Why IFE remains unmissable for speciality buyers in 2026

When IFE returns to Excel London from 30th March to 1st April, it does so as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week – and at a moment when product discovery feels more important than ever.

For speciality retailers, fine food buyers and distributors, the show continues to offer something increasingly rare: the chance to see and sample thousands of products, meet the people behind them and understand where the food and drink market is really heading, all in one place.

As the UK’s largest product sourcing platform, IFE brings together established brands, ambitious challengers and international producers across every major category. But what makes it particularly relevant for the speciality sector is its ability to balance scale with focus, helping buyers cut through the noise and spend time with the products, trends and conversations that matter most.

A front-row seat to emerging brands

For buyers seeking the next standout product, IFE’s Startup Market remains one of the most compelling reasons to attend. Designed to champion early-stage and fast-growing brands, it provides direct access to founders at the point where creativity, passion, storytelling and product differentiation are at their strongest.

This year’s line-up reflects the diversity shaping today’s speciality market, from wellness-led drinks and gut-health innovations to global flavours and craft-driven concepts. Brands such as Dragon Mama’s Kitchen, Yogoody, Omega Pressery and SheReal sit alongside a broader cohort of producers rethinking everything from ingredients to formats and functionality.

Many of these businesses will also take to the New Products Discovery Theatre, sponsored by TT ICE TEA, where buyers can hear founders pitch their products live, understand the thinking behind them and sample ranges first hand. For independents and speciality retailers in particular, it’s a valuable shortcut to identifying products with both commercial potential and a compelling story.

Speciality sourcing, front and centre

Across the wider show floor, IFE’s Speciality Food section provides a curated space for premium, craft and small-batch producers. From smoked fish and artisan butters to authentic juices, condiments and specialist ingredients, it’s a section designed for buyers looking to trade up ranges, refresh fixtures or add something genuinely distinctive to their offer.

Alongside UK producers, international exhibitors bring regional specialities and export-ready ranges to the table, making the section especially relevant for buyers looking to introduce new cuisines or provenance-led products. With clear zoning by category across IFE’s 13 dedicated sections, visitors can navigate efficiently while still allowing room for serendipitous discovery.

Real conversations with real buyers

IFE’s role as a meeting place for the fine food community goes well beyond the stands. As part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, the event welcomes around 25,000 trade visitors, creating a natural environment for informal catch-ups, introductions and industry reconnections.

More structured opportunities come via the return of the Meet the Buyer series, delivered in partnership with Food & Drink Wholesale UK. These invite-only sessions give selected exhibitors the chance to pitch directly to senior buyers from major wholesale groups including Booker, Sugro, the National Buying Consortium and The Wholesale Group – all actively seeking new and innovative products.

Aramark will also return with its Producer & New Supplier Showcase, offering exhibitors from across the week the opportunity to present to a panel of catering buyers focused on quality, provenance and scalability.

Feeding the Future: insight that matters

Running throughout the event, IFE’s content programme is shaped by the show’s 2026 theme, ‘Feeding the Future’. On the Future Food Stage, sponsored by Brambles Digital, speakers from across the supply chain will explore topics including emerging food and beverage trends, wellness and mood-boosting nutrition, food waste reduction and the role of representation in shaping more inclusive ranges.

For those looking to go deeper into how food is developed, IFE Manufacturing sits alongside IFE and offers a complementary perspective on the future of food and drink. Its Trends & Innovation Platform brings together voices from organisations such as Mintel, FMCG Gurus, Campden BRI and the Institute of Food Science and Technology to explore product development, ingredients and consumer insight.

From Mintel’s 2026 Food & Drink Predictions to discussions on wellness, leadership and lessons learned from product failures, the programme provides valuable context for speciality buyers navigating an increasingly complex market.

Whether you’re sourcing new lines, strengthening supplier relationships or looking ahead to what consumers will demand next, IFE continues to deliver depth, relevance and discovery in equal measure, making it an essential date in the diary for the speciality food and drink community.

IFE takes place alongside IFE Manufacturing, HRC, The Pub Show, Hospitality Tech360 and International Salon Culinaire as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week 2026, from 30th March to 1st April at Excel London. 

Find out more about everything happening at this year’s event, and register for your free trade ticket, here.

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