LONDON, UK – lunch! visitors heading to ExCeL London next week, on 21-22 September, will be able to source more new food-to-go innovations than ever. Its tenth anniversary show, featuring an unprecedented 335 exhibitors, is now its biggest in every respect – with a record number of entries confirmed for its annual Innovation Challenge Awards.
The awards, which recognise the best products and solutions launched in the food-to-go sector over the last twelve months, will see 69 new innovations (including food, drink, equipment and technology) vying for a place in the show’s Innovation Challenge live final.
To get there, they have to win over the visitors and get their votes.
Voting opens at the lunch! Innovation Challenge Gallery from 10am on Thursday 21 September and will run until 4pm.
The exhibitors to have secured the most votes will then be invited to ‘pitch’ their new innovations to an expert panel of judges (and an audience full of visiting buyers) the following day. Pitches start at 11.15am in Keynote Theatre 1, with the results to be announced just a few hours later at 2.15pm, on Friday 22 September.
“lunch is still the best at showcasing and bringing innovation to our industry. Even after ten years it continues to be the only place to visit, especially at its new home in ExCeL London. I never miss it,” says Martin Hambleton, head of procurement at En Route International, and a regular judge of the show’s Innovation Challenge Awards.
Other returning judges include Louise Direito, head of innovation at Krispy Crème (formerly global senior food & beverage innovation manager at Costa Coffee); Angelina Harrisson, food and commercial director at Tossed; Sandy Anderson, senior buyer at Elior; and Neville Moon, owner of The NPD Kitchen (and a former head of food and beverage at Caffè Nero).
They’ll be joined by a host of new names for 2017 – taking the total number of judges up to 12 (from five last year).
Among them are Hannah Hughes, a freelance innovation and development specialist who has worked with Harris + Hoole and SSP; Paul Ettinger, business development director at Caffè Nero; Jane Treasure, an independent NPD consultant who has held senior roles at McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee; Alan Tomlins, MD of the Small Batch Coffee Roasters; Henry Ayers, founder and director at The Gentlemen Baristas; chef and restaurant consultant Jay Morjaria; and Guy Meakin, head of buying at Pret A Manger (and a former senior buyer at M&S).
New innovations, new insights, new venue
“lunch! offers us a fantastic opportunity each year to learn about the latest trends and developments in both the coffee and food-to-go industries. It’s a great chance to see and hear about these exciting developments first-hand and gives us an occasion for the industry to come together!” says Rachel Chatterton, senior innovation manager EMEA at Starbucks.
She’ll be appearing in an exclusive lunch! keynote talking about the importance of leading in food and drink innovation on the show’s opening day (at 2.15pm in Keynote Theatre 1).
For further information about the free seminar line-up, and the products up for Innovation Challenge Awards, the 2017 online Show Guide is now available to view online at www.lunchshow.co.uk/show-guide-2.
lunch! will take place at ExCeL London on Thursday and Friday, 21-22 September. To register for a free trade ticket in advance, please visit www.lunchshow.co.uk and quote priority code LUN13 (direct link: https://registration.n200.com/survey/00mbvaueop7fj/register?actioncode=LUN13).
