Tuesday 23rd September marks the return of the multi-award-winning lunch! trade show to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. With its focus on new innovations from across the food-to-go sector, this popular two-day event has garnered a loyal following among thousands of buyers from across the UK’s retailing, hospitality, snacking, convenience, and catering sectors.
The following is just a taste of some of the exciting new innovations – including beverages, food and drink packaging, foodservice equipment and technology solutions – being introduced at this year’s event.
INVO Coconut Water (stand U105) returns to lunch! this year for the true freshly-cracked coconut water experience. INVO is the world's first coconut water to be cracked, bottled and HPPed all at source, keeping all the taste and nutrients that heat pasteurising usually removes. New flavours launching at the show include INVO Coconut Water with tropical juice and INVO Coconut Water with green tea.
Jax Coco (stand U212) is a 100% pure, naturally isotonic coconut water drink sourced from coconuts in the Philippines and Hainan. Made using a micro-filtering process to ensure a smooth taste, it is low in calories with just 18-24 per 100ml (compared to 48 cals per 100ml of orange juice). New flavours – natural chocolate and banana – will be launching exclusively at lunch.
O-Me Good Juice Bar (stand IZ 15) is exhibiting its new healthy smoothies and raw vegetable juice with boosters and super boosters that help detox, burn off fat, and boost energy. New green juices include Green Goddess (also known as the ultimate detox); Lean Green with Kale; and Veggie green.
The star of Matthew Algie’s lunch! offering this year (stand M110) is the new 2014 Winter Catalogue from its sister brand, Espresso Warehouse. Containing a number of new seasonal drinks, visitors will be introduced to exciting flavour combinations including Caramel Crunch Cappuccino, Nutty Caramel Latte and Mulled Spiced Chai Latte, all of which can be personalised with tempting toppings and sauces. For ethical consumers on the go, Matthew Algie is also launching its reusable KeepCup.
New exhibitor GrantCaffè – Dutch Artisan Coffee (stand U223) is launching its coffee brand on to the UK market at lunch!. The range includes espresso blends, single origin espressos and exclusive single origin espressos. They will also be showcasing GrantCaffè Premium Tea Leaves range and in-house produced, fully automated table-top bean-2-cup espresso machines, especially designed for smaller retailers.
teapigs (stand M530) is showcasing its new grab-and-go super power matcha green tea drinks that launched this summer. A perfect healthy addition to chiller cabinets, each drink contains a full 1 gram serving of teapigs matcha, blended with fruit juice and natural spring water, all inside a 330ml Tetra Pak carton.
The Sassy Drinks Company Ltd (stand IZ-27) is launching its innovative new feisty soft drink Sass™ at lunch!. Sass™ brings together apple, passion fruit, blood orange and grape juice, infused with chilli, cardamom, clove, ginger, juniper, liquorice and sarsaparilla. Sass™ offers an uplifting spicy yet refreshing drink experience at any time of the day.
Rebel Kitchen (stand IZ-7) has recently launched a range of dairy-free mylks, available in six cheeky flavours (Choco, Banana, Orange Choc, Chocolate, Chai, and Matcha Green Tea). The drinks are made with hydrating coconut milk blended with pure spring water and organic date nectar for sweetness.
Following successful launches in 2014 with Waitrose, Virgin Trains and Booths, first time exhibitor Brew Tea Company (stand A312) is launching its new ¼lb Loose Leaf Tea boxes and discussing how food to go operators can be better at adding value to the growing speciality tea category.
Tapping into consumer demand for healthier drinks, enhance drinks (stand IZ-01) is launching an innovative range of portable water enhancers. They contain real fruit juice, are only one calorie per drink, and available in four flavours (Orange & Passion Fruit, Lemon & Lime, Strawberry & Kiwi, and Apple & Blackcurrant). enhance comes in space efficient, shelf ready packs, which are designed to be easily located beside operators’ tills, helping drive additional impulse sales.
Balcony Tea is bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to lunch!, with its new range of artisan teas and herbal infusions (stand IZ-11). Launched earlier this year, the company uses ethically sourced ingredients, such as Greek Mountain Tea, Wild Thyme, Olive Leaves, Lemon Balm, and Linden Flower, to form eight distinctive tea blends. Available in boxes of 15 pyramids, which are fully bio-degradable, or loose tea pouches (50g).
