IFE Manufacturing launches seminar programme packed with industry insights

IFE Manufacturing, the trade event delivering high quality business connections to drive growth for food & drink brands, has launched its seminar programme for 2023.

Taking place on 20-22 March 2023 at ExCeL London alongside sister show IFE, International Food & Drink Event, IFE Manufacturing is a highly focussed trade show catering to every stage of food & drink production.

With suppliers representing ingredients, packaging, processing, manufacturing, design and more, the event is a one-stop-shop for taking a food & drink brand from initial concept to supermarket shelves and a must attend for brand owners, NPD professionals, packaging directors and more.

This year’s seminar programme runs across two stages, the Sustainability Stage, sponsored by Elopak, and the Trends & Innovation Platform, which will collectively host over 65 leading industry experts across retail, wholesale, food & drink, ESG and more.

Visitors to the show will also have the opportunity to take advantage of Ask the Expert, sponsored by Langdon, where they can arrange face-to-face meetings with experts including product development professionals Langdon, consumer research agency Good Sense Research, marketing expert Karen Green of Food Mentor, and Leatherhead Food Research, who have extensive knowledge of recent scientific research, regulations and food safety.

Plus, food & drink brands attending the Certification Clinic will have the opportunity to speak with accreditation providers including the Soil Association, The Vegan Society, BRCGs, the Vegetarian Society, Fairtrade, RSPCA Assured and Halal Certification Europe to learn exactly what it takes to acquire these valuable kitemarks.

The Sustainability Stage, sponsored by Elopak

New for 2023, the Sustainability Stage will see a wide range of speakers take a deep dive within a plethora of issues under the banner of ESG, reflecting the diverse range of talking points within this important topic.

In addition to curating a members’ pavilion within IFE’s Chilled & Frozen section, event partners the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) will be taking to the stage to discuss sustainability innovators within the frozen food sector, and how frozen food can pave the way to a more sustainable supply chain.

BFFF Chief Executive Rupert Ashby comments: “We are very much looking forward to discussing what sustainability means for the frozen food industry. Sustainability is at the top of the agenda for nearly all of our members at present with important target dates now appearing over the horizon.”
Another must-attend session will take a close look at how upskilling employees in sustainability best practices can lead to a lower carbon future for the industry.

Panellist Ben Goodwin, Head of Policy at the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA), says: “I’m delighted to be shining a light on the importance of green skills development throughout the food and drink sector. The sector will play a big part in our transition to a cleaner economy, so ensuring that those individuals working within it are ready to deliver is critical. This is a fantastic opportunity for discussion on how we drive this agenda forwards.”

Venture capital firm Mission Ventures is teaming up with Urban Health for an in-depth discussion around the role the food & drink industry is playing in improving the health of the nation, from ingredients and ethical supply chains to issues such as branding and advertising and legislation such as HFSS.

Mission Ventures Managing Director Louis Bedwell says: “I'm really excited to be speaking on the Sustainability Stage at this year’s event and I'm delighted that healthier food and innovation has such a strong platform. There's brilliant progress being made in our industry, and I hope this event will shine a light on the entrepreneurs driving this change.”

The Trends & Innovation Platform

The Trends & Innovation Platform at IFE Manufacturing is set to feature a wide array of presentation and discussions for anyone eager to further their food & drink industry knowledge and gain key insights to drive profits and business growth.

Across the three days of the event visitors will have the opportunity to see FMCG Gurus unveil the results of their Price Sensitivity Survey, examining the changing shopping habits of consumers, Kantar discuss the rise of discount retailers and what this means for the future of grocery, thefoodpeople’s Charles Banks talk through some of the most exciting food technologies in 2023, and much more.

A must-attend session on the Trends & Innovation Platform is an examination of how the food sector should be managing the question of allergens. Hosted by Bertrand Emond of Campden BRI and featuring Pret A Manger Senior Technical & Safety Manager Anita Kinsey, this session will be an insightful look at how foodservice, food brands and manufacturers can work to protect consumers and establish clear and consistent allergen messaging.

Emond comments: “I’m looking forward to leading the discussion on allergens at IFE Manufacturing 2023. This is a complex topic and it’s hugely important that food & drink brands and foodservice businesses ensure they are meeting legal standards and following best practices when it comes to managing allergens responsibly and accurately conveying information around allergens to consumers.”

To view the full seminar programme for IFE Manufacturing 2023, and to register for your complimentary trade ticket, head to ifemanufacturing.co.uk.