2 minute read
New products and industry insights at heart of IFE 2024
IFE, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, welcomed the food & drink community to ExCeL London on 25-27 March 2024 for three busy days of networking, learning and product discovery.
Food, Drink & Hospitality Week welcomed 30,000 key industry buyers, from leading retailers and wholesale giants to global catering brands and hospitality business owners.
Hundreds of quality food & drink brands showcase thousands of innovative products to visitors from leading retailers, hospitality businesses, wholesalers and more.
In addition to brands from across the UK, the event also provided a platform for suppliers from more than 65 countries including Australia, Poland, Sri Lanka, Italy, India, Ukraine, Peru and welcomed dignitaries, ministers and ambassadors from Czechia, Vietnam, China, the United States and more.
Polish Ambassador, Piotr Wilczek, commented, “The presence of such a large number of Polish companies today in London is significant, bearing in mind the challenges related to trading terms between the European Union and the UK. We have much to offer to British consumers, and I believe that events like the one today can only help the visibility of our highquality products here.”
Buyers celebrated another successful edition of IFE, with Darren Cheshire, Buyer at International Procurement & Logistics (Part of the ASDA family), commenting, “I was impressed by the level of innovation we saw as we walked through the show. Our focus was on nuts, dried fruit and cereals and we have already begun discussions with several of the producers we met at the show. We definitely found the trip to IFE this year worthwhile.”
This year’s event saw the addition of several new show sections, with the launch of the Cheese Pavilion reflecting a growing desire from visitors to the show and a new Hot Beverages Pavilion launched within Drinks @ HRC & IFE.
The launch of the Fresh Produce Section, in partnership with the Fresh Produce Section, was a success, with visitor enjoying the addition of a diverse new sector to the event and live chef demonstration from chefs including Top Chef Brazil Winner, Luciana Berry, and Sexy Fish Head Chef, Mattia Ricci.
IFE returns next year to London’s ExCeL from 17-19 March 2025.
