IFE13 & Pro2Pac CELEBRATE THEIR MOST SPECTACULAR SHOWS TO DATE
10/04/2013 Pro2Pac
17th - 20th March 2013, London ExCeLExCeL London was a hive of activity last week as the food, drink and packaging industries turned out in force for a spectacular edition of the co-located IFE13 and Pro2Pac events. Exhibitors and visitors enthusiastically received both shows, commenting on the busy aisles, insightful attractions and impressive presentation delivered by event organisers Fresh Montgomery. Early indications show the event attracted an audience of 26,498 professionals (subject to ABC audit) from 95 countries, including an over 10% rise in attendance from international visitors.
Over four days, IFE13 - the UK's largest international food and drink trade event - was action packed, attracting thousands of buyers from national and international retailers, wholesalers and foodservice outlets. With more than 1,100 exhibitors from over 50 countries, there was ample opportunity to identify innovative new products and do business.
Christopher McCuin, Event Director of IFE13 and Pro2Pac, commented, "If I could pick one word to describe the shows it would be 'buzzing'. Whether wandering around the stands, listening to first class speakers, watching emotional pizza chefs win their equivalent of the Oscars, or getting second-to-none industry advice, ExCeL was alive with excitement and anticipation. All of this proves how important the food, drink and packaging industry is and we can't wait to get started on the next IFE and Pro2Pac."
Exhibitors at the show were equally enthusiastic. "What a show. I did not think it could be as good as 2011, but it was" says exhibitor Jeremy Bowen from Paxton & Whitfield.
Alison Lea-Wilson from Halen M'n added, "Fantastically buzzy, I've met an incredible range of customers from fine food chefs to large manufacturers looking for a point of difference."
Visitor attractions were at the heart of the show, with many high-profile speakers in attendance, from David Heath MP, Minister of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Groceries Code Adjudicator, Christine Tacon and Mike Coupe, Group Commercial Director at Sainsbury's, to top chefs Alyn Williams and Steve Munkley. There was a constant stream of seminars, demonstrations, attractions and one-to-one sessions taking place throughout IFE including The Skillery, British Regional Kitchen, The Hub, Export Advice Centre, New Products Live, UK Dairy Export Forum, Fresh Ideas Winners Showcase, the Future of Convenience installation and the UK and international Meet-the-Buyer events.
IFE13 also played host to two internationally renowned pizza championships - the European Final of Giropizza of Europe, won by Frenchman Mehdi Douimry, and the UK Final of the World Pizza Championships, which saw Antonio Macera from Glasgow selected to represent the country at the finals in Parma, Italy on the 15-17 April 2013.
Over in the South Hall, Pro2Pac 2013 once again brought together key industry leaders to share the latest insights and cutting-edge developments in the food processing and packaging sector.
Ravenwood Packaging Director Paul Beamish said, "We only do one show a year and Pro2Pac is perfect for us. Food manufacturers buy food packaging so the co-location with IFE means the buyers are more likely to be at the show already."
In the Pro2Pac Live seminar theatre, presentations on topics such as design, sustainability and foodservice packaging were delivered by top food and drink companies, including Warburtons and Marks & Spencer. In addition, representatives from companies like Packology, Miller Graphics and MMR Research gave personalised advice in the new One2One Experts feature and Expert Workhops, providing an interactive setting for discussion.
Sustainability was a core theme at Pro2Pac, with the Sustainable Solutions Zone in association with ADBA and the first Pro2Pac Sustainable Packaging Prize, won by Leeds Metropolitan University student Amy Prendergast for her environmentally-friendly spice packaging design.
For more details on IFE13 and IFE15, visit www.ife.co.uk, follow @IFEexhibition on Twitter, or join the debate on LinkedIn: www.ife.co.uk/linkedin.
For more details on Pro2Pac13 and Pro2Pac15, visit www.pro2pac.co.uk, follow @Pro2Pac on Twitter, or join the debate on LinkedIn: www.pro2pac.co.uk/linkedin.
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