Back for its milestone 21st edition, The International Food & Drink Event (IFE) returns to ExCeL London on 17-20 March with an insightful and vibrant schedule of talks, tastings and trends forecasting. This biennial event is co-located with Pro2Pac, the complete processing & packaging event for the food & drink industry.
IFE is a must-attend for all grocery businesses looking to explore a taste of tomorrow and provides the chance to discover emerging trends; meet thousands of international, futurefocused brands; and hear inspiring and thought-provoking talks from key figures across the food and drink industry.
IFE 2019 offers a unique opportunity for both British and international suppliers to meet and connect with top buyers and operators in the grocery trade. With 1,350 food & drink manufacturers attending from 111 countries, IFE 2019 is one of the few places to experience the best of what the food & drink industry has to offer across the globe.
For more information on IFE 2019 and to register for free, please visit: www.ife.co.uk
What’s in store
IFE 2019 helps buyers navigate the changing landscape of the food and drink market by exploring the trends which will shape the industry this year and beyond. To shape the event agenda, last year IFE surveyed its network of members to find out which trends made the biggest impact on their businesses last year. Plant-based food & veganism, the free-from movement and alcoholfree beverages came out as the top three trends influencing the sector in 2018.
Looking at what’s on the horizon for 2019, IFE’s research also found that plant-based eating, sustainable packaging, gut-friendly foods and sugarfree are the most prominent trends businesses are looking to leverage in 2019, demonstrating the effect consumers’ growing interest in health & wellbeing is having on the sector.
Talking & Tasting Trends
To delve deeper into these trends, prominent experts from the food & drink industry, including leading plantbased influencers, will take to the IFE Talking Trends stage over the four-day event to share their experiences, opinions and predictions. The impressive line-up includes Al Overton, Senior Buyer at Planet Organic and Derek Sarno, Director of Plant-Based Food Innovation at Tesco. In addition, the Tasting Trends area, new to IFE 2019, lets visitors see, smell and taste the food & drink of the future.
Not surprisingly plant-based foods remain the hottest topic, but the Tasting Trends feature also highlight trends such as snacks containing good fats (Omega 3) and stress relieving soft drinks (vitamised juices). It will also take a closer look at the new stronger spicy flavours coming through in snacks and confectionery, as well why the proportion of Brits drinking alcohol is at its lowest.
Trend Trails
To ensure visitors don’t miss out on key insights, back by popular demand are the IFE Trend Trails. Designed to help visitors navigate their way around the event one key insight at a time, the Trend Trails will visit some of the most progressive brands in the plant-based, food to go, private label, circular brands and global innovations movements.
IFE 2019 Ambassadors Unveiled To celebrate its 21st edition, The International Food & Drink Event (IFE) 2019 is collaborating with six industry experts to help build the best and most insightful IFE for buyers and producers alike.
The ‘ambassadors’ will work with organiser, Fresh Montgomery, to identify trends, build insights and share industry knowledge, which will shape the event and ensure visitors are given an unrivalled experience.
The IFE 2019 ambassadors are:
• Christopher Faulkner, Founder & Director, The Food Service Expert
• Sandra Sullivan MBE, Director, The Food & Drink Exporters Association
• Tony Kitous, Founder & Creative Director, The Comptoir Group
• Milena Lazarevska, Head of Origination, Future Brands, Sainsbury’s
• Kate Houssaye, Quality Manager, New York Bakery Company Ltd.
• Sarah Whiddett, Head of Insight & Customer Experience, Bidfood
• Christine Tacon CBE, Groceries Code Adjudicator
Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director for IFE, says: “We are proud that IFE has become firmly established on the food & drink industry calendar and to welcome 27,000 industry figures from 111 countries to our biennial event.
However, we are acutely aware that we can’t be complacent and must continue to work hard to make sure buyers and suppliers feel it is a valuable experience and worth taking time out of their diary to attend. We’re working closely with our ambassadors to develop our strongest event yet.”
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