The International Food & Drink Event 2026 biggest yet

This year’s International Food & Drink Event (IFE) at London’s Excel centre was bigger than it has ever been.

Situated on the northern quay of the Royal Victoria Dock in London Docklands, this biennial extravaganza brings together food enthusiasts from all walks of life.

From industry experts, distributors and suppliers, to restaurateurs, social influencers, and hungry foodies, the IFE is known for providing networking opportunities like no other event.

Having kicked off yesterday and ending tomorrow 1st April, FtLion brings you an overview of the hottest Halal trends currently pervading the food and drinks sector.

Although the entire day will be needed to cover the entire show, given that both halls having been booked out this year, arguably the biggest attraction was Australian Beef, Lamb & Goat.

The world-renowned meat suppliers, which launched in the UK following the historic UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2023, promoted their huge range of Halal meats.

One of the UK’s most prominent Halal certifying companies, the Halal Food Authority (HFA), was promoting the importance of compliance when it comes to the global Halal slaughtering method.

Representing the Qualiko food brand, TV chef, cookery author, and 2012’s BBC MasterChef winner, Shelina Permalloo, entertained the crowd over at the theatre cooking area.

Of course there were a plethora of brands that seemed to cover the entire gambit of foods and drinks, including Cafe Asia, who had recently introduced a range of Original Bombay Donuts.

Award-winning TAJ, who specialise in ethnic frozen foods, also showed off their flatbreads and pastries, exotic vegetables, green protein, roots and herbs, Halal proteins and seafood, global snacks and modern street food.

When it came to bevarages, then perhaps the most unique, and certainly one that might divide the crowd, was a brand out of Saudi Arabia called Jo Drinks.

Founded by Youssef Ibrahim in 2023, this business is looking to shake up the non-alcoholic drinks industry with its Halal-certified products that not only outwardly resemble their alcoholic counterparts, but are also said to taste and smell like them too.