Thousands of restaurant, pub and bar buyers will be heading to London for Casual Dining this week. Doors open this Wednesday at ExCeL (10am, 27 February) with 5,000+ attendees expected over two days.
Among them will be some of the biggest buyers in the business, with nearly a third of pre-registered visitors (to date) citing a corporate spend in excess of £1m (15% report £10m-plus budgets).
The compelling line-up that awaits them includes 50 big name speakers appearing in 25 Keynote Theatre sessions, plus a record 220 exhibitors – showcasing everything from ingredients to food and drink, from smart kitchen kit and front of house, to payment solutions and catering tech.
“This week, at its new home of ExCeL London, Casual Dining is set to bring all the leading innovators, influencers, trailblazers, key buyers and senior decision makers together to do business. From our speakers and exhibitors to the visitors themselves – the who’s who of this dynamic sector will be there,” says event manager Eva Ellis.
5,000+ attendees
The show’s pre-registered visitor list already includes: The Alchemist, ASK Italian, BrewDog, Carluccio’s, Casual Dining Group, Côte Restaurants, Dishoom, Ei Group, Flat Iron, Fuller’s, Greene King, Hall & Woodhouse, The Ivy Collection, Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, Las Iguanas, M&B, Mowgli, Nando’s, NWTC, Oakman Inns, Pho, Pizza Hut Restaurants, PizzaExpress, The Restaurant Group, Stonegate Pub Company, TGI Fridays, wagamama, YO! Sushi, Young’s, Zizzi, and many more.
Keynote highlights
Casual Dining offers an invaluable opportunity to hear expert insights, business strategies and advice from some of the biggest names in the business. There are 25 free sessions to enjoy featuring 50 speakers – including exclusive Keynotes, interviews, research updates and panel discussions (see the summary below for running order).
Wednesday 27 February
Keynote Theatre 1 (sponsored by Yumpingo)
- Alex Reilley, chairman of Loungers – an exclusive interview (with Peter Martin, director at CM&Co & VP of CGA)
- Give me five: the next big thing panel – featuring Chris Hill, CEO of The New World Trading Co (The Florist); Gordon Ker, founder of Blacklock; Steve Moore, CEO & co-founder of Flight Club; Sarah Weir, MD of Albion & East; and (chaired by) Simon Stenning, founder of FutureFoodservice.com
- Nisha Katona, CEO & founder of Mowgli – an exclusive interview (with Chris Brazier, group event director of Casual Dining)
- Mark McCulloch, founder & CEO of WE ARE Spectacular – Why on earth would I want to work for you?
- Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality – Bumps in the road
- Menu innovation for multi-site restaurants – featuring Glenn Evans, head of food development at Las Iguanas, La Tasca & La Vina; Steven Mangleshot, executive chef at wagamama; Jane Treasure, food & beverage director, PizzaExpress; and (chaired by) Jay Morjaria, chef & food consultant
Keynote Theatre 2 (sponsored by Yumpingo)
- Peter Backman – The casual dining sector: challenges and opportunities
- David McDowall, CEO – Retail at BrewDog – an exclusive interview (with Peter Martin, director at CM&Co & VP of CGA)
- Will Beckett, founder & CEO of Hawksmoor – an exclusive interview (with Peter Martin, director at CM&Co & VP of CGA)
- Simon Potts, MD of The Alchemist Bars & Restaurants – The Alchemist: from cocktails to covers
- Coping with a crisis – featuring Scott Collins, Co-founder & MD of MEATliquor; Jo Fleet, MD of Flat Iron; Tim Foster, head of being awesome at Yummy Pubs; Brian Whiting, owner, Whiting & Hammond; and (chaired by) Simon Stenning, founder of FutureFoodservice.com
- Going Global: The practicalities of international growth – featuring Will Beckett, founder & CEO of Hawksmoor; Matt Grech-Smith, co-founder of Swingers; Tony Harris, CEO of Social Entertainment Ventures; and (chaired by) Peter Martin, director of CM&Co and founder of The Atlantic Club
- Shamil Thakrar, Co-Founder, Dishoom – Dishoom: creating culture
Thursday 28 February
Keynote Theatre 1 (sponsored by Yumpingo)
- Steve Richards, CEO of The Casual Dining Group – an exclusive interview (with Peter Martin, director at CM&Co & VP of CGA)
- Fiona Speakman & Chris Jeffrey, client directors at CGA – How do operators keep winning in a complex market?
