IFE and IFE Manufacturing return in 2026 to provide key insights into the future of the food and drink industry. Taking place between 30 March-1 April at ExCeL London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, the shows bring together brand owners, manufacturers, suppliers and solution-providers navigating growth in an increasingly complex market.
IFE has long been recognised as the UK’s leading product sourcing and discovery platform for food and drink. In 2026, its focus is firmly on helping brands and buyers respond to the forces reshaping the sector: evolving consumer demand, tighter margins, sustainability expectations and the need for meaningful differentiation in crowded categories.
With buyers attending from retail, wholesale, import/export and foodservice, the show provides a clear view of where commercial opportunities are emerging and which propositions are gaining traction.
Across the show floor, IFE’s 13 dedicated product sections make it easier for buyers and senior decision-makers to navigate the market, from ambient grocery and chilled & frozen through to drinks, bakery, confectionery and speciality products.
The Artisan Food section remains a key destination, spotlighting producers that are winning on quality, provenance and storytelling, while the Startup Market offers a snapshot of the next generation of challenger brands preparing to scale. For established FMCG businesses, this combination provides valuable competitive intelligence, highlighting how innovation, branding and positioning are evolving at pace.
Alongside product discovery, content plays a central role in shaping conversations at IFE. The Future Food Stage, sponsored by Brambles Digital, brings together industry experts to explore the trends influencing consumer behaviour, from nutrition and functionality to flavour development, format innovation and changing attitudes to sustainability. For senior leaders, these sessions offer context beyond individual product launches, helping frame longer-term strategic decisions around portfolio development and investment priorities.
Running alongside IFE, IFE Manufacturing provides a dedicated platform for the end-to-end food and drink supply chain, connecting manufacturers with the technologies, ingredients and services required to improve efficiency, resilience and speed to market. As operational pressures intensify, the show’s relevance continues to grow, offering practical solutions to the challenges facing production teams, technical managers and R&D leaders.
IFE Manufacturing brings together suppliers spanning ingredients, processing and packaging technology, manufacturing services and digital solutions. For FMCG leaders balancing innovation ambitions with operational realities, the show offers insight into how manufacturers are adapting processes, reformulating products and investing in smarter systems to remain competitive while meeting regulatory and sustainability requirements.
At the heart of IFE Manufacturing is the Trends & Innovation Platform, which draws on research and analysis from across the industry to examine the forces shaping future product development. Sessions explore how manufacturers can respond to changing consumer expectations while managing cost pressures, technical constraints and supply chain complexity. Topics range from ingredient innovation and sustainable sourcing to the role of data and automation in accelerating development cycles.
Together, IFE and IFE Manufacturing offer a joined-up view of the FMCG ecosystem, from concept and consumer insight through to production and commercialisation. For CEOs and senior leaders, the value lies not just in individual meetings or product launches, but in the ability to step back and assess how the market is evolving as a whole.
With thousands of brands, manufacturers and suppliers under one roof, the shows provide a concentrated opportunity to spot emerging risks, identify growth opportunities and benchmark strategy against the wider industry.
As the pace of change accelerates, IFE and IFE Manufacturing remain essential dates in the calendar for FMCG leaders looking to stay ahead of both consumer demand and operational reality.
Find out more about everything happening at this year’s event, and register for your free trade ticket, at ife.co.uk.
