IFE welcomes industry support ahead of 2022 return
IFE, International Food & Drink Event has welcomed the enthusiastic support of the food & drink retail sector as it prepares to return to ExCeL London on 21-23 March 2022.
Taking place for the first time since 2019, IFE’s 22nd edition is a much-anticipated return for the historic event as the UK’s most trusted resource for food & drink product discovery.
The show is ‘jam-packed’ with suppliers across a wide range of product categories, from household name brands such as Beyond Meat, Cawston Press, and Nairn’s to a number of exciting, innovative start-ups launched during the pandemic.
In addition to hosting the world’s largest gathering of UK food & drink suppliers, this year’s event will welcome new country pavilions from Lithuania, India and Belgium and returning countries such as Pakistan and France.
Event director Philippa Christer commented: “We’ve been thrilled with the enthusiasm and buy-in for this year’s show, both from exhibiting companies on the show floor and the buyers, associations and partners who’ve dedicated their time and insight to shaping the 2022 event, registered in their droves and agreed to join some fantastic panel discussions.”
Mahesh Patel, director of Buying – Group Commercial, Bidfood, added: “It will be great to see what IFE will be showcasing this year, from connecting with existing suppliers to finding new ones along with an update on trends and products coming into the industry. It will also be great to see overseas suppliers attending the show, after the lockdowns and the prevention of visits aboard and vice versa over the past two years. This should benefit everyone in the supply chain network within the food industry.”
IFE 2022 is reuniting with valued partners such as the Food & Drink Exporters Association, with events manager Sandra Sullivan commenting: “The Food & Drink Exporters Association team are buzzing to get back to IFE to connect with our export community and seek out brands that have yet to take their first steps into export. IFE is always such a strong showcase of UK food and drink. UK products that offer something unique and brands that are well established in the UK are always in demand by international buyers. Can’t wait to see what we can find at IFE!”
The show is also welcoming new partners, such as the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, whose CEO James Bielby said: “Cracking the wholesale channel is all about the right products and promotions for diverse customer groups, from impulse retailers to public sector caterers. The secret to success is wholesalers and manufacturers working in partnership to produce the perfect SKU (stock-keeping unit), pack size, price point, shared margin and promotion for maximum return for all involved. There’s no better place to start that partnership than in the halls at IFE.”
To learn more about everything happening at IFE 2022, and to register to attend, visit: ife.co.uk. Registration to the show gives visitors access to partner events IFE Manufacturing, London Produce Show, The Pub Show and Hotel, Restaurant & Catering (HRC).
