lunch! joins forces to launch the London Food & Drink Festival
One free ticket now gives visitors access to five major trade events at Excel London this September
In just two weeks, lunch! – the national food-to-go, retail and coffee shop event – will join forces with four other leading food and drink trade events for the first time, as part of the brand-new London Food & Drink Festival.
Taking place 16-17 September at Excel London, the festival brings lunch! together with The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show, London Drinks Exchange, Natural & Organic Food Show and Artisan Food & Drink Show, uniting them under one roof for the first time.
It’s a new format designed to give visiting buyers and operators access to the full breadth of the food and drink industry in a single visit – and crucially, one ticket now grants industry professionals free entry to all FIVE shows when they register in advance.
The co-located events will feature 1000s of new food, drink, tech and equipment products from over 600 exhibitors, as well as 200+ world-class industry speakers across 8 stages. With so much innovation on display, it’s shaping up to be the UK’s most comprehensive food and drink trade event this year.
“We have always been incredibly proud of our unique, high-quality events serving key sectors within hospitality and the food retail industry. We have a strong track record of delivering the most innovative exhibitors, the most forward-thinking buyers and industry leaders talking across our keynote stages. But the lines between sectors are becoming more blurred, with many companies operating across sectors, so this is an incredibly exciting time, offering even more value for both exhibitors and visitors.”
– Chris Brazier, Group Event Director, London Food & Drink Festival
NEW INNOVATIONS TO LOOK OUT FOR
The lunch! exhibitor list is a real highlight of the show. Confirmed exhibitors include big name brands such as Oatly, TRIP, Popcorn Kitchen, Deliciously Ella, Organix, MOJU, Capri Sun, Minor Figures, Twinings, Love Corn, Graze, Yeo Valley Organic, Walkers Shortbread, Biomel, Vegware, UCC Coffee and Kellogg’s (Kellanova), among many more, all showcasing their latest launches and existing product ranges.
The line-up spans plant-based snacks, functional drinks, sustainable products and trend-setting coffee, giving food-to-go and coffee shop operators a comprehensive view of what’s next for the sector.
“lunch! is a fantastic event showcasing world-class innovation that will help take our industry forward.”
– Pano Christou, CEO, Pret A Manger
STAR SPEAKER LINE-UP CONFIRMED
lunch! brings senior leaders from huge brands to its Coffee Shop Stage, Food-to-Go stage, and Retail & Convenience Stage. Speakers include Pano Christou, CEO of Pret A Manger, James Campbell, Director of Product & Innovation at Sainsbury’s, Alasdair Murdoch, Chief Executive at Burger King, Annabel Mackie, Marketing Director at itsu, Caroline Ottoy, Managing Director at WatchHouse and Alice Hutfield, Director of Development at KFC.
In addition to industry leaders, the festival speaker line-up has the top names from marketing and operations to food innovation, bringing together the sharpest minds across every corner of the industry giving visitors expert insight whatever their role or specialism.
“A brilliant show to see innovative suppliers all in one place.”
– Julian Metcalfe OBE, Founder and Group CEO, itsu
The show floor will also once again host the Innovation Challenge, spotlighting the most exciting new food-to-go products launched within the last 12 months, alongside the Start Up Zone for emerging brands.
“The food-to-go and coffee shop market never slows down, and this is where the industry stays ahead of it. The buyers walking our aisles are the ones shaping what’s on the counter next season, and this year they’re joined by decision-makers from four other shows, all under one roof. You won’t find a more essential two days for the sector anywhere else in the calendar.”
– Katie Tyler, Event Director, lunch!
ONE TICKET, FIVE SHOWS
Visitors to lunch! will also have full access to the four co-located events running alongside it. The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show brings an additional 4 stages sponsored by Uber Eats including the new CHEF LIVE Stage, featuring Michelin-starred talent and leading hospitality figures. Natural & Organic Food Show shines a light on the fastest-growing corner of the industry via its own Natural & Organic Food Stage, sponsored by More Than Only Food & Drink while London Drinks Exchange and the Artisan Food & Drink Show round out the festival with trendsetting drinks and artisan producers.
Together with Start-Up and Launchpad Zones, Innovation Challenge Galleries, live DJ sets and interactive features running across both days, it’s less a trade show than a new era for hospitality and retail events.
REGISTRATION CLOSES SOON
Free trade registration for The London Food & Drink Festival, including lunch!, is open at lunchshow.co.uk, with registration subject to verification ahead of the event. For anyone in food-to-go, retail or coffee trying to stay a step ahead of what’s next, September’s diary date is one worth locking in NOW – free registration ends soon.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The London Food & Drink Festival takes place 16-17 September at Excel London, bringing together lunch!, The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show, London Drinks Exchange, Natural & Organic Food Show and Artisan Food & Drink Show. One free trade ticket grants access to all five shows. For press enquiries, imagery or interview requests, please contact Joy Elliott.
