New Titanic Centre will be IFEX 2016 venue
IT’S set to be smooth sailing for IFEX – Northern Ireland’s largest food, drink and hospitality expo – as event organisers, Fresh Montgomery, confirm that the trade expo will take place at the brand new Titanic Exhibition Centre next March.
A biennial event, that’s amongst the longest running trade events in Europe, IFEX will move its three-day expo to newly-unveiled Titanic Exhibition Centre, at Queen’s Road, from March 8 to 10 next year. It was previously held at the King’s Hall in Balmoral.
As one of the key events for the food, drink, retail and hospitality sectors, IFEX has traditionally attracted 5,000 plus visitors and over 100 exhibitors to the event, including the biggest names in foodservice and food manufacturing, such as Stephen’s Catering, Henderson’s Foodservice and Lynas Foods.
“IFEX attracts both exhibitors and visitors from across Ireland to the event, and for us, it was imperative that Northern Ireland’s flagship food & hospitality expo had a home in the city centre,” commented Toby Wand, managing director of Fresh Montgomery.
Toby continues: “We worked with the NIEO (Northern Ireland Event Organisers) and Titanic Quarter Ltd to pledge our commitment to a new venue and are thrilled that the industry’s combined efforts has resulted in us moving forward with a 6,000 square metres exhibition centre.
“The new venue will bring an extra dimension to IFEX and we’ve already had strong interest from a number of our stalwart exhibitors, who are excited by the new developments.”
Under a new roof, IFEX will house all of the ingredients that have made the show a success for many years. Confirmed show attractions includes the Salon Culinaire, organised by the team at Fresh Montgomery and Salon director, Sean Owens (pictured) – which includes the ChefSkills Theatre, La Parade des Chefs and a display of edible art.
Featuring hundreds of young culinarians who will be competing over the three days, ChefSkills is where many of Northern Ireland’s celebrated chefs were first recognised and La Parade des Chefs will see rival teams from Northern Irish catering colleges go head-to-head.
Predicting a strong event in 2016, IFEX Event Manager, Caroline McCusker (pictured) says: “In 2014, there was a huge buzz around IFEX, with exhibitors reporting a real upturn in business and a 45 per cent increase in visitor numbers, so we’ve high hopes for 2016.
“A more buoyant economy, coupled with a new venue, excellent exhibitors and attractions that encourage and reward talent within the hospitality sector, will make IFEX the place to be for the food, drink, retail and hospitality industries from March 8 to 10 next year.”
For further information see www.IFEXexhibition.co.uk @IFEX_NI
