IFE and IFE Manufacturing 2026 to explore AI and the future of food and drink

IFE and IFE Manufacturing have unveiled their 2026 seminar programmes, bringing together leading voices from across the food and drink industry to explore the ideas, insights and innovations shaping the sector’s future.

Taking place at Excel London from 30 March to 01 April 2026 as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, both shows are united by the theme ‘Feeding the Future’, reflecting the changing behaviours, priorities and pressures influencing food and drink product development, manufacturing and routes to market.

At IFE, content will be anchored by the Future Food Stage, sponsored by Brambles Digital, which will explore the consumer, cultural and commercial trends shaping tomorrow’s food and drink landscape. Sessions will examine topics including sustainability, representation, sourcing, health and flavour, alongside the role of insight and storytelling in driving product success.

Speakers include Charles Banks, Director and Co-Founder of thefoodpeople, who will return to the show to share his latest thinking on future-facing trends. “I’m thrilled to return to IFE this year for the opportunity to explore what’s next for food and drink,” he says. “Staying ahead of consumer and cultural change is critical, and this session will help brands understand where to focus their efforts.”

Also joining the programme is Maggie Fitzherbert, Senior Responsible Sourcing Manager at Soil Association, who will address supply chain transparency and environmental responsibility. “I’m on a mission to demystify responsible sourcing,” she says. “This session will help businesses understand the practical steps they can take to build more resilient and ethical supply chains.”

Rebecca Oliver-Mooney, Founder of Raising the Glass, will explore the role of representation in food and drink, highlighting why visibility and inclusion matter commercially as well as culturally. “IFE brings together the people who are actively shaping the future of food,” she says. “This session explores why representation within food and drink isn’t just important — it’s powerful.”

Louis Bedwell of Future Food Movement will examine how manufacturers can approach healthier product formulation without compromising on taste or appeal. “This session focuses on how ingredients for a healthy diet can be developed in ways that actually work for both manufacturers and consumers,” he says. “IFE Manufacturing is a great place to have those practical conversations.”

Alice Pilkington, Senior Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel, will present one of the platform’s key forecasting sessions, exploring what lies ahead for the sector. “Understanding what’s coming next is essential for effective product development,” she says. “This session will help manufacturers translate future trends into actionable insight.”

Trends & innovation in food development

Alongside IFE, IFE Manufacturing’s seminar programme will be delivered through its dedicated Trends & Innovation Platform, designed for manufacturers, technical managers, engineers and NPD professionals. The programme will focus on the realities of developing, scaling and future-proofing food and drink products, with sessions covering ingredients innovation, sustainable sourcing, reformulation, regulation and the technologies supporting faster and more efficient product development.

Complementing this content, the Business Growth Stage will feature a programme of commercially focused sessions, including several curated in partnership with the Food & Drink Exporters Association (FDEA), offering guidance for brands looking to expand into international markets. While secondary to the technical and trends-led content across the shows, these sessions provide practical support for businesses navigating export and growth opportunities.

Bob Bayman, Managing Director at Elephants Can’t Jump, will unveil 10 trends driving growth in food & drink. “I wouldn’t miss the show for the world,” he says. “I look forward to it as an opportunity to see the latest products and trends, to see how people are tackling the biggest food and drink issues of the day, and to meet our clients — current, past and future.”

Together, the seminar programmes at IFE and IFE Manufacturing reflect the interconnected nature of today’s food system, from consumer demand and sustainability expectations to innovation pipelines and manufacturing realities. By bringing insight, expertise and real-world experience to the stage, the shows aim to equip visitors with the knowledge needed to respond to change and drive long-term growth.

View the full programmes for this year’s event, and register for your free trade ticket, at ife.co.uk.