Lunch!, the UK's biggest food-to-go showcase of the year, at Excel last week provided garden centres with potential new catering products and retail food and drink lines along with ideas for packaging and recycling of coffee cups.

A new soft drink twist, the Seltzer, has good horticultural links with Hibiscus & Rose, Cucumber and Yuzu flavours.  Birch water is also an upcoming trend that could fit in a gardening context.

There were upmarket ice PIMS lollies whihc could be ideal for next summer, especially around a Chelsea promotion.  And how about this for a great bit of soft drink visual merchandising - a very cold bath!

Alternative and compostable takeway cup options were on display including the Butterfly Cup that doesn't need a lid.

On the food side aswell as plenty of cake vendors there were a noceable number of new fruit products for children which could sell well alongside soft play areas and in children's lunch boxes

Did you know the Soil Association now has an accreditation for cafes and restaurants using and serving organic food? Could that be a great addition to your marketing power? Find out more at: https://www.soilassociation.org/certification/food-drink/organic-served-here-award/

See our gallery of pictures from Lunch! below.  If you weren't able to attend but would like more information about any of the above please e-mail: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk