Casual Dining 2015: Visitor registration now open
With nearly a thousand visitors already pre-registered and 85% of its three-floor exhibition space sold, the second edition of the award-winning Casual Dining show looks set to reach new heights of success when it returns to the Business Design Centre in London next year on 25-26 February.
The UK’s first dedicated trade event for the Casual Dining sector (including multiple and independent pubs, bars, and restaurants), Casual Dining has enjoyed strong industry support from the outset. Its launch event, just nine months ago, attracted 3,655 industry professionals and went on to win a best trade show award at the Association of Event Organisers’ hotly contested Excellence Awards (it was the first launch show in over five years to triumph in the ‘Best Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ category).
For 2015, Casual Dining aims to raise the bar again, with a 45% increase in exhibiting space – taking the show up to the venue’s upper feature level for the first time.
“It’s great to finally have a trade show dedicated to our industry,” says Steve Holmes, managing director of Ask Italian Restaurants. “[It’s] a really worthwhile visit.”
“Casual Dining brings independent businesses and large chains together in a unique venue, with lots of innovative companies showing us the future in casual dining,” agrees Trevor Reeves, purchasing and supply chain manager, T.G.I. Friday’s UK.
From 118 exhibiting companies in 2014 to around 170 next year, Casual Dining’s rapid expansion mirrors the growing success of the UK’s £6.9bn casual dining market; which is now attracting an extra 47million visits each year compared to five years ago[1]. It is this strong market performance, combined with glowing testimonials and a strong onsite rebook, that has resulted in the show’s ground floor already selling out. Whilst the middle level has just one stand left to fill.
Recent additions to the show’s exhibitor line-up include Miller Brands (home to Pilsner Urquell and Peroni), Oriental grocer Wing Yip, Rombouts Coffee, Keck Pasta, vegan food specialist V-bites, Electrolux Professional, Marine Ices, Farm Frites UK & Ireland, Craftis, and Fever-Tree.
They join previously confirmed big name brands like Lamb Weston, Estrella Damm, Gamble Food Service Equipment, Magrini, Unox UK, Darta, Luscombe Organic Drinks, Nisbets, Taylors of Harrogate, UCC Coffee UK, Vivreau, Ambach UK, Catering Design Group, Stokes Coffee, Bar & Restaurant Foods, Dr. Oetker (UK), and Eden Contract Furniture. Reynolds, Gram UK, DiSotto Foods, McCain Foodservice GB, and Purbeck Ice Cream are among numerous exhibitors that have also increased the size of their presence for 2015.
Echoing the sentiments of many of his co-exhibitors, Karl Hodgson, UK sales director at Adande Refrigeration, says: “The Casual Dining show is a breath of fresh air. People say shows are not the thing to do, but how can you show off new products without people seeing, touching and feeling, only at shows… Casual Dining was a winner for Adande!”
The initial exhibitor list is now available to view at https://onlineexhibitormanual.com/divCasualDining15/exhi/exhibitorList.aspx.
Innovative show features
With over 4,000 attendees from across the casual dining sector expected for 2015, Casual Dining has recently unveiled several new show features. In addition to 50 extra stands, the new upper feature level will also be home to a second, new show theatre – dedicated to Drinks Innovation (including menus, tastings, and the latest market research) and the new ‘King of Craft’ beer awards.
The Keynote Theatre meanwhile, one of the show’s most commented upon features, will be back with another ‘high profile’ programme for 2015. Previous speakers and panellists include Jens Hofma (Pizza Hut Restaurants), Peter Martin (CGA Peach), Robin Rowland (Yo! Sushi), Simon Kossoff (Carluccio’s), Tim Bacon (Living Ventures), Ian Neill (Wagamama and Las Iguanas), Alex Reilley (Loungers), Andrew Guy (Ed’s Easy Diner Group), Steve Haslam (TLC Inns), and Anthony Pender (Yummy Pubs). The next line-up promises more of the same.
Also new is the Speciality Wine Village, which joins the Craft Beer & Cider Showcase and sold out Artisan Spirit and Cocktail Lounge. Beer, wine and spirits have long been a part of many casual dining restaurant menus, but with more operators competing for their customer’s loyalty, differentiation can be key. Together, these three distinctive alcohol pavilions aim to help operators stand out from the crowd. The lounge will feature Sipsmith, Berryshka, Pontoon Drinks, Warner Edwards Distillery, Tudor Drinks, Green Box Drinks, Strathearn Distillery, and Hi-Spirits.
“Above all our opportunities we’re looking forward to Casual Dining the most, as it’s important for quality wine companies like ourselves to connect with senior buyers from the eating and drinking out sector,” says Alistair Green, from Spanish winery Felix Solis Avantis SA.
“There is a natural fit between Craft beer and casual dining in that both sectors are driven by a desire for quality, exploration and innovation. We wouldn't miss the show, as the casual dining sector is rapidly becoming one of the most important sectors for showcasing the UK's fantastic Craft beer revolution,” says Toby Knowles, managing director, Harviestoun Craft Beers.
Save the date for 2015
Casual Dining (including the Interior Design Awards and Innovation Challenge Live) will return to the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, on Wednesday and Thursday 25-26 February 2015.
“Casual Dining is a great addition to the industry calendar. A fantastic opportunity to meet potential suppliers and strengthen working relations with existing ones. I will most definitely attend next year,” says Jenny Elliott, food development at J D Wetherspoon plc.
“Casual Dining is a must in my diary – a great day to pick up those ideas to stay ahead of the game,” agrees Vance McAllister, operations director, Whyte & Brown Limited.
To register for a free trade pass, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and quote priority code CDPR1 (direct link: http://www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/CasualDining.aspx?TrackingCode=CDPR1).
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Media enquiries & press pass requests to:
Emma-Louise Jones, PR Manager
t: 44 (0)1273 645134 e: ejones@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=5009585
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiversifiedUK
Exhibitor enquiries to:
Chris Brazier, Group Event Manager
t: 44 (0)1273 645123 e: cbrazier@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CasDiningShow
Notes:
[1] Goodbye full service, casual dining is good enough thank you – NPD Group, 17th June 2014 (https://www.npdgroup.co.uk/wps/portal/npd/uk/news/press-releases/goodbye-full-service-casual-dining-is-good-enough-thank-you/)
Casual Dining was the first launch show (UK and international) in over five years to win ‘Best Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ at the Association of Event Organisers’ Excellence Awards 2014.
High res images available upon request:
www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Casual-Dining-2014-1024x542.jpgwww.casualdiningshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Crowd11.jpgwww.casualdiningshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/CD-visiting.jpgwww.casualdiningshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/CD-split-2.jpgwww.casualdiningshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/CD-split-4.jpg
Diversified Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough, Leamington Spa, and Nailsworth, Glos. Diversified UK’s portfolio includes Casual Dining; lunch!; The Natural Food Show (part of Natural & Organic Products Europe); Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden (co-located with Natural Products Scandinavia); camexpo; office*; SITS – The Service Desk & IT Support Show; Natural Products magazine; the Natural Beauty Yearbook; Geo Business; Ocean Business (including Offshore Survey Conference & Ocean Careers); MARELEC Marine Electromagnetics conference in Philadelphia, USA; Euro Bus Expo; Coach and Bus Live; Best of Britain & Ireland; Route One; and Coach Monthly. For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, eMedia, publications and television stations. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management. Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified employs over 800 staff, with divisions in the Eastern United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Thailand and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com
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