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Programme revealed for London’s Food, Drink & Hospitality Week

IFE will devote time to trends and technology in the sector, while HRC and The Pub Show have a full roster of leading speakers.

Food, Drink & Hospitality Week returns to London from 17-19 March, taking residence at Excel London. The week comprises IFE, IFE Manufacturing, The Pub Show, HRC and International Salon Culinaire, thus offering a 360° view of the hospitality sector.

IFE (International Food & Drink Event) will welcome buyers and brands, with exhibitors ranging from iconic Scotch distillery GlenAllachie to Italian winery When in Rome. Many products from the UK, naturally, will be on display, but there will also be offerings from Greece, Italy, Poland, India, Vietnam, South Korea and Kenya.

The event will comprise 15 sections, including the dedicated Drinks Section, as well as the Spirits Pavilion and the Hot Beverages Pavilion. At the Start Up Market, there will be ample opportunities for visitors to discover emerging brands.

An in-depth programme

One of the core draws of the week is the packed schedule of panel sessions and presentations . In particular, IFE will prove invaluable to those looking for the latest trends or the hidden opportunities ripe for the picking.

Kate Kehoe, marketing manager at market researchers FMCG Gurus, will address the bigger picture in a session titled ‘Consumer Trends in 2025: Three Key Things to Monitor Over the Next Twelve Months’.

Another session will use the lens of online shopping to forecast the next trends for the industry. ‘Online Shopping as a Trend Predictor in the Food & Drink Industry’ will survey experts from the realms of e-commerce and review services to see how digital spending can predict trends.

Louise Armour, Head of Business Development at Rosetta Brands, will feature in the panel, commenting: “It’s always great to engage in meaningful discussions on current topics across the F&B and international markets with industry experts. It’s shaping up to be a good one this year!”

Keeping with the digital theme, the session ‘Cybersecurity: An Industry Blindspot? Protecting the Food and Drink Industry from Digital Threats’ will explore a truly 21st Century danger. The discussion will draw on expertise from BSI, the UK’s National Standards Body.

There will also be a session on the intersection between profitability and inclusivity: ‘Forgotten Shoppers: Embracing Overlooked Demographics in Food and Drink Marketing’.

Rebecca Oliver-Mooney, founder of Raising the Glass will feature in the panel. “It represents a significant step in amplifying the initiative’s voice,” she says, “underscoring the vital role of allyship and advocacy, and providing a prominent platform to showcase the work being done by Raising the Glass to drive inclusivity for women and allies in the drinks industry.”

Further events in one venue

IFE, of course, is not the only component of Food, Drink and Hospitality Week. Its sister events will allow other industry experts to bring their own products and specialisms to a wide audience.

The Pub Show will turn to the unique challenges and opportunities that come with running a pub. There will be timetabled sessions on The Pub Stage, featuring speakers such as Laura Willoughby MBE, co-founder of Club Soda, Graham Cook, CEO of All Star Lanes, Steve Banks, licensee of The Woodman, and Max Shaw, director at Unique Inns Pub Co. Ltd.

The British Institute of Innkeeping will also be offering drop-in sessions and presentations that will help attendees face the day-to-day challenges of running a pub.

For those looking for more of a pub atmosphere, a selection of breweries will be showcasing their products in The Tap Room. There will even be recognisable pub activities for visitors: Simon Wilson, of Hashtag Hosts, will run quizzes and bingo at the show.

HRC, meanwhile, will bring industry experts together for insightful panel discussions. One highlight will be ‘The Power of Wine in Hospitality: Insights from Top Female Sommeliers’. The session with feature panellists Clara Rubin (Hawksmoor) Queena Wong (Curious Vines) Rudina Arapi (Hilton Park Lane) and Zoe Donadio (Apricity).

Donadio comments: “I’m delighted to take part in this event and especially on such an interesting, crucial and key topic. I’m looking forward to sharing my perspective and hearing from others and to have the industry’s perception and push this conversation forward!”

Among the exhibitors at HRC are producers and regions with huge impact on the UK trade. Prosecco DOC, for instance, will take a stand and showcase a range of its white and rosé sparkling wines from the region’s best producers. The region’s representatives will also host tastings and masterclasses at the stand, educating the UK’s buyers, restaurateurs and beverage professionals on the merits of authentic, high-quality Prosecco.

Food, Drink & Hospitality Week returns to Excel London from 17-19 March. Passes are available here.

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