Frozen food has an international feel this year as buyers and retailers from around the world show off diverse products.
The variety of exhibiting companies indicates the steady growth of the frozen food industry - ACNielsen figures to March 2004 show the sector up 1.3% on the previous year.
Hoping to buck the decline that the frozen desserts sector has endured in recent years, Belgian firm Diksmuidse Pannenkoeken will be showing its sweet products, while Cuisine Partners, Waldron Patisserie and Food & Fine Pastries Co from the UK will exhibit their pastries, ice cream, pancakes and fruits.
Grower, processor and importer of frozen ingredients for desserts, drinks, preserves and ice cream Place UK is celebrating its 50th anniversary and will be showing its frozen fruits and fruit purées.
Purbeck Ice Cream from Dorset will use the show to launch new flavours of ice creams and spring water sorbets.
The French manufacturer Jacques Maes will show off its new individual frozen snack pancakes and frozen fish soup in the UK for the first time.
Low-carb manufacturer XCarb will exhibit its four-strong range of deluxe dairy ice creams, which it is pitching at women.
The ice creams are available in vanilla, strawberries and cream, mint with Belgian choc chips and vanilla with Belgian choc chips flavours.
Recent growth in the frozen food market is thought to have been fuelled by a growing demand for frozen fish.
This category will be represented at the exhibition by first-time exhibitors Gelpeixe and Freshly Frozen Foods from Dubai, as well as returning companies Deep Ocean Seafood and Galloway Seafoods.
Other international companies giving their perspective on the sector will be Brazilian frozen food company Sadia, and Belgian manufacturers Frigilunch, Vichiunai Europe and Mekka Food.
UK manufacturers Laila’s Fine Frozen Foods and vegetable processor Pinguin Foods will be exhibiting ranges of frozen ready meals and products, including Pinguin’s Pilau rice and its rice with vegetables such as peas and sweetcorn variety.
Peter Stott, Pinguin innovations manager and trained chef, will be cooking up a selection of meal solutions created using a range of ingredients including Pinguin’s frozen vegetables.
Meanwhile, the Packaged Ice Company will use IFE05 to launch its Blue Keld Springwater premium ice cubes.