- IFE returns to London this spring. Here's everything you need to know
IFE
Held in the city of innovation, London, IFE (International Food & Drink Event), brings together an immersive and interactive event at ExCeL London. IFE welcomes more than 25,000 key industry professionals to come and sample the latest products, develop their knowledge on the trends affecting the food and drink sector and network face-to-face with suppliers.
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IFE returns to Excel London from 30th March to 1st April 2026 as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, bringing together the buyers, brands and ideas shaping the next chapter of the UK’s speciality food and drink sector.
As the country’s leading product discovery event for food and drink, IFE offers an unrivalled opportunity for speciality and independent retailers to spot emerging trends, meet innovative producers and source standout products that respond to evolving consumer demand.
With hundreds of brands exhibiting, IFE is firmly focused on discovery. Buyers can explore a diverse mix of established names and new-to-market businesses across 13 dedicated product sections, making it easier to navigate the show floor and connect with relevant suppliers.
For retailers looking to differentiate their ranges, the Artisan Food section remains a key destination, spotlighting producers championing quality, provenance and craft across categories including fine foods, drinks, snacks and ambient products.
Alongside this, the Startup Market returns as one of the most popular features of the show, offering a curated platform for early-stage brands ready to scale and enter new retail channels. The 2026 line-up reflects the breadth of innovation happening across speciality food and drink.
Brands taking part include Dragon Mama’s Kitchen, a family-run business bringing premium Taiwanese food to international markets; Omega Pressery, specialising in avocado and macadamia cooking oils; SheReal, a wellness-led beverage and bespoke gifting business; and Yogoody, a brand focused on flavour-rich, nutritious food solutions, including a yoghurt-style drink made with real fruit, fibre and seven probiotic strains. Together, they demonstrate how global flavours, functional benefits and clear brand purpose continue to influence buying decisions.
Beyond the show floor, IFE’s content programme is designed to support informed sourcing and strategic planning. The New Products Discovery Theatre, sponsored by TT ICE TEA, offers buyers an immersive way to experience new launches firsthand. Visitors can sample products, hear directly from founders and brand teams, and gain insight into the stories and thinking behind new concepts. The theatre also provides valuable networking opportunities, enabling meaningful conversations between buyers and suppliers in a focused environment.
The Future Food Stage, sponsored by Brambles Digital, brings together industry leaders, analysts and practitioners to explore the wider forces shaping food and drink. Sessions across the three days will examine topics including futureproofing the wholesale workforce, building resilient and sustainable global food systems, and the importance of diversity in product ranges.
For speciality retailers navigating cost pressures, shifting consumer values and changing routes to market, the programme offers practical insight alongside longer-term perspectives on growth and innovation.
Taking place alongside IFE is IFE Manufacturing, which provides valuable context for brands and buyers interested in how products are developed, produced and brought to market. As the home of food and drink production, IFE Manufacturing covers machinery, ingredients, packaging, processing, design and manufacturing services.
Its Trends & Innovation Platform will feature key insight sessions, including Mintel’s 2026 Food & Drink Predictions, the Soil Association’s 2026 Organic Market Report, and FMCG Gurus’ Consumer Trends for 2026. Together, these sessions help visitors understand how consumer expectations, regulation and sustainability considerations are influencing product development across the supply chain.
With IFE Manufacturing, HRC, The Pub Show, Hospitality Tech360 and International Salon Culinaire also taking place across Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, IFE sits within a wider ecosystem that reflects how retail, hospitality and manufacturing are increasingly interconnected. For speciality food and drink buyers, this creates a broader view of where the market is heading and how trends translate across different channels.
Registration is live. Click here to secure your free trade pass today.
Find out more about everything happening at IFE 2026, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week here.
