–
IFE, the ultimate business event for food & drink product discovery, is taking place this April, at Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.
The upcoming edition promises to deliver an explosive experience, filled with meaningful business connections, inspiring features and an outstanding line-up of global exhibitors.
With over 25,000 verified trade visitors across 7 co-located events, IFE solidifies itself as a must-attend event in the calendar.
Exhibition Stand Design at the International Food & Drink Event
IFE is one of the largest and longest-running trade food events in the calendar, and it presents an invaluable opportunity for prospecting businesses.
Bringing your best samples is non-negotiable at IFE. Buyers want to try your products first-hand, understand supply capabilities and place orders.
It’s always better to overprepare with samples than to arrive understocked. While designing the stand, speak with your event team about how they plan to work the stand. Understanding which features are needed, such as fridges, storage, bins and counters, as well as how these should be configured, ensures that the stand is functional, practical and hygienic on event day.
Clarity of category is key. IFE is unique in the way that it hosts over co-located events, but with so many categories, there’s often an overlap in products and offerings. Identify where your offerings are most suitable, and pick a high-traffic space in this area.
Professional exhibition stand design is key to creating a functional, high-impact and memorable stand at this enormous event.
Exhibition Stand Design Inspiration
FAQs
Where is IFE held and how do I get there?
IFE is located at Excel London, in the heart of London’s Docklands. The venue is accessible by all major transport links, including car, bus, train, and tube.
Directions for each can be found on the official “When and Where” page on the IFE website – https://www.ife.co.uk/when-where
What are the closest hotels to the IFE exhibition venue?
There are many hotels located near Excel London. Here are the closest, according to Booking.com:
- Sunborn London Yacht Hotel
- Novotel London Excel
- Aloft by Marriott London Excel
- Ibis London Excel-Docklands
- DoubleTree by Hilton London Excel
- Crowne Plaza London
What types of products are displayed at IFE London?
There’s a vast selection of food and drink products at IFE, categorised into key zones. Categories include Speciality & Fine Foods, Plant-Based & Free-From, Drinks, Chilled & Frozen, Ambient & Wholesale, Bakery & Confectionery, and Fresh Produce.
How does IFE compare to the UK Food & Drink Shows?
Both IFE and the UK Food & Drink Shows are major events for the food and drink industry. IFE is internationally focused and held in London. Whereas the UK Food & Drink Shows are held at the NEC Birmingham, focusing on retail, wholesale, and convenience sectors, as well as domestic manufacturing operations.
Which major brands exhibit at IFE?
While not all exhibitors have confirmed for IFE, major names usually include Taj Foods, Tubzee, and ASCO Foods.
When should I register to exhibit at IFE?
Space for IFE fills up months in advance. Register to exhibit as early as possible, before the next event takes place on 5-7 April.
What sectors and domains does IFE cover?
IFE is divided into 13 distinct domains.
- Speciality & Gourmet
- Plant-Based & Free-From
- Drinks & Beverages
- Bakery & Confectionery
- Sports & Nutrition
- Chilled, Frozen & Wholesale
How much exhibition space does IFE have, and how many halls?
The International Food & Drink Event (IFE) occupies roughly 11,000 to 18,000 square meters and takes place within the North Hall at ExCeL London, as part of the broader Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.
Can I use the same exhibition stand for both IFE and the UK Food & Drink Shows?
Yes, many Quadrant2Design clients use the same exhibition stand at IFE and the UK Food & Drink Shows, sometimes reconfiguring or changing one or two panels to keep content targeted and relevant to the event. If you want to use the same stand across multiple shows, invest in a high-quality, reusable, reconfigurable exhibition stand.
Are there corkage charges at IFE?
No corkage applies if you are sampling or serving your own brand’s alcoholic products, though corkage charges do apply if exhibitors serve alcohol not purchased through the official hospitality provider. Serving any alcoholic beverages sourced outside the official venue caterer requires prior permission from ExCeL London Hospitality, and a per-bottle or per-item corkage charge is enforced for approved external stock to cover licensing and on-site compliance.
Insight
Hear how Quadrant2Design clients have conveyed credentials at relevant industry events.
We’ve been constantly busy, and one of the most popular stands, so thank you. Anyone who walks past it comes in; it draws people in! It really stands out. The amount of people who have come up and said how much they love the stand is very reassuring. Before we had this stand, a lot of buyers walked past us. Now, everyone stops by!
Exhibiting at IFE? Choose Free-Hire Pro
Free-Hire Pro is the plan of choice among our exhibitors at IFE.
Using Free-Hire Pro, the structural framework of your stand is hired free of charge, allowing you to invest in what matters: your graphics and the end-to-end service that makes exhibiting completely stress-free.
The plan includes project management, stand storage, a full pre-build (crucial for quality and peace of mind), as well as installation and dismantling.
Because our solution is modular, you can reconfigure, reuse and repeat at shows and venues all across the UK and Europe.
Venue & Location
Excel London is a major international exhibition and convention centre located in the Royal Docks area of East London.
Transport
Public Transport
Excel London is connected by an Elizabeth Line station, three DLR stations, a number of bus stops, and a cable car station.
Parking
Those driving to the venue should use E16 1FR on the SatNav, to direct to the car park entrance. Parking can be pre-booked here.
International Travel
London is served by an international train service from France, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as six major airports.
London City Airport is the closest airport to Excel, just a 15-minute walk away or a short journey by DLR, bus or taxi. With flights to 30+ destinations across Europe, London City Airport makes travelling to exhibitions, conferences and events quick and convenient.
Accommodation
Sundown London Yacht Hotel
Located in London (Docklands), Sunborn London is steps from ExCeL Exhibition Centre and a 4-minute drive from River Thames. This hotel is 4.3 mi (6.9 km) from The Arena and 4.9 mi (7.9 km) from Tower Bridge.
Novotel London Excel
With a stay at Novotel London ExCeL in London (Docklands), you’ll be within a 5-minute walk of ExCeL Exhibition Centre and Royal Victoria Bridge. This hotel is 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from IFS Cloud Royal Docks Station and 0.3 mi (0.6 km) from The Crystal.
Ibis London Excel Docklands
Located in London (Docklands), ibis London Excel Docklands is within a 10-minute drive of The Arena and Tower of London. This hotel is 4.8 mi (7.7 km) from Tower Bridge and 5.9 mi (9.5 km) from London Bridge.
Food & Drink
Waterfront Street Kitchen & Bar
Explore a world of flavour-packed street food dining, all while soaking up the relaxed vibes of the Royal Docks waterfront.
BUN.
Burgers, Hot Dogs and more… From the classic cheeseburger with a twist to a tasty hot dog and fries on the side, BUN. has something for everyone!
Baba Dhaba
Baba Dhaba serves vibrant Pakastani street food, all created from authentic recipes passed down through generations.
Show Calendar
Many Quadrant2Design clients reuse and reconfigure their stands at:
Telephone
+44 (0) 1202 723 500Email
design@quadrant2design.comShowroom, Studio & Factory
H3 The Fulcrum, Vantage Way, Poole, BH12 4NU, UK
