New Casual Dining show targets food-led pub operators
With food sales becoming an increasingly important income stream for the UK’s pub and bar sector, operators looking to expand their menu offering will find a host of new ideas at next month’s Casual Dining trade show. Taking place at the Business Design Centre in London, on 26-27 February, the new launch is now just five stands away from selling out of all exhibition space.
Catering specifically to the business needs of casual dining operators (including food-led pubs and bars), the event will feature 120 companies showcasing an innovative choice of food and drink, equipment, interior design, furniture, technology and table top.
Representatives from JD Wetherspoon, Greene King, Enterprise Inns, Mitchells & Butlers, Fuller Smith & Turner, Marston’s, Punch Taverns, Whitbread, Spirit Pub Company, and hundreds of independents from across the UK, are among the ‘who’s who’ of buyers that have already pre-registered to attend.
The rise of food-led pubs
Much has changed for the traditional pub over the last few decades. Average food sales in the UK’s 49,500 pubs now account for 25% of total sales[1] (compared to 9% in 2001). That figure is significantly higher (well over half of total sales) for many of the UK’s 17,000 managed pub restaurants, which (according to foodservice analysts Horizons) now hold a 22% share of the UK’s eating out market (forecast to rise to 26% by 2016).
Recent research by Mintel is equally upbeat, with their ‘Pub Catering Market Report’ (May 2013) predicting that the UK’s pub catering market will grow to £7.77 billion by 2017 (it was £6.57bn in 2012). The report also revealed that pub/bar restaurants topped the list of most visited type of restaurant in the UK.
One operator who has certainly taken advantage of this continuing growth is Brian Whiting, managing director of independent pub management group Whiting & Hammond, a former Savoy Hotel chef who recognises the importance of a good food offering. Having grown Whiting & Hammond from one site in 2003 to an award-winning chain of seven, he’s perfectly placed to share his thoughts on the latest pub catering trends at the Casual Dining show.
The Propel Panel – Future directions of the pub sector
Whiting is just one of the recently confirmed names set to feature on ‘The Propel Panel – Future directions of the pub sector’, which kicks off at noon on the second day of Casual Dining (Thursday 27 February). Chaired by Propel Info’s managing director Paul Charity, the panelists also include Steve Haslam, co-founder of TLC Inns, Anthony Pender, co-founder of Yummy Pubs, and David McHattie, chief executive of Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).
Commenting on the launch, McHattie says: “The casual dining sector in the UK is a hotbed of innovation, entrepreneurialism, growth and jobs, and trade shows such as Casual Dining play a valuable role in inspiring ideas for the future. We look forward to supporting this event targeted at this vital and growing segment of the industry we represent.”
Big name exhibitors
Casual Dining’s strong exhibitor uptake – which already includes Fresh Direct, Reynolds, Southern Salads, Nestle Professional, McCain Foodservice (GB), JDM Food Group, Cheese Cellar, Plus Food UK, Lamb Weston, Aviko United Kingdom, Essential Cuisine, Sacla UK, Estrella Damm, Department 33 Wines of Bordeaux, Warner Edwards, Berryshka, London Velvet, Metro Drinks, and Kimbo UK – reflects how seriously leading suppliers are taking the new show.
Whilst Winterhalter, True Food International, Catersave Europe, Electrolux Professional, Rational UK, The Menu Shop, Catering Design Group, Alan Nuttall, Halton, Gram UK, Lynx Purchasing, and Quintex Systems will be presenting their latest equipment and services – encompassing everything from interior design to space-saving appliances, washerware, linen, point-of-sale systems and more.
To view the current Casual Dining exhibitor list (to date), please visit https://onlineexhibitormanual.com/divcasualdining14/exhi/exhibitorList.aspx.
Casual Dining will take place at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 26-27 February 2014. For further information and to register for a free trade ticket, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and quote priority code PR4 (http://www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/CasualDining.aspx?AffiliateCode=PR4).
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[1] ALMR’s Industry Benchmarking Survey 2013
Media enquiries & press pass request to:
Emma-Louise Jones, PR Manager
t: 44 (0)1273 645134 e: ejones@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
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Exhibitor enquiries to:
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t: 44 (0)1273 645123 e: cbrazier@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CasDiningShow
Diversified Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton and Nailsworth (Glos). Diversified UK’s portfolio includes Casual Dining (new for 2014); lunch! (winner of Best Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Association of Event Organisers Excellence Awards in 2012, and Best UK Trade Show Exhibition (under 2,000sqm) in 2010 & 2011); The Natural Food Show (part of Natural & Organic Products Europe); Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden (co-located with Natural Products Scandinavia); Geo Business (new for 2014); Ocean Business (including Offshore Survey Conference & Ocean Careers); MARELEC Marine Electromagnetics conference in Hamburg, Germany; camexpo; office*; SITS – The Service Desk & IT Support Show; Natural Products magazine; and the Natural Beauty Yearbook.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a successful portfolio of sector leading exhibition, conferences, publications and websites.
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