Taking place in the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast from 5^th to 7^th March, IFEX 2024 will shine a spotlight on the latest industry technologies, innovative ideas and new product launches alongside promoting some of the finest culinary talent that Northern Ireland has to offer.

Born in Dublin and raised in Belfast, Dylan joins a long list of celebrity chefs who have officially opened IFEX in recent years including French chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Michelin star chef and restauranteur, Michael Deane.

Speaking ahead of his visit to IFEX Dylan said: “I am honoured and delighted to officially open IFEX 2024. It’s a very exciting time for the Northern Ireland foodservice and hospitality industry which has cemented itself as a global leader in terms of excellence.

“Events like IFEX are vital to celebrate and showcase the immense amount of homegrown talent and award-winning produce that we have right here, on our doorstep.

“I’m particularly excited to see our upcoming chefs in action during the array of Salon Culinaire competitions and have no doubt that we will discover some outstandingly skilled chefs, which is what IFEX is renowned for.

“Best of luck to everyone taking part in the competitions and I hope that those who are both exhibiting and attending have a great IFEX 2024!”

CORNERSTONE EXPO

Increasing its floorplan by an additional 40% and opening up a new hall, IFEX is a ‘one stop shop’ for discovering some of the best products that NI has to offer and across the three days will be home to NEW features including the Spotlight Stage, Masters Arena and the IFEX Coffee Festival.

At the heart of IFEX is Salon Culinaire – Northern Ireland’s largest and most prestigious chef competition, where IFEX Northern Ireland Chef of the Year is crowned. Also returning is the Great Taste Market, IFEX Bar and helping to address an industry wide problem, the Northern Ireland Hospitality Core Skills Hub, a hands-on demo area showcasing the very many services and opportunities available across the sector. Find out more about what’s happening at the show here.

Commenting on the importance of the show’s return, Toby Wand, Managing Director of 365 Events Ltd. said: “IFEX is one of NI’s longest running trade shows and has been the cornerstone expo for the foodservice, catering, retail and hospitality industries for many years. Needed more than ever before, IFEX is crucial for galvanising the industry and driving new business for exhibitors.

‘IFEX is simply the number one event for industry professionals in the foodservice, hospitality and retail sectors’

“This year’s show promises to serve up three days packed full of ideas and innovation for both visitors and exhibitors alike. From inspiring competitions to expert masterclasses, and an abundance of ideas to help grow business in the years ahead, IFEX is simply the number one event for industry professionals in the foodservice, hospitality and retail sectors.”

Championing best practice within the industry, IFEX returns with industry support from all leading associations including Hospitality Ulster, the Federation of Small Business NI, Retail NI, NI Hotels Federation, the Guild of Fine Food, Chef Network, Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Takeaway Association.

A trade only event, IFEX 2024 is taking place from Tuesday 5^th to Thursday 7^th March at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast. The show opens daily at 10am and runs until 6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, and to 4pm on Thursday. If you’d like to attend, simply register for your free ticket at www.ifexexhibition.co.uk/

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We are also delighted to reveal that Neighbourhood Retailer is a media partner of IFEX 2024, along with sister publications, Licensed and Catering News and Ireland’s Forecourt and Convenience Retailer.

Aiming to highlight the country’s culinary talent, expertise and excellence, the Northern Ireland Chef of the Year contests will run alongside the new Northern Ireland Inter College Cook and Serve Challenge as part of Salon Culinaire Belfast.

Expecting more entries than ever before, the Salon Culinaire Belfast is designed to highlight and nurture Northern Ireland’s young chefs and will serve to provide a launchpad for a lucrative career in the hospitality and foodservice industry.

The Northern Ireland Chef of the Year competition is open to chefs working in Ireland and will require participants to devise a three-course menu, with an emphasis on local produce, alongside a plant based amuse bouche, to impress a panel of judges.

Also returning to Salon Culinaire Belfast this year is the popular edible art competitions where competitors will use their imagination and skills to create visually stunning exhibits from ingredients including chocolate, sugar paste, fondant or fruit and vegetables.

Commenting on the launch of the Salon Culinaire timetable, Sean Owens, Salon Director said: “Northern Ireland is home to some of the world’s top chefs who are helping to cement the wider hospitality and foodservice industry as a global leader.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the immense amount of talent and skills that will be on offer throughout the competitions.

“The road to recovery after the impact of the pandemic has been tough for many establishments in the hospitality and foodservice industry but we’re delighted to see real signs of growth beginning to show. Celebrating the achievements of the industry, alongside the talent of our chefs will serve to encourage more and more young people to join the sector, which will help to secure its future expansion.”

Turning his attention to the upcoming competitions, Sean added: “The IFEX Salon Culinaire competitions are suitable for everyone – from students just starting out in their culinary journey to experienced chefs who are making huge waves in the industry.

“I have no doubt that we will discover a huge amount of talent at IFEX – both from established chefs and those who are yet to be uncovered. Highlighting and promoting our own, home-grown talent is what IFEX is all about.”

The Salon Culinaire competitions are now open for entry, visit: www.ifexexhibition.co.uk/salon-culinaire.

To register your attendance, visit: ifex-2024.reg.buzz and if you’re planning to exhibit, contact Lyndsey Harker by emailing: lyndsey@365-events.co.uk or call: 07946 320096.

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The show is coming to the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 March 2022.

