Speciality & Fine Food Fair is back for 2015 – bigger and better than ever before! Taking place on 6th, 7th and 8th September, the show will showcase the very best in artisan food and drink. It is the opportunity to source products from more than 750 British and international exhibitors. There will be thousands of new, gourmet and artisan products available to see and taste at the show, which is now in a new home – Olympia National in London – due to an incredible demand for stand space. Visitors can see live cookery demonstrations and discover new ingredients and ideas as well as engage in seminars, business forums and network with industry peers. Featured within the show is the Speciality Chocolate Fair – the UK’s largest B2B showcase of luxury and gourmet chocolate.
This year, there is a huge line-up of businesses of all shapes and sizes, from brands such as Breckland Orchard, Proper Nutty, Corkers Potato Crisps, Rebel Kitchen to Wise Owl Tea, Purely Pickled Eggs, Delicious Alchemy. Gran Stead’s Ginger and Great Taste 2014 supreme champion Snowflake Gelato.
A record breaking year in 2014 – there were more than 12,000 visitors and 750 exhibitors – has seen a stampede of food and drink producers sign up for this year’s Small Producers Village for start-ups, and stands quickly sold out. Among the Small Producers this year are Cast Iron Coffee Roasters, Cookie Crumbles, Tea People, Flower & White, Wise Owl Tea, Mallow and Marsh and Maynard’s Farm, along with Freida’s Pantry and Drink Maple.
A Chocolate Centre
Speciality Chocolate Fair is at the heart of Speciality & Fine Food Fair – and is the UK’s only dedicated trade event for fine and artisan chocolate. The ‘show within a show’ will feature its own live theatre – Speciality Chocolate Live which will be hosted by Author, Pastry Chef Consultant and Chocolate Ambassador Will Torrent. The presenters include renowned chocolatier Matthieu de Gottal and ITV Britain’s Best Bakery Judge Peter Sidwell. Supported by the Academy of Chocolate, there will also be Rising Star demo sessions showcasing new and inspiring talent, including chef Gavan Knox from Mr Mom’s.
More than a show…
As well as a showcase of fine artisan brands – Speciality & Fine Food Fair is an experience. There will be a line-up of top chefs in Fine Food Live – all participating in live cookery demonstrations. A place to keep up to speed with flavour trends and learn about the latest cooking techniques. The presenters include Mark Greenaway, Chef Patron Restaurant Mark Greenaway, Hulya Erdal, Chef Consultant Made by the Chef, and Steven Bennett, Executive Head Chef at The Lincolnshire Chef & The Comfy Duck – while the host is Steve Walpole, Chef Consultant and Freelance Chef.
There is also a Small Business Forum featuring a series of talks delivering practical advice on increasing consumer loyalty and ensuring longevity. Speakers include Natasha Corrett, CEO Honestly Healthy Ltd, Emma Macdonald, founder of The Bay Tree Food Company and John Stapleton, co-founder New Covent Garden Soup Co and Little Dish. There will also be a Business Mentoring Centre where industry experts will be on hand with free one-to-one advice.
Accelerating businesses
In a UK first – six new, ambitious food and drink businesses will be discovered – and invested in – at Speciality & Fine Food Fair. Presented by The Grocery Accelerator, the selected businesses stand to share an investment pot of £360,000 and a place on a break-through business accelerator programme. During the Fair, twelve businesses will battle it out for a place on the unique six month coaching and mentoring programme. The winners will be announced on September 8th at the Fair.
Discovering new gems
Owen Davies, from renowned fine food distributors, Harvey & Brockless, said: “Speciality & Fine Food Fair is always a joy to visit. There is a real vibrancy about the show – and it always has a great selection of independent producers and products just waiting to be discovered. It is an incredible place to explore the latest food trends and find out what is making the sector tick, as well as meet up with our existing suppliers. This year, I am looking forward to finding out about all that is new in the patisserie world, as well as innovation in the gluten free category.”
Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director, said: “The line-up, both in terms of exhibitors and attractions, at this year’s Speciality & Fine Food Fair is truly exciting, making it a must attend trade show for those in the food and drink industry. When the doors open in September, the stage is set for more than 750 new and established producers to showcase their fantastic products, and for wholesalers to be able to source some of the very latest and diverse speciality products available.”
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