Wahaca & JD Wetherspoon announced in first line-up of Casual Dining speakers

Fullers, City Pub Group, Comptoir Group PLC & Boparan Restaurant Group also confirmed 

Casual Dining – the definitive trade event for the restaurant, pub and bar sector is pleased to announce the first names to be confirmed in the stellar speaker line-up for 2022. Renowned for attracting the best names in the business, Tim Martin, Founder and Chairman of JD Wetherspoon and Thomasina Miers, Co-Founder of Wahaca will be part of the programme – providing vital insights and inspiration to the sector.  

Chef and food writer Thomasina Miers is a former MasterChef winner and founder of the Wahaca group of Mexican restaurants. The company opened its first restaurant in London’s Covent Garden in August 2007 and in October 2008 a second opened at Westfield London. Wahaca launched their first mobile kitchen in 2011, selling Mexican street food on the streets of London, and by the end of 2017 Wahaca had 25 branches.  

Commenting on the show, Thomasina Miers says: “Casual Dining is a great opportunity for the industry to meet, share best practice and discover the latest innovations. Really looking forward to speaking at the show in September.”  

Other big names to be confirmed include Clive Watson, Chairman of City Pub Group, David Campbell from Hospitality Rising, Sona Sha, Group Marketing Director from Comptoir Group PLC, Andrew Hazel, Head of Food & Beverage Development at Boparan Restaurant Group, and Ollie Rosevear, Head of Sustainability at Fullers.  

More big-name speakers from the restaurant, pub and bar sector will be announced in the coming weeks.  

Over 200 exhibitors  

As well as inspiring content across three theatres (sponsored by Yumpingo) – including the dedicated Pub and Bar Keynote Theatre – the show will feature over 200 suppliers. These include the latest food, drink, equipment, tabletop, furniture, interior design, technology, and services suppliers all under one roof. 

The line-up features leading foodservice providers including JJ Foodservice, Menu Fresh, Unilever, McCain Foodservice Solutions, Jack & Bry, Borough Broth Company and Peka Kroef B.V, Craftis, Lumea Ltd, SuperTuffMenus, and IPW1. Visitors can also sample the latest baked goods and cakes from Billington Foods, Little & Cull, Tom’s Pies, and Symphonie Pasquier, and plant-based products from Biff’s Plant Shack, Future Farm, LoveSeitan, Meatless Farm, Moving Mountains Foods, and The White Rabbit Pizza Co – plus many more. 

Registration now open  

Casual Dining – co-located with Commercial Kitchen – the essential event for executive chefs and leading decision makers from all types of professional kitchens and lunch! – the definitive event for the café, coffee shop & food-to-go sector– will return to ExCeL London on 27-28 September 2023.  To register for a free trade ticket, visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk. Quote VCD15 to save the £20 door fee.