International Food Business Network (IFBN)

"Connecting Food Manufacturers with Key European Food Markets"

The International Food Business Network is designed for food manufacturing companies, who are operating in Europe or for companies from outside Europe who wish to gain entry to the European market.

Aims

The IFBN enables food manufacturing companies and partner members in bridging European food markets, bringing down market access barriers, increasing hands-on know-how and know-why and consequently the IFBN assists in building business and increasing business success.

The IFBN is also all about bridging different food cultures and international relationships and enlarging the business network.

IFBN Pilars

The IFBN will connect, inspire, and facilitate food manufacturers. Each year four meetings will be organised in different European countries.

The pilars of these two day meetings are:

>          A high quality content and high information density

>          Key national and pan-European food market insights;

>          In-depth discussions with experts

>          Establishing new relationships to drive new business

>          Shared business interest & experience

>          Network access across EU

Food Manufacturing Members

The IFBN is designed to meet the demands of:

>          Managing Directors / CEO / Owners

>          Marketing Directors / Sales / Export Directors

>          New Business Development Directors

Partner Members

Bridge2Food has tied up with leading service and know-how providers, whom are operating on a Pan-European basis. They have joined the International Food Business Network as special Partner Members. They share Bridge2Food's strong commitment to quality and content in knowledge transfer for food business intelligence know-how and to the importance of international networks.

The Partner Members will bring their know-how and networks to the IFBN meetings by giving key presentations and chairing break-out sessions. This will create consistency in market information for the delegates to meetings and it will give them a platform to compare countries on a like-for-like basis.

Associate Members

The IFBN organisation will enable a small number of key international service and ingredient companies to become so-called Associate Members. These Members can assist Manufacturing Members with know-how on specific international trends and developments in the areas of health & nutrition based on food product innovation. Knowlegde and information which might still be under the radar of the large market information companies. Most Associate Members will be invited by Bridge2Food based on the international position and qualification, but interested companies can contact Marjolijn Cohen or call us at +31 30 2252060 for available seats and options.

Meeting Programme

Day 1 - Plenary Session

>          Consumer trends

>          Market trends

>          Retail developments

>          Media review

>          New developments

>          Innovation concepts

>          Case studies

Dinner for network members.

Day 2 - Break-out Sessions

On Day 2 of each meeting up to six special break-out sessions will be organised. Members can choose the break-out sessions of their interest. Sessions will be chaired by two keynote speakers. During each session there will be ample room  for questions and answers and the sessions will have an informal nature due to the small group size.

Session topics:

>          Retailing

>          Marketing

>          Media & PR

>          Logistics / Distribution

>          Market focus theme

>          Category reviews on confectionery, snacks, beverages, dairy, bread & bakery

Store visit (optional)

Membership Benefits

Food Manufacturing Companies will benefit from the IFBN membership in many ways:

>          Key information to national and European markets and market access

>          Better understanding of consumer, retail, category dynamics

>          Key learning from trends and developments in export markets

>          Bridges to media trends, innovation, logistics, quality and food labelling requirements

>          Building Pan-European relationships with other food manufacturers and key service

            companies.

IFBN Membership includes:
>          Free access to four IFBN meetings incl. lunches, materials

>          Free IFBN meeting dinner;

>          Free access to the network and its partner members via Bridge2Food

A Corporate Membership for 1 person can be used by different company employees. Contact Marjolijn Cohen or call us ay +31 302252060 for more information on how to become a member.

Planning 2009 / 2010

IFBN meetings will be as much as possible parallel to major national or international food shows. This will save Members valuable management and travel time and cost. For instance the 1st meeting in The Netherlands will be organised straight after the exhibition of the Private Label Manufacturing Association (PLMA), in Amsterdam, May 2009.

Important themes which will be covered during the meetings are: health foods, chilled foods, innovation, organic, and sustainability.

2009

The Netherlands Food Market - 28 & 29 May 2009

Venue: Amsterdam, city host for the PLMA (26 - 27 May 2009)

The German Food Market - 15 & 16 October 2009

Venue: Cologne, city host for the Anuga exhibition (10 - 15 October 2009)

2010

The Spanish Food Market - 25 - 26 March 2010

Venue: Barcelona, city host for the Alimentaria exhibition (22 - 26 March 2010)

The UK Food Market - 11 & 12 June 2010

Venue: Birmingham, city host for the Good Food Show (10 - 14 June 2010)

More information

Contact Marjolijn Cohen or call us at +31 30 2252060 for more information and how to become a member of the unique network.

Advisory Board

We will soon let you know who the members of our international advisory board are.