Top buyers from EAT, Tesco, Waitrose, Superdrug, British Airways, IKEA, Brakes, Elior, Baxterstorey, Sodexo, and Gate Retail Onboard, are among the who’s who of buyers that have already pre-registered to attend lunch! 2015, which returns to the Business Design Centre in London on 24-25 September.
Focus on innovation
Now in its eighth year and firmly established as the leading trade event for the UK’s £6.9bn food-to-go market, lunch’s pivotal focus on innovation has made it a popular choice with buying teams from many of the country’s biggest food-to-go operators, including supermarkets, multiples, contract caterers, wholesalers, distributors, travel caterers, cafés, coffee shops, and sandwich shops.
Growing demand and attendance
Thanks to glowing testimonials and a significant 44% increase in attendees in the last two years, the 2015 edition will be the biggest lunch! yet. To accommodate growing demand from a raft of new food, drink, packaging, technology, and equipment suppliers looking to reach this important market, a 25% increase in stands has expanded the show into an additional new hall on the Upper Feature Level – taking the total to an unprecedented 350 exhibiting companies. Over 6,500 key buyers and decision makers are set to join them, when doors open in just over three months’ time.
What’s new for 2015?
Given the breadth and number of exhibitors on offer at lunch!, it’s perhaps no surprise that the word ‘innovation’ is frequently cited as the biggest selling point of the show. Since its launch in 2008, it’s been helping buyers to stay one step ahead of their competition with all the latest new trends and suppliers. And 2015 promises more of the same.
- The initial exhibitor list, which includes Cawston Press, Chi Drinks, Coca Cola, Coveris, Frobishers, Lick, Metcalfe’s Food Co, Pipers Crisps, Raynor Foods, Simple Simon Foods, Taylors of Harrogate, Tri-star Packaging, UCC Coffee and Unilever (Tea Fusion), is available here. New exhibitors include Country Choice, Foster Refrigerator, Gino Gelato, Tetley, Twinings, WMF UK, and Oli & Zoe’s Food Co (which launched the UK’s first healthy popcorn for children earlier this year).
- The show’s new hall on the Upper Feature Level will be home to the Innovation Challenge Showcase, VIP Lounge, new Artisan Ingredients Village, and new Menu Innovation Theatre (sponsored by Magrini). It will host the popular live finals of the annual British Smoothie Championships (also sponsored by Magrini), the Café Life Awards heats, and an exciting new series of coffee, smoothie, tea and juice master classes lead by industry experts.
- New exhibitors on the Upper Feature level include New York Bakery Co, Euro Food Brands, Marston Foods, James White Drinks, Goodness Brands, George Skoulikas, TM Electronics, Two Chicks, White Rabbit Pizza, Emily Fruit Crisps, Pullins Bakers, Pizza Cones, and Devonvale Bakers.
Big name keynotes in the Working lunch! Theatre
The Working lunch! Theatre also boasts a new home for 2015. Although still on the Upper Feature Level, it’s new position enables it to cater for a significantly bigger audience. Running throughout the two day show, the free business seminars are renowned for attracting a host of high-profile brands and industry leaders from across the food-to-go retailing and contract catering industry. The first headline Keynote to be announced for this year, is a Q&A with Roger Whiteside, CEO of bakery and food-to-go giant Greggs.
The full Working lunch! Theatre programme will be unveiled over the next few months, with senior directors from EAT., Pret A Manger, M&S, Subway and Starbucks set to be announced.
Save the date for lunch! 2015
lunch! – the multi-award-winning trade event for the food-to-go industry, returns to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on Thursday and Friday, 24-25 September 2015.
For further information and to book a free trade pass in advance, visit www.lunchshow.co.uk and quote priority code PR1 (direct link)