FDBusiness.com

IFE, the UK’s biggest and most respected food and drink trade exhibition, has brought together some of the industry’s leading figures to strategically advise on its 2013 event, taking place at ExCel London between 17-20 March. The IFE Advisory Board sees senior executives from a range of industry bodies and assurance standards, commercial organisations, research houses, charities and consultants, from the world of retail, distribution, wholesale, export, sustainability and food service, join forces with the IFE management team, headed by Event Director, Christopher McCuin.

Bringing a wealth of knowledge about their individual sectors, as well as the food and drink industry overall, the Advisory Board members will help identify the key business trends and issues that both the show’s exhibitors and visitors are currently facing. This will enable IFE to develop content that will not only educate and provide advice, but also facilitate debate and discussion, placing the show at the heart of the food and drink industry.

The IFE13 Advisory Board members include:

* Chris Sturman, CEO, FSDF (Food Storage and Distribution Federation)

* James Bielby, CEO, FWD (Federation of Wholesale and Distributors)

* Brian Young, Director General, BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation)

* Gillian Barker, Director General, Grocery Aid

* David Jago, Director of Innovation & Insight, Mintel

* Andy Hardy, Business Director, Sports & Leisure, Compass

* Terry Jones, Director of Communications, FDF (Food & Drink Federation)

* David Clarke, CEO, Red Tractor

* Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability, BRC (British Retail Consortium)

* Robert Furse, International Trade Advisor, UKTI

* Simon Waring, Managing Director, Greenseed UK

* Sandra Sullivan, Director, FDEA (Food and Drink Exporters Association)

* Martin Bates, CEO, CGC (Craft Guild of Chefs)

* Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive, ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion & Biogas Association)

* Clive Beddall, industry consultant and food journalist

* Richard Swannell, Director of Design & Waste Prevention – WRAP

* Jim Winship, Director, The Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association and The British Sandwich Association.

In the run up to IFE next March, the Advisory Board will meet regularly to discuss top level strategic planning through to simple logistics, all of which will be reviewed and incorporated into the show.

IFE Event Director, Christopher McCuin and Chair of the IFE Advisory Board, comments: “We are delighted to have such a distinguished and respected panel of experts on board, helping to make IFE13 an invaluable source of information, innovation and inspiration.  The diverse range of skills and backgrounds on the panel will ensure we have input from all sides of the industry, making IFE not just a trade show, but a place where the industry comes together to discuss, debate and digest the latest thinking, be that in retail, foodservice or within the food and drink supply chain.”

Over 1,200 exhibitors and 28,000 visitors from over 83 countries gather every two years at IFE, to source new products, do business and keep pace with all the key industry trends.  The 2013 event takes place at ExCel London between 17 – 20 March and will be co-located with Pro2Pac 2013, the UK’s processing and packaging exhibition dedicated to the food and drink industry.

For more information on exhibiting or visiting IFE, go to www.ife.co.uk.