IFE 2027 – International Food & Drink Trade Show UK

What to expect in 2027

IFE 2027 – International Food & Drink Trade Show UK will take place from 5–7 April 2027 at ExCeL London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. The event is designed specifically for food and drink professionals, buyers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, foodservice businesses and hospitality professionals looking to discover products, suppliers and new commercial opportunities.

The 2027 edition is expected to bring together more than 25,000 verified trade visitors and around 1,500 exhibitors, with exhibitors and buyers representing international food and drink markets. IFE will feature 13 dedicated event sections and thousands of products, giving visitors a structured way to source products across different food and beverage categories.

IFE 2027 will also operate within the expanded Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, which brings together IFE, IFE Manufacturing, HRC, The Pub Show, Hospitality Tech360, Speciality & Fine Food Fair and International Salon Culinaire. A visitor pass provides access to the co-located events across the three-day programme.

For buyers, the event is primarily about product discovery and supplier meetings. Visitors can taste and evaluate products, compare brands, discuss distribution opportunities, meet international suppliers and follow educational sessions covering trends, technology, sustainability, nutrition, retail and new product development.

Event dates

IFE 2027 will run for three days:

• Monday, 5 April 2027: 10:00am–5:00pm
• Tuesday, 6 April 2027: 10:00am–5:00pm
• Wednesday, 7 April 2027: Event opens at 10:00am; onsite registration closes at 2:00pm, last entry is at 3:00pm and the event closes at 4:00pm.

The organiser recommends registering in advance because trade-status verification can take time, particularly during busy periods. Visitors do not need to select a particular day when registering; the pass provides access across all three days.

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Venue & exhibition site

IFE 2027 will be held at ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL. The venue is one of London’s major exhibition and conference centres and provides extensive exhibition space, restaurants, visitor facilities, transport connections and nearby accommodation.

The exhibition will form part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, allowing visitors to move between several complementary trade events. This creates a broader sourcing environment covering food and drink products, manufacturing, hospitality, pubs, hospitality technology and culinary activity.

The scale of ExCeL London also allows IFE to accommodate international exhibitors, country pavilions, product showcases, seminar areas, meeting spaces and visitor facilities within the wider exhibition campus.

Full event programme

The detailed 2027 programme is still being developed, so individual session titles, speakers and exact times should be checked against the official event programme closer to April 2027.

The established IFE format includes product discovery, educational sessions, industry discussions, new-product presentations, tastings and business networking. The Future Food Stage is designed around strategic industry insight, while the New Products Discovery Theatre focuses more closely on emerging brands and products.

The wider Food, Drink & Hospitality Week programme will also provide access to features and activities across the co-located events. Visitors can therefore build a schedule around sourcing, education, networking and specific professional interests.

Expected areas of programme content include:

• Food and drink trends
• New product development
• Sustainability
• Marketing and branding
• Retail and wholesale
• Food technology
• Nutrition and health
• Import and export
• Supply chains
• Processing and packaging
• Business growth
• Culinary demonstrations
• Product tastings
• Startup and emerging-brand activity

Key speakers & keynote speakers

The final 2027 speaker programme has not yet been fully published. IFE’s current speaker platform contains a large pool of industry speakers, while the 2026 programme provides an indication of the level and range of expertise normally represented at the event.

Recent IFE speakers have included Charles Banks of thefoodpeople, Matt Bowler-Jones of Hip Pop, Louisa Brunt of Marks & Spencer, Georgina Buckle of Kraft Heinz, Hannah Carter of OGGS, Ben Ebbrell of Sorted Food, Hari Ghotra of Virgin Atlantic Airways and Mecca Ibrahim of Women in The Food Industry.

The speaker programme typically brings together food entrepreneurs, buyers, nutritionists, chefs, consultants, technology specialists, retailers, manufacturers and representatives of major industry organisations.

Additional 2027 speakers should be confirmed by the organiser as the event approaches.

Conference sessions & tracks

IFE is primarily an exhibition and sourcing event rather than a conventional conference, but its educational programme provides a substantial conference-style component.

Previous programming has covered sustainability, marketing and branding, culinary topics, interviews, awards, panel discussions, trends and insights, presentations, diversity and inclusion, tastings, new product development, import and export, technology, recruitment, business, health, ingredients, processing and packaging.

