lunch! 2022

The nation’s favourite event for the food to go sector - lunch! - returns to ExCeL London on 14-15 September 2022, and with 300 exhibitors now confi rmed, this year’s visitors will be able to see and sample more new food to go and drink products than ever before.

lunch! features everything in the food to go sector from fresh ingredients, seasonal salads, innovative sandwiches, tasty cakes and crisps, snacks, drinks, juices, smoothies, and baked goods to the latest IT, interior design, equipment, signage, packaging, and much more.

Annually, the event attracts senior professionals from some of the biggest cafés, coff ee shops and retailers in the UK, including Starbucks, Pret, Soho Coff ee Co, Coffi Lab, 200 Degrees Coff ee, Costa, Waitrose, Tesco, Boots, Sainsburys, M&S Food, and others. They come to discover the latest products (some launching for the fi rst time) and learn about latest trends in the show’s ‘free-to-attend’ seminar programme (across three theatres).

“lunch! is super impressive with lots of great new and established brands that will continue to drive food to go forward. Innovation is key in this sector, especially as many operators recover and I see lots of it on display,” says Guy Meakin, trading director, Pret.

“lunch! is a great show, and the last event was just the tonic we all needed to positively kick start our industry again and rekindle old friendships,” says Jim Winship, director, the British Sandwich & Food To Go Association.

Global food packaging manufacturer, Sabert, will be at the show, having launched a new patented recyclable paper cutlery range made from paper produced from sustainable forestry and which has full FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) chain of custody accreditations. Made from virgin cellulose, the cutlery is fully recyclable in the paper waste stream. “This new recyclable paper cutlery range is a remarkable innovation on the market, as it combines sustainability, excellent recyclability and outstanding performance,” says Sabert Europe marketing and innovation manager, Gisèle Nonnweiler. “The challenge was to develop sustainable cutlery made from paper, which is strong, robust, and performs well with stiff ness and cut quality when used with hot or cold foods. There are many non-plastic alternatives on the market, but it is a challenge to fi nd an alternative that combines rigidity, good cut quality, a pleasant mouth sensation and does not adversely aff ect the taste of food. “We invested heavily in R&D in order to develop this new paper cutlery range which delivers high performance in terms of rigidity, cut quality and resistance. The resulting innovation – which is owned and patented by Sabert – is so eff ective that our new paper cutlery’s performance is very close to plastic cutlery.” The company specialise in manufacturing and marketing food packaging, disposable high-quality tableware and compostable food packaging and tableware, and through its various partnerships established with some of its customers, Sabert Corporation Europe commits to develop its products and its production’s processes in a sustainable way.

Designed for ‘food on the go’ SMEs, on stand L1272 Soken Engineering will launch a fully-inclusive range of heat sealing packing systems at the show, aimed heat sealing packing systems at the show, aimed at improving presentation, product freshness and reducing waste for delis, cafés and suppliers of artisan packaged produce, including sandwiches, salads, wraps and fresh grab and go snacks.

A recently acquired subsidiary of Jenton International, Soken Engineering developed the 3-in-1 Heat Sealing System for vendors and outlets of fresh packaged foods sold in micro-markets of all sizes, including cafés, garden centres, hospital and workplace catering facilities, vending machines, garage forecourts and drive-throughs.

Rather than hand-packing lunch items in takeaway cartons/boxes with press-on lids that can be prone to air leaks and fast-track spoiling, Soken’s 3-in1 Heat-Sealing System will reveal how it achieves the perfect pack seal on the widest variety of lunch and snack products. With only a simple tool change, artisan businesses now only need to invest in a single system to improve pack presentation, hygiene and preserve lunchtime foods by up-to three days; putting an end to preventable food waste and subsequent lost profi ts, claim the company.

