IFE, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, welcomed the food & drink community to ExCeL London on 25- 27 March 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 high-quality 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.” 

Adrian Boswell, Buyer at Selfridges, added: “As a senior food buyer, IFE 2024 was a great experience. Offering an impressive array of innovative products and trends that left me inspired and equipped to elevate my company's offerings. The diversity of exhibitors and products showcased the full spectrum of the food industry.  

“There we excellent networking opportunities, allowing me to connect with industry leaders. Most importantly, IFE 2024 provided invaluable insights into emerging trends and equipped me with the knowledge to stay ahead in a competitive market.” 

Exciting new show sections 

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.  

Nigel Jenney, CEO of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said: “It was truly exhilarating to witness the buzz around the Fresh Produce Section at IFE 2024. The level of engagement and interest from attendees has been nothing short of outstanding.  

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our amazing exhibitors and sponsors who have made the event such a hit. Their contributions have been instrumental in showcasing the vitality and innovation within our industry.” 

Insights into the future of food  

IFE’s Future Food Stage saw a wide range of speakers and panel discussions covering everything from retail and AI to wholesale trends to inspiring women-led businesses. The session 'Navigating The Startup Scene - Advice From Those In The Know' saw Christarose Maphosa, Buying Manager at Tesco, Kelly Orme, Buying Manager - Community Buying at Co-op and Superfoodio Co-Founders Nirali and Jagir Mankodi discussing how retailers are supporting startups in their growth journey. 

The second day of the event saw a stage takeover by IGD, who curated a fascinating day of content on retail innovation, grocery trends, international insights and valuable consumer perspectives.  

Speaker Alison Battisby, Founder of Avocado Social, commented: "Food Drink & Hospitality Week is a must-attend show, not only for the amazing array of fresh and exciting brands exhibiting, but also for the wide-ranging topics covered on stage and the overall energy from the attendees.  

“I had a fantastic time delivering my social media masterclass on the Future Food Stage to an energetic and friendly crowd, and really enjoyed mingling with food and drink marketing professionals afterwards. It was a perfect chance to catch up with a few FMCG clients, who were all there looking to find out the latest trends, meet potential buyers and passionately promote their brands! " 

New products on show 

IFE’s show floor was awash with new product launches and innovative new brands, from the event’s popular Startup Market section to new ranges and products from established brands in the food & drink sector.  

New launches included:  

• Boba Box showcased its latest bubble tea creations including the indulgently rich Cocoa Loco and the exotic Sweet Passion, a refreshing blend of honey peach syrup, passion fruit jam, soda water, and raspberry juice balls. 

• Indian entrepreneur Arjun Talwar launched Bervera, a pure coconut water with natural electrolytes and hydration benefits. 

• Vertical farm Ro-Gro launched pioneering microgreens in collaboration with plant and microbiology research institute the John Innes Centre, food and health bioscience facility, the Quadram Institute, and indoor farming tech firm LettUs Grow, resulting in the very first pea shoots biofortified with vitamin B12 coming to market. 

• Atlante launched Vitto, a new brand introducing a range of well-known and loved Italian products into the UK market.  

• Seafish UK launched a brand-new Asian-inspired range of tastebud tantalising products.  

• In response to the call for a quick hydrate, meat replacement ingredients suitable for a wide range of uses, Novo Farina’s NPD team produced two new products - Quick Hydrate Pea Mince and Quick Hydrate Pea Chunk. 

• French bakery manufacturer Bridor launched new Lenôtre Mini Tartelettes, designed to give caterers and foodservice outlets the opportunity to serve customers with an exquisite Viennese pastry. 

Awarding excellence 

The winners of the World Food Innovation Awards were unveiled at IFE in partnership with FoodBev Media, celebrating innovation and excellence across a wide range of categories in food & drink.  

FoodBev Marketing Manager Daniel Bunt commented: “Myself and the FoodBev team are overwhelmed with the diversity of innovations displayed here today. With the introduction of the Winning Innovations publication, and the additional benefits added to each placement, we can celebrate and recognise more companies and innovations throughout 2024.”   

Highlights included MHP winning Best Meat/Poultry Product with CHICK&GO, THIS™ securing Best Food Innovation with THIS™ Isn’t Chicken Wings, SUPERKEEN winning Best New/Start-up Business, and Koa Switzerland winning Best CSR/Sustainability Initiative for its programme of upcycling the cocoa pulp to reduce waste, promote sustainability and improve farmers livelihood. 

View the full list of winners here. 

IFE returns to ExCeL London on 17-19 March as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. Find out more, and subscribe to the IFE newsletter, at ife.co.uk.