Folkington’s Juices (stand M541) is launching a new variety into its existing stable of eight. It’s called ‘Best of British Summer Berries’ and is made from a blend of juices from British grown raspberries, strawberries and blackcurrants. Available in cases of 12 x 250ml glass bottles.
lunch! visitors will be among the first to experience the new 'naturalee' refreshing drink from Simplee Aloe drinks (stand IZ-23). Made with real fruit juice and rich in vitamins, it is packed with goodness and is surprisingly tasty.
With the fruit and herbal tea market growing by 7.4% last year and health remaining a key consumer driver, Taylors of Harrogate’s fruit and herbal tea range, authenticated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a must stock for operators. Visitors who stop by the tea urn (stand M140) will get to sample Taylors’ best-selling Sweet Rhubarb, winter-warming Spiced Apple and citrusy Lemongrass & Ginger.
Vita Coco Coconut Water (stand M322) has extended its core 330ml range with a Lemonade variant. Vita Coco Lemonade (made from 100% natural coconut water mixed with fresh tasting lemon fruit puree) contains less sugar and has lower calories than other leading UK chilled still lemonades. Their coconut water comes from young green coconuts and is full of naturally occurring potassium and essential electrolytes.
Radnor Hills (stand G16) is exhibiting its refreshing Heartsease Farm premium pressé range, which reflects the heritage of the farm in Mid-Wales and the company’s passion for great flavours. The drinks – including its recently launched Fiery Ginger Beer – are made using only the best available ingredients from the countryside, blended with Heartsease Farm’s own spring water, to traditional British recipes.
eteaket Tea (stand A218) has introduced new packaging for its range of award winning loose leaf teas for retail, and added two new teas to its leaf tea bag range – Chilli Rooibos and Chilllaxin' Chamomile. Tea cocktails, cold press tea, iced tea, tea beers and many more tea innovations will also be showcased at lunch!.
New exhibitor Sansu Drinks (stand IZ-19) is the first consumer brand outside Asia to launch a Yuzu fruit drink. Yuzu is a rare supercitrus that carries hints of mandarin, lime and grapefruit, with unique floral undertones. Yuzu has multiple times the Vitamin C of an orange and is packed with antioxidants. Available in three distinct flavours: Yuzu & Blueberry, Yuzu & Strawberry and Yuzu & Pear.
First launched in 2013, the award winning CocoMojo (stand G21) has undertaken a re-launch with three unique flavours and a radical new look! The CocoMojo drinks range combines the remarkable health benefits of coconut water, coconut milk, tropical fruits and botanical herbs. Variants include CocoSoul; CocoPassion; and CocoPure – 100% pure coconut water made from young, green coconuts from Thailand.
JOOLS (stand U218a) is a new healthy green tea and super fruit drink with nutrient rich popping beads (jools). All drinks are made in the EU, using the finest handpicked ingredients and are full of antioxidants and vitamins – with one bottle offering 100% RDA of 8 vitamins. The jools nestled at the bottom of the bottle are packed full of flavour and explode in the mouth to release a taste sensation (less than 90 calories per bottle).
UCC Coffee UK & Ireland – the total coffee solution provider – is showcasing everything operators need to create a profitable coffee offer at lunch! (stand A407). Its team of specialist baristas will be showing off market-leading machines from Eversys and Nuova Simonelli and brewing single origin coffee and blends from its THREESIXTY° range.
New healthy soft drinks brand Smug Drinks (stand IZ-03) is the brainchild of young Yorkshire entrepreneur Max Jones, who first came up with the concept while at university after realising the popularity of antioxidants and vitamins among students, plus a gap in the market. The result is that each of Smug Drink’s four antioxidant packed variants has 100% RDA of three important B vitamins in every bottle.
Luscombe Organic Drinks (stand M327) has been making beautiful drinks since 1975. Their drinks are crafted from quality ingredients, sourced direct from trusted growers. This ensures that they get the best possible produce, grown to the highest standards. New Passionate Ginger Beer is no exception and definitely worth putting to the test at lunch!.
Maynard House Orchards (stand M547), the award-winning Suffolk apple juice producer, teamed up with one of the best citrus fruit growers in Valencia, to launch Maynard House Orange and Clementine Juice earlier this year. This smooth juice, which contains no pulp and no additives, is available in 200ml bottles.
