IFT FIRST

IFT FIRST is an industry event relevant to professionals working across confectionery manufacturing, ingredients, packaging, retail and product innovation. IFT FIRST is relevant to International Confectionery professionals across food science, including manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, retailers and technology partners. For International Confectionery readers, the event provides a practical opportunity to track supplier activity, identify product launches and understand the commercial and technical trends shaping chocolate, sugar confectionery and related sweet categories. Visitors should check the official organiser website for the next confirmed edition dates. The event is associated with United States.

Why IFT FIRST matters to the international confectionery industry

The value of IFT FIRST goes beyond a conventional exhibition or conference programme. Events of this type bring together confectionery manufacturers, cocoa and ingredient suppliers, machinery specialists, packaging companies, retailers, distributors, consultants and technology partners. This creates a concentrated environment for comparing solutions, reviewing new formats and discussing the operational issues affecting quality, efficiency, sustainability, traceability and speed to market.

For manufacturers and buyers planning investment, the event can support benchmarking across formulation, processing, automation, quality control, packaging, energy use and retail presentation. It can also provide direct access to technical specialists who can explain applications, production constraints, implementation requirements and potential commercial impact. For product development teams, the event is useful for monitoring flavour, texture, premiumisation, portion control, clean label, plant-based and better-for-you trends.

International Confectionery will monitor IFT FIRST for developments relevant to the global confectionery sector, including new products, equipment, ingredients, packaging formats, sustainability initiatives, business partnerships and market insight. Visitors should use the official registration link for the latest information on tickets, opening times, exhibitors, conference sessions and programme changes. Where available, the organiser’s official social channels and video platforms can also be used for updates before, during and after the event.

IFT Logo

Event Date

Location

McCormick Place
2301 S Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
United States of America

Contact

Follow The Event

EXBERRY® Aerated Gums

The Power of Plant-Based Colours

GNT will demonstrate how plant-based EXBERRY® colours can deliver vibrant shades while supporting natural ingredient lists at Gulfood Manufacturing 2026 (November 3-5, Dubai).
Pralines

Cargill Introduces Coconera Across Europe

Cargill introduces its Coconera cocoa butter equivalent range to Europe, offering confectionery manufacturers greater formulation and supply flexibility.
Ingredient-of-the-year-International-Confectionery

Ingredient of the Year Voting Opens

Vote for Ingredient of the Year at the International Confectionery Awards 2026. Discover the four finalists and cast your vote before 9 November.
Product-of-the-year-International-Confectionery

Vote for Product of the Year

Vote for Product of the Year at the International Confectionery Awards 2026. Discover the four finalists and cast your vote before 9 November.
Scroll to Top