We expect even more customers and sales tomorrow. I would rate the event 10 out of 10 because it is free and well organised,” she said.

Also speaking, Chef Segun Morountonu, General Manager of Sophisticated Wobia, said his company returned for a second year to deepen market reach.

“Our aim is to showcase our pastries, drinks and savoury products, especially our cakes which keep customers coming back,” he said.

He described the festival as a strategic investment in brand growth, noting that it provides an avenue to convert visitors into loyal customers and direct them to the company’s permanent outlet.

“With the festival coinciding with Workers’ Day, we are expecting strong sales,” he added.

For Dolapo Daramola, popularly known as Mrs D of Ajara Foods, the festival has continued to drive demand and business expansion.

She revealed that her business sold out its inventory within four months of launching last year, attributing the growth to increased visibility and customer referrals.

“This platform connects buyers and sellers effectively. It’s a mighty opportunity, especially because it is free,” she said, noting that similar exposure would cost millions of naira for small businesses.

Despite challenges such as high transportation costs and sourcing raw materials, she said the benefits outweigh the difficulties.

“We’ve had to work directly with farmers due to expensive suppliers, but the demand we get from here keeps us going,” she added.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Segun Agbaje, said the festival remains a platform for promoting enterprise by providing food entrepreneurs with free retail spaces and access to a wider customer base.

He added that the initiative brings together creativity, culture and commerce, reflecting the diversity of food experiences on display.

Attendees also commended the festival’s organisation and overall experience.

A returning visitor, Qudus Adeniji, who has attended the event for about four years, described it as “good” and “fantastic.”

“The venue is well maintained, and movement is easy. GTCO keeps improving the event every year,” he said, though he noted that some vendors were “quite rough.”

Another attendee, Benita, attending for the first time, said the festival met her expectations.

“There are a lot of new things to try,” she said.

Mrs Ijeoma said the event provides an opportunity to discover food brands often seen online but not easily accessible.

“This is where you connect with vendors you see on Instagram but haven’t visited,” she said.

She also noted improvements over the years, adding that earlier editions were crowded and uncomfortable.

“Now it is well organised, with proper cooling systems and crowd management. It’s a fun and family-friendly environment,” she added.

Agbaje further noted that the festival is designed to bring people together through shared food experiences, a goal reflected in the interaction between vendors and visitors on the opening day.