The central and Eastern European International Food, Drink and Hospitality Exhibition (IFE Poland) will take over the entire EXPO XXI exhibition in Warsaw for next year's exhibition.

This year the three-day event welcomed 5595 trade professional visitors and 93 per cent said they would return in 2005.

With almost 40 per cent extra floor space, next year's event will include an additional exhibition hall to host three new pavilions dedicated to wine, meat and dairy produce.

Organiser of the event, Montgomery International Limited, reports 74 per cent of the floor plan has already been sold with another 19 per cent expected to be reserved by December 2004.

"In a little over three years, IFE Poland has become one of Montgomery International's main events," said Montgomery International managing director Matthew Benyon. "The show's continued growth is a testament to exhibitors' faith in our delivering the professional B2B audience that they are looking for. The IFE brand, Poland's accession to the EU, its buoyant economy and food sector, our partner's new Warsaw venue as well as Montgomery's pedigree in providing top quality trade fairs, have combined to produce a wonderful exhibition that continues to exceed our expectations."

In the two years since it started IFE Poland has attracted national pavilions from all over the EU and this year Egypt and Brazil will join the list.

Montgomery International report the CMA of Germany has already confirmed their second national stand. CMA pavilion organiser Peter Bergleiter said: "Our second 156 square metre stand is now almost full and from the overwhelming response I can foresee a third pavilion coming up."

Economic growth forecasts by the European Commission last month estimated Poland could rely on a growth of five per cent this year. This figure is twice as much as the EU average and much higher than countries such as Germany or France, making Poland the fastest developing large EU state.