A food analyser and a bake-on-the-aisle unit are among the new products visitors will be able to see at Foodex Manufacturing Solutions at the NEC Birmingham in April.
Foodex is part of the UK Food & Drink Shows that will bring together 30,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibitors from across the grocery, hospitality, specialist retail and manufacturing sectors to network, see the latest innovations and gain invaluable insights. (See end of this article for more information.)
Here are just five examples of products buyers will be able to see at Foodex:
The Bake Zone
Supplier: Mono Equipment
Stand: Foodex Manufacturing Solutions L70
Mono will be demonstrating The Bake Zone - a standalone ‘bake on the aisle’ unit designed for retailers that don’t have space for a full in-store bakery. The unit comprises a three-tray convection oven, merchandising cassettes, merchandising shelves, cooling shelves, self-serve tongs, a heat resistant blind and a cooling rack. While the product is being baked, a heat-resistant screen is pulled down with a message to the consumer that fresh product is being baked. This unit has already rolled out to some Tesco outlets and is being launched to the public at Foodex 2025.
InfraLab Top Loader
Supplier: Nordson Measurement & Control Solutions
Stand: Foodex Manufacturing Solutions H121
Nordson will be displaying its new InfraLab Top Loader, a food analyser that the supplier says can measure colour, moisture, fat/oil and protein in five seconds. Designed to facilitate sample presentation and reduce human error, it is described as ideal for powders, beans, grains, semi-solid and sheet products. "It replaces time-consuming laboratory or at-line instrument methods while providing deeper process insight, which significantly reduces operational expenditure," adds Nordson.
PAS-I CleanCut Linerless Label Applicator
Supplier: Bizerba (UK) Ltd
Stand: Foodex Manufacturing Solutions J160 and L160
Bizerba describes its new PAS-I CleanCut Linerless Label Applicator as "an environmentally friendly labelling solution that eliminates waste while improving operational efficiency". It can label up to 120 packages a minute and can handle formats including top, C-wrap, full-wrap and overlap. Bizerba says the applicator is flexible enough to integrate into existing production lines, or function as a standalone unit for manual product feed.
208 Detect blow gun
Supplier: CEJN
Stand: Foodex Manufacturing Solutions C91
Based in Sweden, CEJN produces quick-connect couplings for liquid and pneumatic applications for industries including food and drink, manufacturing and construction. The supplier's latest product, the 208 Detect blow gun, is designed to mitigate the risk of foreign body contamination during production. Described as the first metal and X-ray detectable plastic blow gun on the market, the 208 is made from food-grade plastic, stainless steel valves with food-grade grease, food-approved seals and has high chemical resistance to common cleaning and disinfection chemicals.
ECO4 stretch wrap machine
Supplier: Eco Pack Technologies
Stand: Foodex Manufacturing Solutions E131
Eco Pack Technologies was formed in 2022, acquiring the assets and intellectual property for stretch wrap technology formerly owned by Trak-Rap Ltd. The business will be showcasing its ECO4 stretch wrap machine that is described as a low-carbon alternative to heat shrink tunnels. The ECO4 works by stretching film to create a robust pack, using 90% less energy than an equivalent shrink wrapper or heat tunnel. Because there is no heat in the process, thinner films can be used, reducing plastic usage by up to 70%, says Eco Pack
Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 April, the 2025 UK Food & Drink Shows comprises four shows that each target a sector of the food and drink industry
- Food & Drink Expo provides buyers from retail, hospitality, wholesale, foodservice and manufacturing with information and product sourcing opportunities. To reflect the growth in the UK eating out market and continued blurring of the lines in the food and drink sectors, The Restaurant Show is this year integrated into Food & Drink Expo.
- Farm Shop & Deli Show brings together hundreds of suppliers to showcase the best of local and speciality produce to retailers and buyers.
- National Convenience Show provides a platform for the convenience retailing sector to come together, from suppliers and wholesalers through to retailers.
- Foodex Manufacturing Solutions is the UK’s leading trade event for the food and drink processing, packaging and logistics industries.
Once again, UK Food & Drink Shows will feature a packed programme of expert speakers, insightful panels and inspiring demonstrations on topics and trends that are driving the industry.
New themed areas are being introduced including the Coffee Zone, the Packaging Zone, the Future Food Zone and the Business Advice Hub, which will provide access to free business advice and services.
Also new for this year will be dedicated street food areas serving a wide selection of exciting dishes and snacks to visitors.
To ensure visitors make the most of their visit, an online digital event companion will offer a comprehensive event guide, interactive floorplan, seamless indoor navigation and real-time notifications.
To find out more and register for free tickets here.
