The Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show 2025 Celebrates Innovation and Culinary Excellence
The Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show 2025 celebrated its biggest year yet at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre on February 4-5, 2025. The event has solidified its reputation as the UK’s premier showcase for ice cream and artisan food enthusiasts, attracting global buyers, leading manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, parlours, mobilers, restaurants, and more eager to explore the latest innovations in the dessert world.
This year’s event featured over 60 exhibitors ranging from machinery, packaging, ingredients, logistics, accountancy, payment app solutions, insurance, and more. A total of over 5,000 attendees, including industry professionals and buyers from around the globe, gathered to sample the finest ice cream products and build valuable connections.
Among the highlights, more than 65% of attendees placed orders at the show, with an average order worth £11,500, showcasing the event’s impact as a major industry marketplace. The showcase included unique offerings like Dubai Chocolate and olive oil-flavoured ice cream, a trend popularised by pop icon Dua Lipa, along with classics like pistachio, Nutella, and Kinder Bueno.
In addition to the diverse array of treats, the event emphasized innovation in the dessert world, such as dairy-free ice creams with emulsification technology, along with ice creams and lollies for pets. The dessert parlours' boom reflected growing consumer cravings for indulgent treats like cookie dough and churros.
The industry seminars provided valuable insights into pressing issues for businesses of all sizes, discussing topics such as managing seasonal cash flow, the card versus cash debate, and optimizing the use of social media.
BBC food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden hosted interviews with finalists for prestigious awards such as Parlour of the Year, Mobiler of the Year, and the National Ice Cream Competition, which recognizes the best ice cream manufacturers in the UK. The event also spotlighted the Marvin Benton Award and the Guido Morelli Rising Star Award for contributions to innovation, leadership, and emerging talents in the industry.
The awards ceremony is highly anticipated and winners will be announced at the ICA awards night on March 5th. With over 80 years of history, this event is renowned for its rigorous judging process and recognition of high standards and innovations in the ice cream sector.