The Future Food Stage is particularly relevant to professionals interested in strategic developments across the sector. Previous sessions have examined smart supply chains, supermarket trends, food sustainability, wholesale, nutrition and changing consumer behaviour.

The New Products Discovery Theatre provides another important track, concentrating on new brands, emerging products, product innovation and specialist food and beverage concepts.

Session times & schedule

The exact 2027 session timetable is expected to be released closer to the event. Visitors should use the official programme and event app to confirm session times before attending.

The 2026 programme illustrates how sessions can run throughout the exhibition day. For example, previous Future Food Stage sessions included 10:45am–11:30am, 11:45am–12:30pm, 12:45pm–1:30pm, 1:45pm–2:30pm and 2:45pm–3:30pm slots.

Visitors should allow sufficient time between presentations because the exhibition floor, product showcases, meetings and other co-located events can require substantial walking between areas.

Ticket types & registration

IFE 2027 is a business-to-business trade event. Admission is intended for professionals and buyers working in food and drink manufacturing, supply and distribution, foodservice, catering and hospitality.

Standard trade registration: Free when completed by 11:59pm on Sunday, 4 April 2027.

Late registration: Registrations from 12:00am on Monday, 5 April 2027 are charged at £50 plus VAT. Using the 23 September 2026 GBP/USD reference rate of approximately $1.325 per £1, this is about $66.25 before VAT. Exchange rates can change before the event.

The same pass provides access to the seven events forming Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, subject to the organiser’s admission policies.

Registration deadlines

Registration officially opens in January 2027. Visitors who register by 11:59pm on Sunday, 4 April 2027 can attend free of charge, subject to successful trade-status verification.

Online registration closes at 5:00pm on Tuesday, 6 April 2027. After that point, visitors must register onsite at the main registration desk and provide proof of trade status.

Onsite registration closes at 2:00pm on Wednesday, 7 April 2027, while the final entry time is 3:00pm. The organiser strongly recommends advance registration to reduce queues and allow professional-status checks to be completed before arrival.

Exhibitor list & major companies

The complete 2027 exhibitor list is expected to continue expanding as companies confirm their participation. The current IFE platform already provides an extensive exhibitor database and product information for planning visits.

The most recent exhibitor listings demonstrate the international scope of the show, with companies and organisations from countries including the United Kingdom, India, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Greece, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the United States and many other markets.

Examples appearing in recent exhibitor listings include:

• ADF Foods UK
• AIB Foods
• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
• Agromonte
• AGROLIVA/BAYA Olive Oil
• Al Barakah Dates
• Al Khair Trading Company
• Al Saraya Sweets
• Allemandi
• ALO & New Victory
• Amba
• AHA GLOBAL
• Food Partners
• 100 Coconuts
• Acme Organics

The exhibitor directory should be checked before the show because stand numbers and participating companies can change.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

IFE occupies exhibition space at ExCeL London within the larger Food, Drink & Hospitality Week environment. The show is organised around dedicated product sections and pavilions so buyers can locate relevant suppliers more efficiently.

The organiser states that IFE has 13 dedicated event sections and thousands of products available for discovery.

The wider Food, Drink & Hospitality Week site includes multiple events across the venue. Visitors can therefore use the official event app and interactive floorplan to locate exhibitors, plan routes and identify relevant features. The 2026 app allowed visitors to search exhibitors, favourite companies, browse seminar programmes, arrange exhibitor meetings and use an interactive floorplan.

Because the 2027 floorplan can change as exhibitors are finalised, visitors should use the latest official digital floorplan rather than relying on an older hall map.

Networking & business meetings

Business networking is one of the central purposes of IFE. The organiser describes the event as a place to connect with decision-makers, distributors, retailers, importers, exporters and hospitality professionals. More than 25,000 verified food and drink professionals and buyers from 105 countries are associated with the event’s visitor profile.

Visitors can use the event platform to identify relevant suppliers before arrival and prepare meetings around specific sourcing requirements. The event app has previously supported exhibitor searches, meeting arrangements, networking and personalised schedules.

For buyers, advance preparation can be particularly useful. Creating a shortlist of exhibitors, identifying products of interest and arranging meetings before arriving can make it easier to cover the large exhibition efficiently.

