UK shows it is open for business as it is announced as IFE 2017’s Partner Country

1 March 2017

The UK is set to take centre stage at IFE 2017 (The International Food and Drink Event) in March as it is announced as Partner Country for the first time at the nation’s biggest food and drink trade show.

As Partner Country, the UK will have an unrivalled opportunity to showcase the very best of the UK’s food and drink to more than 29,000 of the world’s leading food buyers, producers and investors who will flock to ExCeL London from 19 March.

Sending strong a message that the UK is open for business, the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) will champion the UK’s food and drink expertise and excellence at the four-day event - alongside more than 60 other exhibiting countries at IFE.

Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director of IFE 2017 said:
“Our show has always been the biggest shop window to showcase British excellence to the world. In an increasingly global market, having the support of DIT and Defra is an enormous privilege and we welcome their support.

As Partner Country, the UK government will play a central role in supporting our home-grown exhibitors with brilliant advice on overseas success, as well as raising the external profile of the wider industry.”

International Trade Minister, Mark Garnier, said:
“From Wensleydale cheese to English Sparkling Wine, the UK is renowned for its excellent food and drink with UK companies sending their products to over 200 territories around the world. With an established reputation for quality, reliability and transparency we are a great food nation with a strong heritage.

IFE is an important event in promoting the UK and attracting inward investment; I look forward to working with this flourishing sector and discussing how we can build on their exporting success.”

Environment Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, said:
“Thanks to our well-established reputation for taste, quality and high welfare standards, the global appetite for British food is growing – with exports worth more than £20 billion last year.

IFE 2017 is a great opportunity to showcase our high-quality products and that’s why I’m hosting a Food is GREAT reception, connecting the best of British with international buyers to get more of our food on supermarket shelves around the world.”

Over the course of four days, DIT will host its ‘Exporting is GREAT’ hub providing in-depth advice to ambitious food and drink producers looking to get their produce overseas.

For the show’s overseas visitors, the DIT International Business Lounge will offer an unrivalled opportunity for buyers looking to source and refresh their lines of UK products, discover and learn about the latest trends and network with the industry. It also offers UK companies the prospect of expanding their business into overseas markets.

The Environment Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, will also host a “Food is GREAT” celebration, inviting food producers, businesses and experts from around the world to gather together and celebrate the very best of the UK’s food and drink.

Bursting with exciting product launches and category innovation, IFE 2017 is the most comprehensive showcase for the UK food industry to global buyers. Featuring more than 705 UK food and drink suppliers, IFE provides the knowledge, tools and products for visitors to stay ahead of the global trend curve.

IFE 2017 is co-located with Waste-Works, the UK’s only waste & sustainability event for the food industry and Pro2Pac, the UK’s only food & drink packaging event. Together the three events cover the entire supply chain; from Farm to Fork to Fertiliser and Fuel.

Don’t forget to follow the action on Twitter @IFEexhibition using #IFE17 and #IFEintro.

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