For small and independent cafés, the 3-in-1 Soken range comprises the level 1 machines that seal takeaway lunch items freshly made and packed individually to order. The level 2 machines – which seal up to four packs at the same time – are engineered for caterers supplying mobile vans and local shops. For higher output suppliers, the level 3 intermediate automated systems perfectly seals up to 48 packs per minute (ideal for medium sized businesses such as airline caterers or large garden centre chains).

All So ken equipment is manufactured in the UK and backed by a two-year return to base warranty, say the fi rm. As all tooling and parts are designed and manufactured in-house, spares can be provided within very short time scales, meaning that if a caterer has any unusual packaging requirements, bespoke tooling can be developed.

For additional convenience, Soken can supply all associated consumables, including sandwich packs, ready meal trays with lidding fi lm and salad boxes. Plastic-free packaging options are also in development.

Stephen Hawes, Soken Engineering sales manager explains: “If sandwich boxes and salad packs are not sealed properly the shelf life of the food is compromised leading to waste and reduced profi ts. Our versatile easy to operate 3-in-1 ‘fresher for longer’ packaging systems give catering outlets and vendors the ability to sell a wide range of foods in tamper evident heat sealed packaging which extends shelf-life considerably. As a business we are always striving towards net zero so helping reduce food waste is a key priority.”

Visitors attending the show’s everpopular panel sessions will also benefi t from expert strategies and ideas from a host of coff ee shop and food to go leaders and infl uencers talking about everything from marketing and profi tability to innovation, procurement, expansion, staffi ng and more. lunch!’s event director, Katie Tyler says: “We’re thrilled to be off ering trade visitors a free, world-class speaker programme alongside hundreds of innovative new products at lunch! We’re especially excited to be bringing together such an incredible line-up this year with some of the biggest names in the business – who’ll be sharing some invaluable insights and all-important advice for our industry. It’s defi nitely not one to miss!”

The show will host exclusive interviews with Ganan Kanagathurai (CEO, itsu), Will Stratton-Morris (CEO of Caff è Nero), Marta Pogroszewska (MD of GAIL’s Bakery) and other industry names, including Mikey Pearce (cofounder of Clean Kitchen), Neil Sebba (managing director of Tossed), Stasi Nychas (co-founder and COO of Neat Burger). “Having attended dozens of trade shows over the years, this is unquestionably one of the best. Vibrant, quality players and very engaging,” adds Will Stratton-Morris, CEO of Caff è Nero.

Chaired by Jim Winship, director of the British Sandwich & Food To Go Association, and featuring Nilesh Bhudia (company director of Temptations) and Peter Mayley (business manager at La Baguetterie), this important panel will look at how independent sandwich shops are rebuilding and excelling post pandemic.

For trends, invaluable insights and exclusive research, Gavin Rothwell, founder and managing director of Food Futures Insights will share his perspectives from across Europe, North America and beyond on how food to go is evolving and the best practice that is leading the way.

Simon Stenning will present forecasts for the food to go market, outlining the key drivers for market performance in 2023, along with the major developments and trends that all operators and suppliers need to be planning for.

The full programme can be viewed online at www.lunchshow.co.uk/ programme.

together such an incredible line-up this year with some of the biggest names in the business – who’ll be sharing some invaluable insights and all-important advice for our industry. It’s defi nitely not one to miss!” interviews with Ganan Kanagathurai (CEO, itsu), Will Stratton-Morris (CEO of Caff è Nero), Marta Pogroszewska (MD of GAIL’s Bakery) and other industry

As well as providing insights and inspiration across three theatres, the show will feature a bustling show floor with over 300 exhibitors.

Brands like INTUNE Drinks, Wunderfish, Days Brewing, CANNA COFFEE, Brew-it Group, Decent Packaging, Miami Burger, Peak, Nestlé, OH MY GUM! – and others - are all making their lunch! debut.

They will join returning big names including KIND Snacks, Innocent Drinks, UCC Coffee, Delice de France, Soho Sandwich Company, ProAmpac, TRIP Drinks, Magrini, Hippeas, Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company – and many more.

As for new products, here’s just a taste of what’s available to see and sample at the show.

SOHO Sandwich Company have partnered with THIS!, the UK’s fastest plant based business in the UK to inroduce THIS isn’t Chicken & Sweetcorn and THIS isn’t Coronation Chicken sandwiches. High in protein, fibre and are good for the planet.

Wunderfish GmbH is promoting BettaF!sh TU-NAH that tastes like tuna but made with seaweed and legumes, BettaF!sh TU-NAH is the most authentic vegan alternative to tinned tuna on the market – 100% plant-based and high in protein.

Herbal Infusion is exhibiting its new Co Crunchy pumpkin seeds toasted to perfection and coated in a vegan sour cream & chives seasoning. Each 35g bag offers: 12g Plant-Protein, 2g Carbs, 2g Fibre and 50% Less Salt.

Ninju is introducing the Ninju Kids Super Shot. A chilled blend of water, fresh fruit juices, natural vegetables, added vitamins and minerals (A, C, D, calcium, magnesium and zinc).

LoveRaw is promoting its new Nutty Choc Balls, a crunchy hazelnut coated in delicious hazelnut cream, covered in a crisp wafer shell and coated with LoveRaw’s iconic milk choc and hazelnut pieces. Each pack contains two individually wrapped plant-based chocolate balls, free from palm oil and anything artificial.

Waterbomb is exhibiting What A Juice LIGHT – Tropical. Each 150ml serving gives 45% of the daily vitamin C, D and zinc recommendation to support your immune system and metabolism.

BOL Foods is promoting its NEW and IMPROVED BOL Power Shakes: a nutritionally complete meal in a bottle packed with 100% plant-based whole foods and all 26 essential vitamins and minerals. Powered by 20g high protein and with no added sugar. Available in 4 recipes: Chocolate Peanut Butter; Chocolate Orange; Vanilla, Oats & Almond; Mango & Coconuts.

Agua De Madre is showcasing Blood Orange Bitters 25cl - perfect single serve award winning water Kefir with a Blood Orange Bitter flavour. This functional drink has 55 billion live cultures - the ideal invigorator for the gut.

Delicious Ideas Food Group is exhibiting Plastic Free Grab ‘n’ Go range of snacks. They feature a mix of vegan, low sugar, and high protein options, including salted pretzel pearls, fruit and nut, gourmet jellybeans, hot and spicy nut & corn mix and more.

Love Corn is showcasing its new flavour - Chocolate Crunchy Corn. It features classic crunchy corn made with the smoothest milk chocolate with a hint of sea salt.

INTUNE is promoting its range of award-winning CBD sparkling soft drinks. Created to bring CBD out of the health space and into the everyday, INTUNE fits into the lives of busy people: from a zesty accompaniment for a working lunch, to a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

Epic Oats have created a range of flavoured instant oat pots with an innovative healthy granola topper to add texture, flavour and interest.

Sharpak part of Groupe Guillin has unveiled a new innovative hybrid packaging for sushi, bakery, and deli designed with multiple benefits for food-to-go, retailers, consumers and importantly, the environment. That’s just a small snapshot of lunch!’s eclectic exhibitor list, which has come to be known for promoting emerging start-ups and speciality producers alongside some of the industry’s best-known suppliers. View the full exhibitor list online at exhibitormanual.lunchshow.co.uk.

lunch! will return to ExCeL London on 14 and 15 September 2022. The show will co-locate with Casual Dining (the definitive trade event for the restaurant, pub and bar sector) and Commercial Kitchen (the essential event for executive chefs and leading decision makers from all types of professional kitchens). To register for a free trade ticket, please visit lunchshow.co.uk and quote VLU45 to save the £20 door fee.

Opening times – 10am to 5pm both days (last entry 4pm) Dates – Wednesday, 14 and Thursday, 15 September 2022 Venue – ExCeL London Website – www.lunchshow.co.uk