London was the capital of the casual dining world this week – as Casual Dining returned to the BDC to showcase the best new products, solutions, insights, and innovations of the year. We’ll be publishing the post-show review soon, in the meantime here’s a few photos from the show floor:
Freedom Brewery has retained its crown — winning King of Craft at Casual Dining for a second year running. It took the top spot with its (vegan certified) Freedom Pils – Pilsner Lager. As in previous years, it was a close-run competition. Over the last two days at the show, the 2018 judges — including dozens of VIP drinks buyers, press and beer experts — have been sampling their way around the many delights of the Craft Beer & Cider Pavilion. It’s a tough job… King of Craft contenders also included: Black Storm Porter from Black Storm Brewery Thundering Molly from…
New innovations by Carlsberg UK, Crooked Beverage Co, Double Dutch Drinks, Heineken UK – Blade, and Yumpingo scored top marks with the judges at Casual Dining today. All five were awarded Gold in the show’s prestigious Innovation Challenge Awards, which recognise the best casual dining products and solutions of the year.
Casual Dining visitors were busy casting their votes yesterday at the Innovation Challenge Awards Gallery. Their top-picks (13 in all) have now been shortlisted for today’s Innovation Challenge Live ‘pitching’ session, taking place at 11.15am in the BDC’s Executive Centre, with the results to be announced at 2.15pm. Exhibitors hoping their products will come away with a coveted ‘Gold Award’ will need to impress this year’s judges first – including Alice Elwes (Côte Brasserie), Megan Lewis-Thomas (Casual Dining Group), Chris Knight (Young’s & Geronimo Inns), Simon Xavier (The Restaurant Group), chef/restaurant consultant Jay Morjaria, and Keith Bird (former chief operating…