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Women in Food and Drink celebrated at IFE 2019, the industry needs to unite, say experts
Women in the food & drink industry were celebrated today at the International Food & Drink Event (IFE) 2019 in London.
The celebration came shortly after government figures were released showing there are more women in work than ever before and the gender pay gap is at a record low.
Speaking at a special event in The Hub, Christine Tacon, the Groceries Code Adjudicator, delivered an inspirational speech celebrating the many success stories and opportunities for women in the food & drink industry, as well challenging business owners to keep supporting inclusivity and progression.
Members of the food & drink industry reflected at the event on how far the industry has come in terms of the career prospects now open to women that may not have been before.
Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director for IFE, said: “The food & drink industry offers fantastic opportunities for men & women alike. It is a highly creative sector to work in, constantly innovating and developing. It also offers an alternative to a traditional nine to five lifestyle, which many find liberating in terms of its flexibility.”
Another senior female figure in the industry, Helen Bird, Strategic Engagement Manager at The UK Plastics Pact/WRAP, led the debate today on sustainability and described the issue of inconsistency in household recycling as one of the most pressing.
Speaking at The Big Debate on how the industry can make the food & drink world more sustainable, she shared examples of how the industry can do better when it comes to eliminating unnecessary and problematic plastics.
In other news from IFE 2019, the taste of tomorrow was the main topic of discussion at a talk on trends, revealing that gut health and ancient grains will feature in the healthy eating trends of the future. Modern wheat alternatives such as spelt, farro and einkorn are growing in popularity and are likely to feature more widely on menus in the future, the Talking Trends panel discussion concluded. Meanwhile sugar reduction was the order of the day at The Healthy Food Development stand, which officially launched its new no-added sugar Traditional Indian Sweets. With diabetes named as the fastest growing disease amongst the Indian population, this new product innovation is designed to meet wider demand for low and no sugar alternatives without compromising on taste and texture.
Celebrating its 21st edition, IFE is the UK’s leading and largest food & drink event and is taking place at ExCeL London until March 20.
IFE 2019 provides buyers with the chance to discover emerging trends; meet with thousands of international, future-focused producers and brands; and hear inspiring and thought-provoking talks from key figures across the food and drink industry.
For more information about IFE, visit www.ife.co.uk
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