Fresh investment brings IFEX 2016 to Titanic Quarter

At the launch of IFEX 2016 – Northern Ireland’s largest food, hospitality and retail event – in Belfast Metropolitan College recently, it was revealed that Fresh Montgomery, one of the UK’s largest event organisers and owners of IFEX, has invested significantly in the future of the event.

Fresh Montgomery played a lead role in negotiations with Northern Ireland Event Organisers (NIEO) and Titanic Quarter Ltd. to bring the new Titanic Exhibition Centre project to fruition and between March 8 and 10 next year, the 5,000 square metre facility will be home to IFEX 2016.

Toby Wand, managing director of Fresh Montgomery says that while IFEX is now a major part of the hospitality calendar in Northern Ireland, it was also considered imperative that the venue which hosted it should also be in the heart of the city:

“We joined forces with our fellow event organisers in the NIEO to help to establish the Titanic Exhibition Centre, and through our involvement, Fresh Montgomery has given a long-term commitment to ensuring IFEX remains the market-leading food, drink, retail and hospitality trade expo in Northern Ireland,” he told LCN recently.

As one of the province’s longest running trade exhibitions, IFEX attracts around 5,000 visitors from the food, retail and hospitality sectors over three days. It’s the event at which many of Northern Ireland’s most notable chefs – including Michael Deane, Chris Bell and Roisin Gavin – were first recognised and ‘ChefSkills’, which provides a platform for about 250 industry and student chefs every year, remains the heart of the show.

Caroline McCusker, event manager at IFEX says that because 2016 has been designated the Year of Food, there’s a huge appetite for the IFEX event: “Almost 80 per cent of available floor space is now secured and we’re working with the Guild of Fine Food to introduce the first-ever Great Taste Market to IFEX, which will feature around 20 ‘Great Taste’-winning producers from the province.”

Confirmed exhibitors include show stalwarts, Stephen’s Catering, Henderson Foodservice, Masseys for Catering Equipment, Lynas Foodservice, Matthew Algie, Golden Glen Catering, BD Foods, Nestle Ireland, Suki Tea and Frylite – and there are also many new names committed to the event including First Choice Catering.

Once again, the show is retaining its excellent relationships with industry associations in the province and will be working hard to ensure cross-industry support.

As the trade event for the food, retail and hospitality industry, IFEX, has a legacy as a training ground for talented young culinarians. Skills is high on the agenda and the Salon Culinaire, which raises the bar in terms of culinary skills in Northern Ireland, includes La Parade des Chefs, the ChefSkills Theatre and Cold Display/Edible Art.

The ChefSkills Theatre recognises some of the industry’s most promising chefs from both colleges and industry. Running over the three days, there are a series of exciting back-to-back live competitions, including the hotly-contested Northern Ireland Chef of the Year and Northern Ireland Junior Chef of the Year accolades.

Long-standing Salon Culinaire director, Sean Owens, adds:

“ChefSkills at IFEX is one of the most-respected culinary competitions in the UK. Over the years, judges from both the UK and Ireland have witnessed the quality of our culinary students and it’s fitting that in NI’s Year of Food & Drink, we’ll be awarding both student and industry chefs for their talent in working with the finest NI produce.”

IFEX 2016 is taking place on March 8, 9 and 10 next year at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, which is situated opposite Titanic Studios.  For further information see www.IFEXexhibition.co.uk @IFEX_NI.

Our picture shows Fresh Montgomery’s MD, Toby Wand (left) with Salon Culinaire director, Sean Owens.