Foodex show overview - at a glance

Whether you work in bakery or beverages, dairy or fresh produce, meat or seafood, ingredients or logistics, Foodex will have something to offer you. More than 300 companies will be exhibiting their wares and services and a full programme of events are being staged to provide visitors with the latest insights on everything from traceability and supply chain management to the latest thinking in lean manufacturing.

To find out more information about the show and register online to attend the event, click here.

The Food Manufacture team has organised a series of four live debates to be held at Foodex – two on Monday March 24 and two on Tuesday March 25. These discussions are intended to lift the lid on a number of contentious issues and developing trends that have affected the UK’s food manufacturing sector over the past year and will change the way food and drink businesses operate in the future.

Social Media​

On Monday March 24 at 10.45 the first debate will be: ‘Social media threat or opportunity for food and drink manufacturers?’ Food Manufacture’s group editor Mike Stones will host the debate, which will include contributions from Wyke Farms’s md Richard Clothier, who launched a social campaign in 2012 after losing a cheese contract with Morrisons; and Wilfred Emanuel Jones, founder of the Black Farmer brand, who will describe how he has used social media to successfully market his range.

Horsemeat A year on​

On Monday at 14.15, FoodManufacture.co.uk online editor Rod Addy will host the debate: ‘Horsemeat one year on: could it happen again?’ This will include contributions from experts, such as former Food Standards Agency chairman Lord Rooker, Mark Driscoll, head of food at Forum for the Future and representatives from the food industry, including EBLEX’s Nick Allen, the Food and Drink Federation’s Terry Jones and Elizabeth Andoh-Kesson from the British Retail Consortium.

Plugging the skills gap​

Skills come under the spotlight at 11.45 on Tuesday March 25 when Stones interviews experts from the sector on what is being done to plug the skills gap, given that 170,300 new people will be needed to replace those retiring by 2020. This debate will include contributions from Jon Poole, chief executive of the Institute of Food Science & Technology, and the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink, Justine Fosh, chief executive of the Natinonal Skills Academy for Food and Drink and Michael Rudge, process technologist at Bakkavor.

Lean and green​

The series of debates concludes with a discussion about ‘lean and green manufacturing: reconciling challenges and opportunities’, moderated by Addy, which takes place on Tuesday at 14.30. Speakers will include lean business guru Professor Peter Hines and representatives from the food industry, who will describe how to maximise returns by reducing waste in the supply chain.

All four debates will be videoed and excerpts published together with accompanying news reports on FoodManufacture.co.uk. But to see and hear them in full, you’ll need to be there. What’s more they are free to visitors attending Foodex. If you have a question to put to our expert panels, email it in advance to zvpunry.fgbarf@jeoz.pbz​.

Also taking place at the NEC at the same time as Foodex and organised by parent company William Reed Business Media, are Food and Drink Expo 2014, incorporating the Farm Shop & Deli Show, together with the National Convenience Show. To register for free, receiving entry to all co-located shows, visit: www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk​