Over the past few years, speciality food and drink has become increasingly popular as consumers continue to seek out interesting, innovative products. We visited this year?s Speciality & Fine Food Fair to see what all the fuss is about.
Regular readers of EatSleepDrink will have seen many artisan food and drink suppliers featured in our pages over the last year. Indeed, Speciality & Fine Food Fair is at the heart of this gourmet renaissance as it offers key decision makers from the likes of the ?Big Four?, food halls, markets and delis the chance to find the next big thing in artisan food and drink.
By nature, artisan, regional and speciality food companies tend to be quite small. From the customer?s perspective, this is often seen as a benefit as they appreciate the personal thought and attention that goes into the business and its products. Furthermore, the close control the owners have over the production process can often lead to extraordinary products. However, when it comes to the owner, it can mean less resource and expertise to help with expansion plans.
To help small or medium sized businesses and restaurants get ahead of the competition, this year?s Speciality & Fine Food Fair Small Business Forum provided case studies, solutions and practical advice on a wide range of topics from a series of experts. Practical advice included topics such as how to tackle tricky business issues; key trends in food and drink; technicalities behind manufacture and processing; creating a striking window and store display; and understanding how to make social media both beneficial and successful.
Indeed, Speciality & Fine Food Fair enjoyed another hugely successful run at London Olympia this year, attracting over 10,000 industry professionals through the doors, a 2 per cent increase on 2011.
With over 600 exhibitors, there was an exciting array of artisan food and drink on display, enticing retail and foodservice buyers from around the world. The programme was bursting with events, including the ever-popular Fine Food Forum with headliners Shelina Permalloo and Mat Follas of Masterchef fame. The Small Business Forum and Business Mentoring saw a host of industry experts out in force to give visitors practical advice to take away with them.
For the first time in 2012, the Speciality Chocolate Fair hosted the UK Finals of the World Chocolate Masters, a huge coup for the show which saw the UK?s top chocolatiers and pastry chefs battle it out in a bid to be crowned UK Chocolate Master. The prestigious event was won for the first time by a woman, Ruth Hinks.
There were also surprises along the way, such as the unveiling of Jean-Marie Dessard?s brilliant chocolate portrait of sporting legend Mo Farah, the presentation of the Great Taste Awards Supreme Champion trophy to Hannan Meats and recognition for Delilah in Nottingham as Olive Et Al?s Deli of the Year 2012. All of this helped bring a healthy influx of visitors throughout the three days.
Soraya Gadelrab, Event Manager of Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2012 said: ?We have been overwhelmed by the fantastic response to this year?s show so far. The addition of the World Chocolate Masters UK Finals, the unveiling of the Mo Farah portrait in chocolate and the wonderful mixture of producers has all helped to make this the best show to date. It will be hard to top in 2013, but I?m sure we?re more than up to the challenge!?
Rewarding success
Speciality & Fine Food Fair also brings together the finalists of The Guild of Fine Food?s Great Taste Awards and Olives et Al?s Deli of the Year.
The Great Taste Awards are seen as the benchmark for fine food in the UK. With over 6,000 entries from around 1,300 companies, each product is blind-tasted by 300 experts at various locations around the country, before being whittled down into smaller groups to be judged a second and third time. With all finalists on display at Speciality & Fine Food Fair, the products were awarded one, two or three gold stars on the second day of the exhibition.
Commenting on Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2012, Event Manager Soraya Gadelrab added: ?To ensure the Speciality & Fine Food Fair continues to grow, we always try and build on the success of the year before?.
Plans are already underway for Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2013, which is taking place from the 8-10 September at London Olympia. For details on exhibiting and information on the 2013 show, please visit www.specialityandfinefoodfair.co.uk.
CJ Spiller tracy morgan Chase.com Talk Like a Pirate Day raiders
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