lunch! show announces big name seminar line-up

LONDON – lunch! , the leading trade event for the out of home food and drink industry in the UK, has unveiled its full Working lunch! Theatre line-up for 2012.  Running throughout the two day show over 20-21 September at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, this year’s sessions have been specifically chosen to enable lunch! attendees to maximise their business opportunities using the latest market trends, plus insights and information from high-profile brands and industry leaders.

lunch!’s free training and education programme is renowned for attracting ‘inspirational’ big names from the food to go retailing and contract catering industry.  This year is no exception – with Pret A Manger’s director of food Caroline Cromer, and street food champion, TV presenter and journalist Richard Johnson, heading up the impressive list of Keynote speakers confirmed to appear in the Working lunch! Theatre.

“Talking at lunch!  is a great opportunity to spark debate and conversation around some of the challenges we are all facing in the industry,” says Ms Cromer about her opening day Keynote ‘Pret: Our 25 Year Vision’.

Launched in 1986 to provide “honest, natural food to the masses”, Pret A Manger has seen many changes in the out of home market in recent years.  Given that food on the move has never been more popular, Ms Cromer says the growing trend amongst UK consumers to seek more sustainable, natural food and drink products, ensures that big name suppliers like Pret, who have championed their vision of producing handmade, natural food for over 25 years, have a wealth of retailing experience to share.

Richard Johnson meanwhile will be discussing another key trend currently transforming consumers’ expectations of eating out of home entirely – in ‘Street Food Revolution’, taking place on Friday, 21 September. 

“The success of street food is about a change in Britain's food culture,” says Mr Johnson, whose British Street Food Awards first burst onto the scene in 2010.  “We don't want starter-main course-dessert any more. We want tapas, and tasting plates. We want supper clubs and pop-up restaurants. We want a bit of fun served up with our dinner. And cafes, delis – food businesses everywhere – would do well to understand that.” 

All about immediacy

Whilst the street food concept itself is nothing new, it is innovative vendors like lunch! 2012 exhibitor The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company (whose Cafe M?r won the 2011 British Street Food Best of the Best Award), that have really helped take it to the next level – as well as indoors.  Street food’s eye-catching menus, packed with tasty, often locally-sourced cuisine, thrives on differentiation and “sells on its freshness” says Mr Johnson, who is keen to demonstrate how the flexibility, convenience, and affordability of this revolutionary trend can offer huge benefits to out of home food and drink retailers.     Nike