10 Degrees C Ltd – Dr Martins Organic Green Coco Juice (stand M128) is naturally hydrating and the ideal beverage for sport, fitness and general wellbeing. It is produced from 100% organically grown and certified coconuts (and only from young green coconuts). New PET and Kids formats will be on show at lunch!.
Koyu Matcha Green Tea (stand U104) is bringing its potent, new matcha green tea lattes to the show. Tipped as the next big healthy beverage trend, matcha boasts 137 times the antioxidants of regular green tea. Already incredibly successful in Ireland, one of their customers sells 700 of these per week from one small café.
PIP Organic (stand M242) has recently launched a new range of Cold Pressed Organic juices, which are perfect for all of the family. The new fresh 750ml bottle range addition includes cloudy apple juice, apple with cherry and fresh orange juice (made from 100% organic fruit). PIP Organic Cold Pressed juices are using the latest HPP technology mitigating the need for pasteurisation and retaining an orchard fresh taste.
Are you planning to open a coffee shop? Does your coffee shop or hotel need staff training on improving hot beverage service? Do you need to find out the latest in coffee equipment and technology? Find out the answers by visiting the Beverage Standards Association (BSA) at lunch! (stand A103).
Eco-friendly tableware supplies company Little Cherry (stand A200)is introducing its new biodegradable natural coconut shell bowls this year. Durable, robust and reusable, they can be used in the oven, freezer and dishwasher. The half shell bowl measures 5" long by 3" wide by 2" deep and are sold in packs of 10 for £8.99. Also showing: new pizza plates, platters for sushi and canapés, and new shapes and sizes of bowls from its Palm Leaf tableware range.
The Heated Line from ELLER foodPackaging GmbH (stand IZ-6) is a new packaging range approved for safe use in hot cabinets according to EU-standards. Launching at lunch!, all products are made from recyclable materials and were specifically designed for the grab-and-go market. Additional features, such as tear-off perforation and self-seal ability, provide customers with an added benefit.
Packnwood (stand M212) is showcasing its new range of street food packaging – kraft cardboard boats for fish & chips, hot dog trays, newspaper style deli containers for salads and soups, paper cones, wrap cups and more.
Eco packaging and labelling experts Planglow (stand G9) is demonstrating its fully Food Information Regulation (FIR) compliant labelling software: LabelLogic and NutriLogic. Having received updates ahead of new food labelling laws that come into effect this December, the software – plus new label designs – ensure producing legislatively compliant labelling remains a simple and speedy process. Planglow is also showcasing a wide range of new grab and go products developed specifically to support deli-style and street-food offerings. This includes a brand new collection especially for hot foods.
Tri-Star Packaging (stand M101) will be wowing lunch! visitors with ground-breaking new concepts, including trendy deli pots range Tri-Pot™, that offers superb on-shelf presentation to help food-to-go retailers add more ‘zing’ to their takeaway offer, and clever one-fingered drinks carrier Handle-It, which enables customers to carry drinks when their hands are full.
Eco friendly packaging company Biopac UK (stand M543) is launching new Take Home Boxes, branded 'Too Good To Waste'. They are designed to help cafes and restaurants reduce their food waste by encouraging diners to take their leftovers home to enjoy later. Functional and sustainable, they can be fully composted when they've reached their end of life, so very kind to the environment.
Celebrating 50 years in business, Reynards UK’s stand (M312) at lunch! will be filled with an array of food-to-go products. These include salad containers, Tamper Evident containers, cellophane block bottom bags, disposable hot and cold cups, window bags, SOS bags, soup containers, as well as its range of completely compostable packaging.
RAP (stand M318) is showcasing two of its industry-leading products: AirRap™ and HandRap™. AirRap™ takes hot food-to-go from manufacture, to oven, display, and finally to the consumer, using a single piece of packaging. HandRap™ is a bespoke product for hot and cold food-to-go products, offering complete flexibility. Both products save operators time, money and optimise food safety.
One of the world’s leading manufacturers of multi-format packaging solutions, Coveris (stand M410) is showcasing its first combined offering since the acquisition of St Neots Packaging this year, which includes paper board, rigid and semi rigid plastic packaging, labels and film.
