Casual Dining – the definitive trade show for the UK’s restaurant, pub & bar sector is back, opening on 27-28 February, at its new home ExCeL London. Here’s a preview of what’s in store for the thousands of operators preparing to attend.
Casual Dining is already known as a magnet for top buyers from across the casual dining sector and it’s aiming to raise the bar yet again. Its new, larger venue ExCeL London will accommodate over 220 exhibitors, two Keynote theatres (both sponsored by Yumpingo), more specialist show feature areas and enable easier navigation for visitors around the busy show floor.
With countless new, innovative products on offer, a visit to Casual Dining gives visitors the unique opportunity to refresh their food and drink offering and entice both new and returning customers over the coming year.
Over 220 Leading Suppliers
Visitors can now view the show’s initial exhibitor list here.
Among the exhibitor highlights are: Quorn Foods, LoveSeitan, Moving Mountains Foods and Rude Health for plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. M&M Walshe Group, Sino International Trading, GoodLife Foods, Loughnane’s of Galway, Pacific West Foods and Sea Products International for meat and fish products (Reynolds will also be launching its new fishmonger and butcher brands – Shoal and Carnivore, at the show). Futura Foods UK, Eurilait, and Bradbury & Son for specialty cheeses. Mademoiselle Desserts UK, Yee Kwan Ice Cream, Silver Pail Dairy, Joe Delucci’s, NIC, Aulds Delicious Desserts, Fwip Frozen Desserts, and Vittles Food for gourmet ice cream or desserts.
Some of the world’s best-selling beer and cider brands are also now confirmed, including Heineken Blade, Carlsberg UK, and Molson Coors (whose portfolio includes Carling, Coors Light, Staropramen, Cobra, Grolsch, Doom Bar, Worthington’s, Caffrey’s, Singha, Rekorderlig and Aspall), plus Glebe Farm – Gluten Free, METEOR Brewery, Black Storm Brewery, Kraft Beer UK, Celtic Marches Beverages, Jubel Beer, Big Drop Brewing Co, Wild Beer Co, West Berkshire Brewery, and Big Hug Brewing.
Low and no alcohol brands are also on the rise, with the additions of Sea Arch by Not Gin, Lucent Drinks, Real Kombucha and LA Brewery Kombucha.
While MCS Technical Products, Pizza Equipment, Meiko UK, The American BBQ Company, QCR Recycling Equipment, Nelson Catering Equipment, Craftis, Colour Heroes, Keeko Kids, B-Loony, MyWipe, Harfield Tableware, Eden Furniture, Jenpak, Kobas, Bookatable By Michelin, ApicBase, S4Labour, and The London Linen Group are just some of the other returning exhibitors listed.
Big name Keynotes
The addition of a second theatre ensures there’s even more great content from over 25 new show speakers. Among them are CEOs, founders, and senior directors from Dishoom (Shamil Thakrar), Carluccio’s (Mark Jones), Hawksmoor (Will Beckett), Mowgli Street Food (Nisha Katona), Jamie’s Italian (Ed Loftus), Pizza Pilgrims (Thom Elliot), The Alchemist Bars & Restaurants (Simon Potts), MEATliquor (Scott Collins), PizzaExpress (Jane Treasure), BrewDog (David McDowall), Swingers (Matt Grech-Smith), Albion & East (Sarah Weir), Blacklock (Gordon Ker), Flight Club (Steve Moore), and Social Entertainment Ventures (Toby Harris).
Also making their debut are: head marketeers from wagamama (Andre Johnstone), Mitchells & Butlers (Anna-Marie Mason), Bill’s Restaurants (Lesley McIlroy), Revolution Bars Group (Kate Eastwood), and Las Iguanas (Lucy Harwood); operations directors from The Ivy Collection (Baton Berisha), YO! (Jo Childs), Browns Brasserie & Bar (Dave Lewis), and Pizza Pilgrims (Gavin Smith); plus wagamama’s executive chef Steven Mangleshot.
As previously confirmed, the CEOs of UKHospitality, Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, Pizza Hut Restaurants UK, Casual Dining Group, The New World Trading Co (NWTC), and Oakman Inns will also be giving their take on the challenges and opportunities of competing in this dynamic market.
For full details and timings, please visit here
Free advance trade registration
Casual Dining will take place at the new venue of ExCeL London on 27-28 February 2019. Entry to the show’s two Keynote Theatres (sponsored by Yumpingo) is free with advance visitor registration.
“Casual Dining has already established itself as the destination show for restaurant, pub and bar operators. It’s the only UK event that annually attracts so many leading innovators, influencers, trailblazers and decision makers from across the sector together in one place at one time. The incredible free Keynote line-up, makes it even more unmissable,” says event manager Eva Ellis.
For more information and to register for a free trade ticket to Casual Dining 2019, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and use priority code CD85.
