IFE, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, has launched the programme for its Exporters Hub, in partnership with UK Export Academy, which will see leading figures in the world of food & drink export and international trade take to the stage to discuss the latest challenges and opportunities in the sector.  

Taking place on 25-27 March at ExCeL London, IFE welcomes suppliers from more than 50 countries in addition to hundreds of UK suppliers from startups to major global brands in food & drink.  

The show’s Exporters Hub is set to welcome speakers from the Department for Business & Trade, the Food & Drink Exporters Association, the British Business Council, the Food & Drink Export Council, Scotland Food & Drink and more to dive deep into a wide range of talking points and trends in the world of food & drink export.  

The session ‘The Government’s Export Strategy Explained’ will see Food, Drink & Council Co-Chair Ian Wright, Iain Baxter, CEO of Scotland Food & Drink and Karen Morgan, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Food and Drink at the UK Department for Business and Trade, discussing how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of government and provide an insight into export strategies.  

Other topics up for discussion in the Exporters Hub include the art of sustainable exporting, opening up export opportunities through certification, and successful overseas marketing strategies.  

Rowena Tolley, Trademark & Branding Partner at Kilburn & Strode LLP and panellist for the session ‘Export can be a risky business’, says “I’m looking forward to joining the Exporters Hub at IFE this year and discussing how to protect your brand, navigate distributor agreements and avoid common pitfalls and risks in export.” 

Visitors to the Exporters Hub will also have the opportunity to learn how to meet the expectations of distributors in a panel featuring Sandra Sullivan MBE, Director of the Food, Drink & Exporters Association, Mark Field, CEO of Prof Consulting, Antoaneta Becker, Director Consumer Economy - China at Britain Business Council, and Katie Birrell, Head of International Sales at Nairn’s Oatcakes Ltd 

Sullivan comments: “As a vibrant community of exporters and dedicated expert service providers, FDEA are thrilled to partner with the IFE team again for 2024. We'll be curating insightful drop- in sessions on all things export in the Exporters Hub during the show. 

“IFE is a key trade show for UK food and drink companies, and we look forward to sharing our knowledge and making valuable new connections at the event.” 

IFE takes place alongside IFE Manufacturing, The Pub Show, HRC and International Salon Culinaire as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. Find out more about everything happening at IFE 2024, and register for your complimentary trade ticket, at ife.co.uk.