"Connecting Food Manufacturers with
Key European Food Markets"

The International Food Business Network (IFBN)

- for Business Development and Market Strategy -

The International Food Business Network offers support to food manufacturing companies operating in Europe and to food companies that seek to enter European markets.

Insights for growth: bridges to countries

The IFBN assist food manufacturers in building bridges between European food markets, enabling better market assessment, reducing market access barriers, and increasing their know-how and marketing skills. In other words, the country meetings and the network of the IFBN can help to grow your business and build on your success.

The second aim of the IFBN is to form a bridge between different food manufacturers by establishing international relationships and expanding your business network.

IFBN connects experience with strategy

The IFBN makes connections. It acts as an inspiration and a facilitator. To fulfill this role, we will hold at least four meetings per year, each one in a different European country.

Each meeting will be a two-day event, characterised by:

>          High quality content, chock-full of information;

>          Key national and pan-European food market insights;

>          In-depth discussions with experts;

>          Cooperative initiatives to drive new business;

>          Shared business interest & experience;

>          Network opportunities with business throughout the EU

Open Innovation

All meetings on a particular food market are open to food manufacturers from all over the world. Food Market meetings can be joined depending on the regional importance, market presence, focus and strategy. However, the organisers of the IFBN offer food manufacturers also the opportunity to become a so-called manufacturing member. Joining the network has substantial benefits (>Read-on Membership Benefits).

Who will come?

The country meetings and the IFBN is intended for:

>          Managing Directors, CEOs, Business Owners

>          Marketing Directors, Sales and Export Directors

>          New Business Development Directors

Food Manufacturers MembershipBenefits

>          Essential facts on national and European markets and market access;

>          Better understanding of consumer, retail, category dynamics;

>          Key information about trends and developments in export markets;

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

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

            suppliers.

IFBN annual membership includes:
>          Free access to four IFBN meetings including lunches and materials;

>          Free IFBN dinner;

>          Enjoy a free display of your products during the meetings as a way to get discussions with potential distributors and othe manufacturing members;

>          Your company logo and information request on the IFBN website page with background information so that interested business partners can be in touch anytime;

>          Free access to all network members through Bridge2Food.

Corporate Membership for one individual is transferrable to other employees of the same company. For more information on membership please contact Marjolijn Cohen or call +31 30225 2060.

Partner Members: Pan-European experiences and networks

Bridge2Food has teamed up with leading service providers, such as market analysis and research companies, PR and media experts, innovation consultants, packaging specialists, financial institutions, category experts and research institutions operating throughout Europe. They are special members of the International Food Business Network who share Bridge2Food's commitment to high quality knowledge transfer in the food industry and its belief in the importance of international networks.

The Partners will contribute their know-how and networks to IFBN meetings by giving keynote presentations and chairing break out sessions. This will provide consistency ofmarket information for attendees and will provide a platform to compare countries on a like-for-like basis.

Associate Members: Leading ingredient innovation companies

The IFBN will also provide an opportunity for parties to become Associate Members. These are key international suppliers of ingredients and services, businesses that can assist food manufacturers in developing cutting-edge food products. For example, they might be aware of an international trend in the health and nutrition field that has not yet been detected by the food manufacturers. Associate Members can be obtained only by invitation from Bridge2Food. If you see your company as an uniquely qualified candidate, please contact Marjolijn Cohen or call +31 30 2252060 for more information.

Meeting Programme

Day 1 - Plenary Session

>          Consumer trends

>          Market trends

>          Retail developments

>          Media reviews

>          Innovation concepts

>          Case studies

Dinner for network members.

Day 2 - Break-out Sessions

Day 2 will consist of four to six concurrent break-out sessions. Members can attend the session of their choice. The gatherings will be chaired by two keynote speakers. Each session will provide ample room for questions and answers. Sessions will be informal because the groups will be kept small.

Session topics:

>          Health & Nutrition

>          Retail & Private label

>          Media & PR

>          Logistics & Distribution

>          Trade Marketing

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

Store visit (optional)

Planning 2009 / 2010

We will attempt to schedule IFBN meetings to coincide with major national and international food events. This will spare our meeting delegates and members valuable travel time and expense. Our first meeting, to be held in the Netherlands, is scheduled to immediately follow the trade show of the Private Label Manufacturing Association (PLMA), 28 & 29 May 2009 in Amsterdam. Our meetings focus on important food trends such as health foods, chilled foods, innovation, organic food and sustainability.

2009

The Netherlands Food Market - 28 & 29 May 2009

Venue: Amsterdam, hosting the PLMA trade show (26 - 27 May 2009)

The German Food Market - 15 & 16 October 2009

Venue: Cologne, hosting Anuga (10 - 14 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, hosting the Good Food Show (10 - 14 June 2010)

Country meetings in Sweden and France are scheduled for Q3 and Q4 2010.

More information

For more information on membership and or country meetings, please contact Marjolijn Cohen or call at +31 30 225 2060.

Advisory Board

We will shortly introduce the members of our international advisory board.