IFE to host one-to-one meetings with senior foodservice buyers at March event

Senior figures from companies including 3663, Brakes, Compass, Musgrave Foodservices Ireland, Elior, Sodexo and Aramark, will be visiting the show on a mission entitled –The Key Buyer Initiative – to source the latest, cutting-edge products that could add a point of difference to their business. Companies, large and small, have been given the opportunity to present their products in the hope of getting them into the UK's leading catering establishments. Heidi Easby, group food development and innovations director at Brakes, said: "After the success of the inaugural Key Buyer Initiative in 2009, Brakes is looking forward to discovering new ideas and new suppliers to work with in 2011. "We are looking for innovations and companies that will help us continue to offer high quality, value added solutions that help caterers reduce their operating costs. Our customers need the edge to drive footfall and profits so menu appeal – such as ingredients with provenance and on-trend dishes – will be favoured as they will provide a real point of difference. The show is a superb platform to find such suppliers." Steve Jobson, buying director, UK and ROI at Sodexo added: "We're naturally excited about the opportunities to source new products via the Key Buyer Initiative at IFE. We're looking forward to meeting new companies and finding out about the developments that they believe will help us enhance our offering to consumers across the globe." Christopher McCuin, event director at IFE, concluded: "It's fantastic that so many foodservice industry heavyweights have chosen IFE as the place to source new products. It is notoriously difficult for companies to get an audience with such high profile foodservice operators so we're delighted that we are able to facilitate this at the show." IFE11 will take place on 13-16 March 2011 at London's ExCeL centre. For more information about IFE or to register for free entry, visit www.ife.co.uk