IFE Poland announced in January 2008 that it is to join forces with McLane Polska to provide Polish retailers with one focused trade exhibition in May 2008.

IFE Poland is the leading trade event for the Polish food, drink and hospitality industry. This year will welcome the 6th edition held between 19 – 21 May and will build on the success achieved in 2007 which saw attendance increase by an impressive 27%. As part of this growth for the retail sector, IFE Poland has combined their knowledge and expertise with McLane Polska, who is the leader in consumer goods distribution in Poland, to provide retailers with a one stop exhibition for all their business needs.

McLane Polska, formerly ABCO, was formed in 1996 as a member of the McLane Group who has experience in the worldwide retail grocery and wholesale distribution businesses dating back to 1800. Now a $19 billion enterprise, the McLane Group includes companies around the world such as Classic Foods, Hometown Favorites, Houston Astros, Leading Edge Brands, Lonestar Plastics, M-C McLane International, McLane Advanced Technologies LLC, McLane Polska and McLane Portugal. With a strong distribution network around Poland, McLane Polska offers retailers over 10,000 products and organised trade fairs and field sales visits to sample these products.

Commenting on this recent news, Christopher Newton, Chairman of Montgomery International Ltd, organisers of IFE Poland, said “I am absolutely delighted with the news that McLane Polska has decided to join forces with IFE Poland. Our event has traditionally had a strong retail sector and this new partnership will grow this sector even further. Combining our strengths of organising leading food, drink and hospitality exhibitions with McLane’s strength of offering a wide range of products through a strong distribution network, retailers have never before had a better environment to enhance their businesses within a single location.”

What does the news mean for the event’s audience? Running for the 1st two days of IFE Poland, McLane’s inclusion provides both visitors and exhibitors a wider access to the near €40 billion retail market and a substantial increase in independant retailers to the event!

The Central Europe Wine & Spirits Challenge 2008

The Central Europe Wine & Spirits Challenge 2008 (CEWSC) is the region’s only major independent and truly influential wine and spirits competition. Chaired by, and organised in association with Robert Joseph, formerly Chairman of the International Wine Challenge London, and founder of the wine challenges held in Singapore, China, India, Russia and Japan, this competition is set to define and bring structure to a rapidly developing on-trade and off-trade market. The event will recognise excellence in wines & spirits from the region and around the world. This year Poland will play host to this prestigious and internationally recognised event.

The Central Europe Wine & Spirits Challenge will be held before IFE Poland, the countries premiere Food & Drink Trade Fair, where the winning wines will be promoted, and the challenge will be judged by top Polish sommeliers and experienced local and international tasters.

Exhibitors at IFE Poland will receive one complimentary entry to CEWSC.

Tasting Theatre

A lively Wine Sector will present many local and international wines to wholesalers, distributors, hoteliers and restaurateurs among others, keen to discover new taste sensations. In addition, the leading Polish wine publication Wino will host a wine tasting event in the Tasting Theatre involving the country’s sommeliers and enologists. Tasting up to 20 different wines,organisers and the judging panel will critically evaluate each wine giving direct feedback on their quality to visitors at the event. An essential visit on 19 - 21 May 2008, for anyone looking to develop this side of their business or to grow their knowledge.

In addition to the Wine tasting sessions IFE Poland will also have food sampling and demonstration in the Tasting Theatre. Key group the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association is just one of many groups that will provide these tasting sessions.

IFE Poland 2008 – Conference Programme

To ensure that IFE Poland attracts senior level management to the event we are hosting a Professional Development Seminar Programme. The sessions include a Francising Workshop presented by ARS, In Store Promotion of Organic Foods presented by Spolem, Wine Tasting presented by Wino Magazine, Open forum with the McLane Category Managers to disuss industry trends and an Industry trends session for both the Packaged Foods industry and the Wine and Spirits industry for Central and Eastern Europe.

These session will be run over the 3 days of the event from 19 – 21 May 2008.

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Notes for Editor:

v IFE Poland is organised jointly by Montgomery International

v IFE Poland is a purely B2B exhibition and not open to the general public. Its aim is to deliver the best business audience of any such industry event in India

v Montgomery International organises IFE Fresh Produce, IFE India, IFE Hungary and IFE Americas. Montgomery companies organises the UK’s largest and most respected food, drink and hospitality events including Hotelympia, IFE, Hospitality, Wine Scotland, ScotHot, Speciality Fine Food Fair and other regional, national and international sector events.

v Montgomery was founded in 1895

For further press information including photographs and logos contact: -
Sales : Sanket Kothare + 91 (0) 9820 252 343
sanket.kothare@montgomeryindia.com
Marketing: Neha Wadhera
neha.wadhera@montgomeryindia.com