Industry sectors & highlights

IFE’s product-focused structure covers a broad range of food and beverage categories. Recent exhibitor classifications include bakery, cheese and dairy, drinks, food, fresh produce, frozen food, grocery and wholesale, health, organic and natural products, meat and seafood, snacks and confectionery, speciality food, plant-based and vegan products, street food and startup brands.

The Startup Market provides a dedicated environment for emerging companies and innovative products. International pavilions also create opportunities to discover suppliers from different national markets.

Recent editions have highlighted functional beverages, protein-focused snacks, clean-label products, plant-based food, global flavours, premium products, healthier formats and new ingredient concepts.

The 2027 edition is expected to continue placing emphasis on product innovation, changing consumer expectations, international sourcing and new commercial opportunities.

Event rules & visitor information

IFE is strictly a trade event and does not admit general public visitors. Students are not permitted to attend, and visitors must be at least 18 years old. Professional status may be verified using business information, employment evidence, a business card, company information or other acceptable documentation.

Visitors must hold a valid pass to enter. The organiser may conduct security searches and additional identification or bag checks. Tickets and passes cannot be commercially resold, and altered or defaced passes may be refused.

ExCeL London provides free Wi-Fi for visitors. Visitors should also check the latest venue and event guidance before travelling, particularly regarding admission, security and registration procedures.

How to get there

ExCeL London is located at Royal Victoria Dock in East London. The venue is accessible by the Elizabeth line and Docklands Light Railway, making public transport a practical option for visitors arriving from central London and other parts of the capital.

The main venue address is:

ExCeL London
Royal Victoria Dock
1 Western Gateway
London E16 1XL

For international visitors, London City Airport is also located close to ExCeL London, while London’s wider rail, Underground and airport networks provide connections to the Docklands area.

Public transport & parking

Custom House station provides Elizabeth line and DLR services and is located at the West entrance of ExCeL London. The venue encourages visitors to use public transport when travelling to events.

Parking is available onsite, but visitors are advised to pre-book spaces. ExCeL’s campus travel information identifies substantial onsite parking capacity, including accessible spaces.

Drivers should check the latest access information before travelling because road arrangements around the ExCeL campus can change during events. The venue’s current guidance directs vehicle access toward Royal Victoria Dock Road or the A112.

Accommodation areas

ExCeL London is surrounded by hotels, restaurants and visitor facilities. The official IFE information states that the venue is close to 16 hotels with approximately 3,299 bedrooms.

Convenient accommodation areas include:

• Royal Victoria Dock and ExCeL
• Custom House
• Canary Wharf
• Docklands
• Greenwich
• Stratford
• London City Airport area

Staying close to ExCeL can be useful for visitors attending all three days, particularly those with early meetings or multiple appointments.

The organiser’s accommodation partner, Event Express, provides hotel booking services for IFE visitors, with availability and booking information provided through the official event website.

Previous year’s highlights

IFE 2026 featured a broad programme covering sustainability, marketing, branding, culinary topics, trends, new product development, technology, health, ingredients, import and export, processing and packaging and business issues.

The Future Food Stage featured sessions including smart supply chains, supermarket forecasting, sustainable food systems and the future of wholesale. The New Products Discovery Theatre highlighted subjects such as premium snacking, speciality beverages, artisan patisserie and international food traditions.

The 2026 exhibition also highlighted new product launches across functional drinks, protein-rich snacks, clean-label products, global flavours, plant-based products and innovative ingredients.

Earlier, IFE 2025 brought together food and drink professionals to discover products across areas including Chilled & Frozen, Bakery, Snacks & Confectionery, Fresh Produce, Grocery & Wholesale, Health, Organic & Natural and Speciality Food.

Official registration & tickets

Registration for IFE 2027 is handled through the official IFE website. Advance registration is free until 11:59pm on 4 April 2027, subject to the organiser’s verification requirements. Registrations made from 5 April are subject to a late registration charge of approximately $66.25 before VAT based on the September 2026 GBP/USD reference rate.

The official event website also provides the latest information on exhibitors, speakers, programmes, travel, visitor requirements and registration.

Official IFE 2027 registration and event website (https://www.ife.co.uk/)

For registration enquiries, the supplied event contact details are +44 (0)20 7886 3000 and info@montgomerygroup.com.