The International Food and Drink Event – IFE – kicks-off at London’s ExCeL centre this Sunday, with upwards of 27,000 visitors expected to attend.
Over 1,200 exhibitors are set to pack the venue over the four days (22-25 March), a reflection of the level of innovation taking place in the grocery sector at present.
IFE has been the UK's largest and most respected food and drink trade event since 1979, with an unrivalled brand heritage and a critical mass of thousands of new products and over a thousand suppliers present.
The event brings together the international food and drink community every two years to source new products, trade and keep pace with industry trends, while showcasing retailers’ appetite for fresh innovations and emerging producers. Visitors to the event comprise of key retail buyers, foodservice, wholesale & distribution, manufacturing and export markets.
The latest installment provides the perfect opportunity for visitors to discover inspiring menu ideas and the latest products to hit the market. One major theme at this year’s event will be a focus on the increasing importance of the ‘on-the-go’ food and drink market.
While the comprehensive range of exhibitors forms the centrepiece for the event, there’s also a lot more to IFE 2015, with the event hosting a huge educational programme.
Organisers believe that IFE 2015 offers "a great chance to discover a unique perspective in this fast moving market, giving producers the chance to exhibit at one of the world’s most renowned international events, as well being a hub of opportunities for buyers and a huge inspiration for all visitors”. In addition to produce and brands, IFE 2015 will also showcase the latest technologies to influence and shape the industry.
IFE will host a packed agenda of seminar and Q&A sessions in The Hub, its dedicated seminar portal, with industry experts, such as Ian Noble, senior R&D director of PepsiCo, and Tim Smith, group quality director at Tesco sharing their thoughts on the future of the industry. The seminars and Q&A sessions will include topics such as ‘How Better Stores Can Improve Life For Customers’, with Debbie Robinson, managing director of SPAR UK, as well as ‘The Evolving Symbol Market – Future Proofing Retailers’, with Neil Turton, co-founder, Him! International
IFE 2015 has partnered with some of the industry’s most influential associations, including the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD), the Food and Drink Federation, and Green Seed International, bringing a great diversity of insight from all areas of the food and beverage industry.
To find out more, visit the new look website www.ife.co.uk and follow the action on Twitter @IFEexhibition using #ife15.
