Thousands flock to IFEX, NI’s largest food, drink, retail and hospitality show

Thousands flock to IFEX, NI’s largest food, drink, retail and hospitality show
TODAY, 29th March 2022, Multi-Michelin star award-winning chef, Michael Deane, officially opened IFEX - Northern Ireland’s largest food, drink, retail and hospitality exhibition. Taking place at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, IFEX will be home to some of the country’s biggest food companies, manufacturers, distributors and artisan producers. The event runs until this Thursday, 31st March, and up to 6,000 industry professionals are expected to attend over the three days. Pictured are Sean Owens, IFEX Salon Culinaire Director, Michael Deane and Toby Wand, Managing Director of 365 Events Ltd. Photo by Simon Graham

IFEX, Northern Ireland’s largest food, drink, retail and hospitality exhibition, has opened its doors, at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, welcoming thousands of trade visitors to the event on the first day.

Home to some of the country’s biggest food companies, manufacturers, distributors and artisan producers, the event runs until this Thursday, 31st 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 25th 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, 29th 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 31st March. The trade expo is free to attend, and you can register at www.IFEXexhibition.co.uk