- Peter Borg Neal, CEO of Oakman Inns – Leadership in uncertain times
- The casual dining marketing panel – a WE ARE Spectacular podcast live: featuring: Kate Eastwood, sales & marketing director at Revolution Bars Group; Thom Elliot, pilgrim & co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims; Lucy Harwood, brand & marketing director at Las Iguanas; Andre Johnstone, UK marketing director at wagamama; Lesley McIlroy, head of marketing at Bill’s Restaurants; and (chaired by) Mark McCulloch, founder & CEO of WE ARE Spectacular
- Jens Hofma, CEO of Pizza Hut Restaurants UK – an exclusive interview (with Peter Martin, director at CM&Co & VP of CGA)
- Menu Innovation in pubs – featuring Paul Dickinson, director of food at Fuller’s; Chris Knights, group exec chef at Young’s; Seamus O’Donnell, executive chef at The Alchemist; Ross Pike, chef director at Oakman Inns; and (chaired by) Jay Morjaria, chef & food consultant
Keynote Theatre 2 (sponsored by Yumpingo)
- Simon Stenning, founder of FutureFoodservice.com – The future of casual dining in pubs and restaurants
- The Innovation Challenge Live 2019 – the pitches
- Mark Jones, CEO of Carluccio’s – an exclusive interview (with Peter Martin, director at CM&Co & VP of CGA)
- Anna-Marie Mason, brand director at Mitchells & Butlers – No channel is an island: the crusade for seamless guest experience
- Casual dining ops director panel – featuring Baton Berisha, director of operations at The Ivy Collection; Jo Childs, people & operations director at YO! Sushi; Dave Lewis, operations director at Browns Brasserie & Bar; Gavin Smith, operations director at Pizza Pilgrims; Brian Trollip, operations director at Dishoom; and (chaired by) Mark Stretton, MD of Fleet Street Communications
- Casual Dining Innovation Challenge Live 2019 – the results
“In these turbulent times, it’s more important than ever that our great industry gets together. I’m very happy to be speaking at our industry trade show, Casual Dining. See you at ExCeL,” says Dishoom’s Shamil Thakrar.
“Casual Dining is the only show dedicated to our industry and I look forward to seeing everyone at ExCeL,” says Loungers’ Alex Reilley.
For further information about the free seminar line-up, full exhibitor listings, and the Innovation Challenge Awards entries, the Show Guide is now available to view online at www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/2019-show-guide.
For the latest exhibitor news, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/exhibitor-press-releases.
Free trade registration ends soon
Casual Dining is free to attend for pre-registered trade visitors and relevant press representatives only. Advance online registration closes at 9.30am on opening day – Wednesday 27 February, after which a £20 door charge may apply.
To register for a free trade ticket, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and use priority code CD80 (direct link: www.eventdata.co.uk/Forms/Default.aspx?FormRef=Cas29Visitor&TrackingCode=CD80).
###
Media enquiries & press pass requests:
Please apply for press accreditation here: https://eventdata.uk/Press/CasualDining2019.aspx
Emma-Louise Jones, Head of PR
t: +44 (0)1273 645134
e: [email protected]
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK
Katrina Randall, Marketing Manager
t: +44 (0)1273 645139
e: [email protected]
Website: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CasDiningShow
Exhibitor & sponsorship enquiries to:
Eva Ellis, Event Manager
t: +44 (0)1273 645167
e: [email protected]
Chris Brazier, Group Event Director
t: +44 (0)1273 645123
e: [email protected]
Notes:
Show logo: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CD19_logo-MASTER.jpg
Show images: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/casual-dining-2018-pictures
Diversified Communications UK (Diversified UK) is a fast-growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough, Nailsworth and London. Diversified UK’s food portfolio includes Casual Dining; Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards; lunch!; Commercial Kitchen; Natural Food Show at Natural & Organic Products Europe; Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden; Organic Food Iberia in Madrid, Spain (new for 2019); and Natural and Organic Awards. For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products Diversified Communications connects, educates and strengthens business communities in over 15 industries including: food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, business management and technology. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.
