Imagine that you are a restaurant owner or restaurant chain procurement manager. The Restaurant Show 2019 at the London Olympia would provide you everything you want, including chairs, ovens, software, crockery, food and beverages. TradeScope's Ted Horton reports.
Ted was expecting more of a food and beverage presence. There were some larger foodservice suppliers, such as KFF (Sysco) and Prestige Food & Wine, and some established and emerging alcohol brands offering a taste of their spirits. There were also snacks producers, condiments and coffee brands. But food and beverage represented only 20% of this show. The big categories outside of food and beverage were: - software (e.g., EPOS and innovative ways of ordering) - furniture - cutlery and crockery - packaging (e.g., for fast food) After talking with a number of exhibitors, it was clear that there were buyers from restaurant and pub chains circulating around the show, but most of the visitors were independent restaurant owners. The only food and beverage brands which would benefit from exhibiting would be those specifically targeted at the HRI market. When it comes to beverages, there are many shows which would be stronger, and harness the same volume of pub and restaurant chain buyers.
On another tack, Ted saw Hideki Yamane at the show. Tradescope worked with Hideki under their client WUSATA® when Hideki worked for the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. He is about to finish a business degree at London Business School and has some exciting beverage plans that we'll certain keep an eye out for in the future.
For more info about the show please contact Ted here.