Home to some of the country’s biggest food companies, manufacturers, distributors and artisan producers, the event runs until this Thursday, 31^st March, and up to 6,000 industry professionals are expected to attend over the three days.

Widely regarded as Northern Ireland’s longest-standing trade exhibition where foodservice and hospitality’s biggest players and association all come under one roof, IFEX, is one of the first business-to-business trade event to open its doors in Northern Ireland since the pandemic in March 2020.

Owned by 365 Events Ltd, and with widespread industry support from Hospitality Ulster, Retail NI, FSB, NI Hotels Federation, Restaurants Association of Ireland, Food NI and NI Takeaway Association, organisers are confident that IFEX will demonstrate how business-to-business trade fairs can operate safely and effectively, whilst still driving new business to exhibitors and showcasing the latest products and services to visitors.

“Celebrating the 25^th edition, IFEX has been the cornerstone expo for the foodservice, hospitality and retail industries in Northern Ireland.  Needed more than ever before IFEX is crucial for galvanising the industry and driving new business for exhibitors,” comments Toby Wand, Managing Director of 365 Events Ltd.

Multi-Michelin star award-winning chef, Michael Deane, officially opened IFEX today, 29^th March, and met with some of the 150 plus exhibitors who are attending the event to generate new business and contacts. Mr Deane praised the quality of local produce on show and welcomed the large crowds on the first day of the event.

From naming the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Northern Ireland Chef of the Year, to artisan companies from across the country exhibiting in the Great Taste Market, IFEX is the place where all of those in the food, drink, retail and hospitality industries will be over the next few days.

IFEX opens at 10am daily and runs until Thursday 31^st March. The trade expo is free to attend, and you can register at www.IFEXexhibition.co.uk

The post Thousands flock to IFEX, NI’s largest food, drink, retail and hospitality show first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

NEXT March, Northern Ireland’s premier food, drink and hospitality event – IFEX 2022 – will return, opening its doors at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast and celebrating its 25th anniversary, there’s set to be even more ingredients for a successful show than ever before.

Taking place from Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31st March, IFEX returns under new ownership, having been acquired via 365 Events Ltd – a company co-owned by events industry stalwart, Toby Wand and events specialist, Billie Moore – from London based Montgomery Group.

Commenting on the importance of the shows return, Toby Wand, Managing Director of 365 Events Ltd comments: ‘’As the world of hospitality recovers and realigns post-pandemic, vibrant business events like IFEX will provide vital meeting places for the industries to reconnect, uncover new learnings and discover relevant technologies to improve their businesses and customer focus.

“IFEX is firmly-rooted in NI’s hospitality industry and celebrating its 25th anniversary, next year’s show is set to shine a light on the importance of IFEX to Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector and the role that it has played in the development of skills within the sector since the show’s first event, back in the King’s Hall. We’ve exciting plans for the three-day show and are ensuring that every aspect of the event is relevant for the challenges and opportunities presenting themselves to the Foodservice and Hospitality sectors today.”

 Sell Out Show

The last IFEX took place in 2018 at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, when the show was a sell-out with record visitor numbers. For 2020, the event was well on track to exceed expectations before the arrival of the pandemic, when everything came to a halt.  As the pandemic took hold, IFEX was postponed and then cancelled. Now with the re-building of industry, and particularly hospitality businesses, IFEX will return with strength in 2022.

Popular show features will be returning, including Chef of the year, the Great Taste Market and Salon Culinaire. With skills high on the agenda, NEW features on the menu include NI hospitality skills hub, a barista and mixology skills hub and the addition of IFEX Talks, a speaker stage playing host to live talks and panel debates daily.

Fabulous Showcase

‘’IFEX is a fabulous showcase for small producers and the Guild of Fine Food are keen to support the show once again with a Great Taste Market. Northern Ireland’s makers have an impressive track record in Great Taste, testament to the innovative, well-made and quality food and drink produced by people who care about their products,” says John Farrand, MD, The Guild of Fine Food.

Once again, the show is retaining its excellent relationships with industry associations in the province, including Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI and will be working hard to ensure cross-industry support. Confirmed exhibitors include show stalwarts – Stephen’s Catering, the official catering equipment partner of the Salon and Chef Skills, Flogas and Budget Energy. Paul Ruegg, Senior Marketing Executive, Flogas adds:

 Energy Partners

‘’Flogas & Budget Energy, as official Energy Partners, are delighting to be supporting IFEX 2022.  Flogas are proud to supply LPG to the Salon Culinaire and the ChefSkills Theatre, both of which play a small part in raising the bar of culinary skills throughout NI.  Flogas supply LPG & natural gas and Budget Energy supply electricity to the foodservice, retail and hospitality sectors in NI. Both Flogas & Budget Energy look forward to meeting members of the foodservice, retail and hospitality sectors who always turn out in their thousands to support IFEX.”

IFEX is a melting pot for all elements of the food, drink, retail and hospitality industries. Connecting producers and suppliers to distributors, and those in the foodservice and hospitality trade.

By booking early, exhibitors can take advantage of securing prime positioning and being included in the promotional campaign in the run up to the show. To find out more visit www.ifexexhibition.co.uk

Sean Owens, Director of Salon Culinaire pictured with students from Belfast MET;

Mark Rice, Curriculum Hub Manager Hospitality & Tourism at Belfast MET and Paul Caves,

Managing Director at Stephens Catering Equipment, at the launch of IFEX 2020. 

The post IFEX IS BACK! 29th – 31st March 2022 first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.