Exhibition News February 2020 | Page 30

Sector Focus and Hospitality, Soraya Gadelrab, said: “IFE has always prided itself on being a community event that services the entire food and drink industry.” INTERNATIONAL EVENTS 4. Bellavita Organised by Quiris Media, Bellavita sees more than 6,000 industry attendees and 300 VIP judges attend across the two-day event at the Business Design Centre. In 2019, over 250 Mediterranean producers exhibited over 3,000 products, including several from Spain, as the show was co-located with Ibérica Expo. Features include the BeFood and BeWine stages, where attendees can learn more about food and wines through talks, tastings and demonstrations. The event also hosts the Decanter World Wine awards, in addition to a number of special guests, with previous guests including: Michelin Star chef and Masterchef Italia judge Giorgio Locatelli; beer sommelier Natalya Watson; The Buyer editor Richard Siddle; and many more. 5. Street Food Live: Organised by Prysm Media Group, Street Food Live (which is co-located with Restaurant and Takeaway Innovation Expo, Coffee Shop Innovation Expo, Restaurant and Bar Tech Live, IDE and the Restaurant and Bar Design Show) is ‘dedicated to showcasing the latest new products and services’ within the food and drinks sector. The show is also focused on what consumers want, and so will be highlighting sustainability and how the industry can go greener at the 2020 show, whilst also reflecting the wants 30 — February and needs of those in the industry themselves. A key feature of the event is the Street Kitchen, which was last year sponsored by Iceland. The company used the platform to showcase and live cook its street-food range, whilst also giving visitors a masterclass in how to ‘finesse their fast-food offering’. In 2020 this will continue to be a part of the event, held from 8-9 September. 6. The Food and Drink Expo The Food and Drink Expo has been running for the past 26 years, attracting those within the retail, wholesale and foodservice industries, with a key focus on finished products and tackling the challenges that affect the sectors. The event is co-located with The Ingredients Show, Foodex, the National Convenience Show and the Farm Shop and Deli Show, and annually attracts 30,000 attendees across three days, in addition to hosting 1,500 exhibitors, 250 speakers and 100 live events. Features for the 2020 show include the Grocer Magazine’s Talking Shop Live, which will allow Grocer editor Adam Leyland to debate with a number of special guests, alongside live sessions including masterclasses, interviews, plenary sessions and panel discussions. Among the exhibitors that the event attracts are Bridor, Campden, BRI, Coffee Central and the Vegetarian Society. NEC, 30 March to 1 April. A number of food and drink events take place across the globe. Here is just a few of them: » InterFood Asatna – organised by the Hyve Group, and hosted in Kazakhstan, InterFood is an international food and drink expo that brings together foodstuffs manufacturers and distributors, managers, manufacturing engineers, development and marketing experts, wholesale buyers, retail chains, shopping centres, stores and restaurants. » Western Food Expo – co- located with the Healthy Food Expo and the Coffee Fest and organised by Clarion Events, the Western Food Expo attracts more than 9,000 attendees and 450 exhibitors across the restaurant and foodservice industry to Anaheim, California. » International Natural Food and Beverage Expo – held in Guangzhou, China, the International Food and Beverage Expo is a trade show for those in the natural food and beverage industry. The expo brings together 200 exhibitors and 100,000 attendees, and is organised by Reed Exhibitions. » IFEX – taking place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, IFEX attracts 7,000 attendees and almost 200 exhibitors. 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the event, which is run by the Montgomery Group.