Casual Dining show back in London this week

Casual dining restaurant, pub and bar operators will be out in force at the Business Design Centre in London this week – checking out the latest new products and services on offer from over 200 exhibitors at Casual Dining 2018.

The multi-award winning two day trade show for the casual dining sector, taking place this Wednesday and Thursday (21-22 February), is on target to attract over 4,500 attendees. Among them will be some of biggest buyers in the business, with one in four pre-registered visitors citing a corporate spend in excess of £1m (12% report £10m-plus budgets).

“Britain loves casual dining – it’s flexible, convenient, innovative and affordable,” says event manager Eva Ellis. “According to the latest stats from CGA, around 36.5 million consumers visited a casual dining brand in the last 6 months. However, with more and more operators competing for consumer spend and loyalty, standing out from the crowd is vital. That’s where Casual Dining show comes in.

“Everything that casual dining operators need to run their businesses successfully – from the food and drink they serve to how it’s paid for, the kitchen equipment to the front of house – it’s all here.

“Casual Dining showcases the best choice of the latest innovations and insights completely dedicated to the casual dining restaurant and pub sector, which is why so many buyers recommend it and call it their favourite show of the year. We’re looking forward to a very busy and productive two days,” she says.

Free Keynotes

Casual Dining’s high-profile seminar line-up includes MDs and senior directors from Casual Dining Group, PizzaExpress, Jamie’s Italian, Mitchells & Butlers, New World Trading Co, Glendola Leisure Group and more:

Wednesday 21 February

• •Peter Backman, Peter Backman Foodservice: Preparing for the future – challenges facing the casual dining sector
• •James Spragg, COO, Casual Dining Group: Brand evolution
• •Simon Stenning, MCA: Casual dining and the levers of sales growth
• •Mark Smith, MD, Pho: The delivery challenge
• •Chris Hill, CEO, New World Trading Co – interviewed by Peter Martin, VP, CGA
• •Jonathan Knight, CEO, Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group: Food for thought
• •Susan Chappell, Divisional Director/Exec Co, Mitchells & Butlers: Operating a range of brands and formats – the challenge to stay ahead
• •Large multi-site brands of the future: featuring Richard Boon, Founder & CEO, Hubbox; Jo Fleet, MD, Flat Iron; Lesa Kleidon, Head of Brand, KuPP; & chair Peter Martin, VP, CGA
• •Are we growing our pubs or saving our pubs? featuring Tim Foster, Head of Being Awesome, Yummy Pub Co; Brian Keeley-Whiting, MD, Whiting & Hammond; Alex Salussolia, MD, Glendola Leisure Group; & chair Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive, The ALMR

Thursday 22 February

• •Graeme Loudon, CGA: The impact of rising food price inflation on casual dining operators
• •Zoe Bowley, MD, PizzaExpress: Keeping PizzaExpress relevant after 53 years
• •Jamie Campbell, CGA: Segment & conquer – looking beyond demographics to understand your consumer
• •Paul Merrett, Owner, Jolly Fine Pub Group – interviewed by Peter Martin, VP, CGA
• •Brian Trollip, Operations Director, Dishoom: Building a big hearted and first-class business
• •Nick Collins, CEO, Loungers: Loungers – no jackets required
• •Luisa Fernandez, Marketing Director, YO!: How well do you know your customers – what
• can we learn from other industries?
• •Menu innovation for multi-site pubs & restaurants: featuring Antony Bennett, Head of Food, Loungers; Glenn Evans, Head of Food Development, Las Iguanas, La Tasca & La Vina; Chris Knights, Group Executive Chef, Young’s & Geronimo Inns; & chair Jay Morjaria, Chef and Consultant
• •Redefining casual dining: featuring Christian Rose, MD, All Star Lanes; Jeremy Simmonds, Co-Founder & MD, Competitive Socialising (Swingers); Simon Woplin, F&B Operations Manager, Picturehouse Cinemas; & chair Mike Berry, Head of Content, Fleet Street Communications

Full listings are available at www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/casual-dining-keynote-theatre.

“Casual Dining is the best food and drinks exhibition in the industry. It gets even bigger and better every year,” says Las Iguanas’ Glenn Evans.

Innovation Challenge Awards

The show’s Innovation Challenge Awards Gallery on the upper feature level is always a good starting point to see what’s new.

Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite new innovations – there are over 50 to choose from – on opening day (from 10am on 21 February). Their top picks will then make up the final shortlist of exhibitors who’ll go on to live pitch their products to this year’s expert judges, including top buyers and decision makers from Loungers, Las Iguanas, The Restaurant Group, Côte Brasserie, Young’s, and Casual Dining Group.

The live final starts at 11.15am in the BDC’s Executive Centre, with the results to be announced at 2.15pm, on Thursday 22 February.

Free trade registration ends soon

Casual Dining opens tomorrow at the Business Design Centre in London (21-22 February). For more information, and to register for a free trade ticket, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and quote priority code CD5 (direct link: https://eventdata.uk/Visitor/CasualDining.aspx?TrackingCode=CD5). Advance visitor registration closes at 9.30am on Wednesday 21 February (after which a £20 door charge may apply).

###

Media enquiries & press pass requests:

Please request a press pass via this link: https://eventdata.uk/Press/CasualDining.aspx
Emma-Louise Jones, Head of PR
t: +44 (0)1273 645134
e: ejones@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK

Grace Allwright, Group Marketing Manager
t: +44 (0)1273 645116
e: gallwright@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CasDiningShow

Exhibitor & sponsorship enquiries to:

Eva Ellis, Event Manager
t: +44 (0)1273 645167
e: eellis@divcom.co.uk

Chris Brazier, Group Event Director
t: +44 (0)1273 645123
e: cbrazier@divcom.co.uk