Benders Paper Cups (stand M114) is showcasing its new Garda Embossed Insulated Cup at this year’s lunch!, alongside its complete range of market leading paper hot cups. The UK’s only dedicated paper hot cups manufacturer, Benders will exhibit a full selection of iconic stock designs from its single wall and insulated ranges.
Tri-Label (stand M101) is gearing up to make a huge splash with Tri-Label Online, the award-winning, cloud-based labelling software solution that’s revolutionising the way food-to-go operators create and print labels. Fully-compliant with the new food labelling regulations, Tri-Label Online is a ground-breaking system that enables caterers to print eye-catching labels with ease.
CRÈME BRÛLÉE – an exciting new hot beverage concept from Fairtrade Beverage Systems is being launched at this year’s show (stand IZ-02). Visitors can sample this new sensation of the classic dessert as a culinary hot drink. It can also be served iced or as a frappé.
The Coffee Machine Company (stand M121) is demonstrating two new machines at lunch! this year. The new Classe 11 Flag Ship Traditional Espresso Machine from world renowned Rancilio, and the new Egro Zero entry level Bean To Cup Machine, which is suitable for applications of 100 coffees per day.
Phat Pasty Co (stand A213) is launching Phat Soup, an innovative and unique concept for this year’s lunch!. The Soup Server provides a self serve soup offer, with up to 12 hours hot holding. Soups are nutritious and supplied in ambient pouches. The operator has full HACCP read outs and a self-clean system.
Newly launched eXpresso PLUS (stand U103) offers a fresh alternative to the UK Coffee2Go market. With a complete range of solutions on offer and partnerships with global leading brands (including LavAzza, Nescafé, PG tips, Clipper and more), eXpresso PLUS offers a customised hot drinks solution.
Unilever’s tea experts have developed Tea Fusion; a revolutionary way to serve a perfectly brewed cup of loose leaf tea. Tea leaves ‘dance’ in the machine’s brewing chamber, guaranteeing the ideal balance between water temperature, brewing time and movement (stand A105). The 12-strong range of teas and infusions are hand-picked and sealed in air-tight capsules, to complement the brewing process. Outlets offering Tea Fusion have experienced double-digit growth on their volume and value tea sales.
Glen Dimplex Professional Appliances (stand M331) is demonstrating the latest in display refrigeration, with its new Lec Commercial bottle cooler range (available in single, double or triple door variants). The powerful Titan Commercial 6-burner range cooker, and Burco’s popular range of innovative Auto-fill filtration boilers will also be on show.
Alan Nuttall is showcasing its range of patented flexible foodservice systems (stand G11). The Flexeserve® Intelligent Chassis Counter System is a unique series of flexible link and lock modular counters, which can link a multiple number of modules from a single 32amp 3 phase supply, with an extensive range of heated, chilled or ambient Flexeserve® drop-in displays.
Manitowoc Foodservice (standM336) is exhibiting the new eikon® e4s from Merrychef, which has been designed to meet the demanding needs of high throughput foodservice operators. The eikon e4s targets operators who are looking to reduce cook times, cut operating costs, and enhance their store environment with a quicker, quieter, and more energy-efficient rapid-cooking oven.
Rational UK’s new SelfCookingCenter 5 Senses (stand M115) is going to be put through its paces at lunch!, as chefs show how the new combi-steamer can cook everything from pies to pizza to pasta, from burgers to chips, even a full English breakfast – all at the touch of a button, and all with perfect results.
EPOSability (stand A300) specialises in providing, delivering and supporting IT solutions and professional services for the hospitality industry. They have partnered with the world’s leading hardware and software vendors, and together have delivered many large projects for SME's through to large FTSE 250 companies.
orderbird AG (stand U112) is showcasing its multi-awarded iPad POS system. orderbird saves caterers time, money, and stress – allowing them to focus on what is really important: their guests. orderbird customers’ say that the EPOS saves them 1¾ hours a week and boosts profits by 10%, thanks to increased efficiency and operational improvements.
lunch! 2014, taking place on 23-24 September at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, will feature 300 exhibiting companies showcasing food and drink products, packaging, equipment and technology solutions. Show features include the Working lunch! Keynote Theatre, Innovation Challenge Live, Innovation Challenge Showcase, and the British Smoothie Championships.
To register for a free trade pass, please visit www.lunchshow.co.uk and quote priority code PR (direct link: http://www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/Lunch.aspx?TrackingCode=PR).