Playing its role in helping the industry’s rising stars and talented professionals to battle it out in the kitchen, Salon Culinaire has always been central to IFEX and plays a key role in creating the electric atmosphere at Northern Ireland’s biggest foodservice and hospitality event.

As Northern Ireland’s largest and most prestigious chef competition programme, attracting chefs from all sectors of the industry and with all levels of experience, Salon Culinaire raises the bar in terms of culinary excellence in Northern Ireland, with the programme featuring more than 30 categories during the three days of the show.

At the heart is the ChefSkills Live Theatre – hotly anticipated as the place where the ‘best of’ culinarians in Northern Ireland are formally acknowledged – with previous winners including Michael Deane, Chris Bell and Roisin Gavin to name but a few.

ChefSkills sees an exciting series of back-to-back live hot competitions, including the hotly contended Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs-supported IFEX Northern Ireland Chef of the Year and Northern Ireland Junior Chef of the Year accolades.

Sizzling street food

Returning in 2022 is the sizzling IFEX Street Food International which will see teams of invited competitors from Northern Ireland’s catering colleges produce and serve a range of exciting modern street food style dishes.

Supported by Department for the Economy, each team will cook up innovative, high quality ‘al fresco’ street food dishes that will be served to pre-ticketed diners during lunch service at IFEX.

Following the launch of the new schedule, long-standing Salon Culinaire Director, Sean Owens comments: “I am thrilled to launch the 2022 Salon Culinaire at IFEX competition schedule; Belfast takes its rightful place as one of the top Salon Culinaire programmes in the UK and it is THE place to celebrate the skills within our industry.

“The past number of years have been a testing time for our industry, but with the return of IFEX, celebrating its 25^th anniversary, we are confident that our industry is strong and resilient, and we relish the prospects for growth and development throughout our sector.”

Sean added: “From student chefs and kitchen trainees to celebrated, leading chefs within the industry, we have a programme for all at IFEX 2022. I’m confident that we’re going to discover some extraordinarily talented young chefs, and to have uncovered and encouraged new talent to flourish at IFEX is exactly what the premier event for the food, drink, retail and hospitality industries is all about.”

Talented young chefs

Bigger and better than ever before, Salon Culinaire at IFEX is designed to nurture the talents of the province’s young chefs and it is with the help of the show’s sponsors that the show continues to be such a success – in particular the Government departments and industry-leading companies and agencies who have supported the event over many years.

Supporters for the Salon Culinaire 2022 include the Department for the Economy (DfE), Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Stephens Catering Equipment, Flogas, Budget Energy, Andrew Ingredients, Keenan Seafood and Frylite.

For those who hope to compete, ChefSkills and Edible Art are now open for entry. For more information, visit: www.ifexexhibition.co.uk/salon-culinaire

IFEX 2022 is taking place from Tuesday 29^th March to 31^st March at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast. To find out more about the show, visit www.ifexexhibition.co.uk or @ifexexhibition on social.

Caption: Catering students from Belfast MET with Sean Owens, IFEX Salon Culinaire Director and Paul Cunningham, IFEX 2018 Chef of the Year  

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The event returns to the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast from Tuesday March 29 to Thursday March 31 March 2022, when it will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

As one of Northern Ireland’s longest-standing trade exhibitions where foodservice and hospitality’s biggest players all come under one roof, IFEX is laying down the foundations to ensure next year’s show is a success, with  support from associations including Hospitality Ulster, the Federation of Small Business, Retail NI and The Guild of Fine Food.

“As one of the sectors most impacted by the pandemic, IFEX, marks a new dawn for foodservice, hospitality and retail as industry rebuilds following an unprecedented period of closures and restrictions,” said Toby Wand, Managing Director of 365 Events Ltd.
“IFEX is firmly-rooted in NI’s hospitality industry and celebrating its 25^th anniversary, next year’s show is set to shine a light on the importance of IFEX to Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector and will provide a vital meeting place for those within the industry to reconnect, uncover new learnings, secure new business and discover relevant technologies to improve their businesses and customer focus.

“With four months to go, we’re delighted that so many key industry players as well as new brands have already joined the growing exhibitor list, so we’ve high hopes for the 2022 event.”

Big names

Many of Northern Ireland’s biggest names in foodservice have already confirmed, including Stephens Catering Equipment, Henderson Foodservice, Sysco, Golden Glen and Lynas.

Central to IFEX is Salon Culinaire, Ireland’s largest and most prestigious chef competition programme, headed up by Salon Director, Sean Owens.

As the stomping ground for student and industry chefs, Salon Culinaire is hotly anticipated as the place where the ‘best of’ culinarians in Northern Ireland are formally acknowledged.

From showcasing the latest food and drink trends to industry leading technology, equipment and services, IFEX will feature a range of visitor attractions designed to inspire and engage.

The event will be a one stop shop for discovering some of the best products that NI has to offer, including a new Hospitality Skills Hub, new IFEX Innovation Awards and the return of the Great Taste Market, bringing together the best of Northern Ireland and Ireland’s speciality food and drink products.

IFEX, taking place from the 29^th – 31^st March 2022 at the TEC, Belfast, is organised by 365 Events. The forthcoming exhibition will be operating in line with all public health guidelines.

For further information on IFEX, see www.ifexexhibition.co.uk

Caption: Colin Neill, Hospitality Ulster; Andrew Davis, Retail NI; Brendan Kearney, FSB NI with Sean Owens, IFEX Salon Culinaire Director.

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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. 

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