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Retailers, buyers and chefs seeking inspiration can discover the very best ingredients the European Union has to offer at this year’s International Food and Drink Event (IFE), taking place on 17-19 March at Excel London.

Exhibiting for the very first time at IFE is the EU’s ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ campaign which will showcase over 50 speciality ingredients from all 27 EU Member States.

The ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ campaign launched in the UK last year to champion EU food and beverage products to industry professionals in the UK. This March, it will bring an unrivalled selection of both renowned and lesser-known ingredients to London, offering IFE attendees a taste of the quality and authenticity that set the European Union apart.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample the finest EU cheeses, confectionery, baked goods, fruits and vegetables, charcuterie, wine, beer and spirits. Additionally, each day, chef and cookbook author Danilo Cortellini will bring a selection of ingredients to life by preparing dishes live at the stand.

For those seeking to gain more insights into the EU’s undiscovered gems, sustainable farming commitments and artisanal techniques, a trio of More Than Only Food & Drink advisors – Patrick McGuigan (cheese), Veryan Bliss (fresh produce) and Katherine Shipley (confectionery) – will be on the stand to share their expertise. Patrick will also host a dedicated speaker session on 18 March to showcase some of the EU’s lesser-known cheeses that the industry should have on their radar for 2025.

To give attendees a taste of what to expect at stand 2732, campaign advisors have shared their top ‘ones to watch’ from the ingredients that will be available for tasting:

• Paški Sir (PDO) from Croatia - A sheep cheese from the Island of Pag. The milk comes from an indigenous breed of wild sheep which feed off the sea-washed herbs growing on the Pag landscape. The sheep are milked by local villagers who sell the milk to a local dairy to produce this distinctive cheese.

• Cioccolato di Modica PGI from Italy - The first chocolate to be awarded geographical protection, it was first made by the noble men and women of Modica in the 1700s. The chocolate has a rectangular shape, with the sides tapering into a truncated pyramid. The evident graininess of the chocolate is due to the presence of sugar crystals which are a special feature of the Cioccolato di Modica PGI. It has a sweet taste with a bitter note, is crunchy and melts easily in the mouth.

• Black Balsam Currant Marshmallows from Latvia - Glazed marshmallows with Riga Black Balsam Currant filling. The vanilla marshmallows are made with high-quality ingredients and have a soft and gummy texture with a sweet and fruity currant filling, adding a touch of decadence to each bite.

• Organic Wild Blueberry Powder from Estonia - A sweet and dark berry powder made from the peels and seeds of wild blueberries after they have been picked from the forests. This dried mixture is ground into high-fiber organic blueberry powder. The powder tastes like fresh wild blueberries and whilst not too finely milled, it still mixes easily in smoothies, yogurt, porridge, muesli, tea and protein shakes and can be used in baked goods.

• Gornooryahovski sudzhuk PGI from Bulgaria (dried veal flat sausage) - A traditional sausage made in Gorna Oryahovitsa. This deceptively succulent salami is made exclusively from the beef of well-fed cattle, raised to the highest animal welfare standards.

• Organic Carnuntum PDO from Austria - An elegant red wine made from 100% Blaufränkisch grapes. It has a dark ruby appearance with delicately tobacco-backed notes of wild berries, liquorice and cassis. It has a firm body, structured and chalky minerality. The fruity bouquet continues onto the palate where it's joined by texture and spice from ageing in 225 litre oak barriques.

• Pale Ale from Malta - A refreshing and easy-to-drink beer with a distinctive hoppy character. The beer’s balanced blend of hops and malt make it a perfect choice for those who enjoy a flavourful and crisp pale ale.

• Borzag pálinka PGI from Hungary - The country’s national spirit and a plum brandy that is considered the ‘queen of all fruit brandies’. It is made from only the ripest Szatmári plums which are prized for their intense flavours, the fruits are de-stoned, fermented for 10-15 days, and then distilled. The Borzag pálinka PGI is then matured in wooden barrels which infuses it with an additional depth of flavour. It is delicate on the palate with an authentic and lasting fruit character.

Speaking about the ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ campaign at IFE, fresh produce advisor Veryan Bliss said: “IFE is a fantastic opportunity to bring the ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ campaign to life and I am delighted to be attending to help showcase the incredible quality of EU food and drink products".

“We will be championing outstanding ingredients from the length and breadth of the European Union, with all 27 Member States represented on the stand. There will be the chance for guests to sample everything on display – from more well-known produce such as Sauerkraut from Poland and Speck Alto Adige PGI from Italy; to undiscovered confectionery from Estonia and Slovakia, PGI meat from Croatia and Romania and lesser-known fruit and vegetable products such as Squash Caviar from Latvia and Rose Jam from Bulgaria.”

The ’More Than Only Food & Drink’ stand can be found in the International Pavillion, stand 2732.

For more information, please visit the EU's website.