Buyers can find out about some of the latest innovations in the drinks industry at IFE05, with more than 40 companies representing the rapidly growing sector at the event.
The alcohol and soft drinks section is nearly sold out, with first-time exhibitors including Parasol Group, Maaze, Lithuanian Beer, Harrogate Spa and Funkin. Among those returning are Birra Peroni, Shloer and Innocent.
There will be a heavy focus on education this year, with a new Drinks Academy providing a setting to learn about the latest industry trends, consumer-buying patterns and new products, and view mixology demonstrations.
The hosts for the four-day academy are the Worldwide Cocktail Club, the International Wine & Spirit Competition and research group Mintel.
They will be joined by some of London’s top bartenders who will be demonstrating how to maximise profits using vodka, wine, gin, tequila, whisky, rum and cognac in cocktails.
Alistair Vince from Mintel will be giving presentations on beers and soft drinks from around the world and other workshops include food and wine matching and alcohol-tasting sessions.
There will be a wide range of soft drink and alcohol companies supplying the retail, foodservice, catering and wholesale businesses at IFE, with top names including Blackwood Distillers, which will be showcasing its vodka vanilla cream liqueur Jago and ice-filtered vodka.
Also exhibiting are Bottlegreen Drinks, Ty Nânt Springwater, Vineyards of Bordeaux and The Feel Good Drinks Company.
Growing demand for more interesting and varied soft drinks has inspired companies such as European manufacturer Sunnyland, which will be introducing its range of fruit juices and nectars to the UK market under the Sunland and Sunland Plus brands. Fruit juice and smoothie maker Innocent will also be exhibiting in its usual flamboyant style.
IFE says that consumer thirst for energy drinks comprises 10% of the European market and the sector is rapidly expanding from the on to the off-trade.
Producers Firefly and Shark AG, which will be showing their ranges, hope to profit from this trend.
The Feel Good Drinks Company will reflect the move to more functional drinks when it showcases its range of five fruit juices with health benefits and three new carbonated Spritz drinks.
Adult soft drinks producer Shloer will be revealing new bottle sizes available in existing and new flavours as well as 50ml cans of Red Grape and White Grape and seasonal limited-edition flavours.
Visitors will also be able to try Shloer’s new Posh Squash and herbal drink Sorelle.
Drink Me Chai from Tea UK, which is stocked in selected Tesco and Waitrose stores, will be displaying new flavours of the exotic tea containing spices, milk and sugar.
Peppermint and Very Berry are being launched in time for summer and can be sampled in a specially created Chill-Out Zone. The company will also be endeavouring to attract foodservice clients, particularly Asian restaurants, with its 1kg catering and individual sachet sizes.
Another specialist tea supplier, Hampstead Tea & Coffee, will be showcasing its new jewel infusions with varieties including peppermint and spearmint and fennel and liquorice.
Meanwhile, Clipper will be launching its range of fruity Organic White Teas.
The company predicts that white tea, which it claims contains up to three times the amount of antioxidants as green tea, is set to be the next big phenomenon in hot drinks.
Harrogate Spa Water will be showcasing its packaging portfolio, the largest of any UK water brand. Pack sizes range from 85ml cuplets for the airline industry, 330ml screwtop bottles and 500ml sports bottles through to a 10-litre bag-in-box, which has won design awards.
The company will be using the exhibition as a launch pad for its new chiller for the bag-in-box format. This has been developed for use by families and small businesses as a compact cost-effective unit.