Event manager Philippa Christer commented : “ In the food and drink industry , sustainable production and products have gone from a nice-to-have to a non-negotiable for many buyers . New businesses especially are expected to build sustainable working practices in from the ground floor . “ More and more of our buyers and producers are gaining certification such as B Corp to prove their sustainability credentials and to remain accountable for ongoing improvements to how they operate .” B Corp certification is awarded to businesses which ‘ meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance , public transparency , and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose .’ In addition to The Sustainability Zone , the Fair has launched a Vegan & Plant-Based Trail , reflecting another key trend in the food and drink space . Products suited to vegan and plant-based diets |
are a booming sector and a huge area of interest for buyers as consumer uptake continues to rise rapidly and the market floods with new businesses . The Fair is also welcoming non-food products to exhibit at the event for the first time , in an all-new Non-Food Trail . Christer continued : “ Many of our core visitors such as farm shops , garden centres and delicatessens have an interest in unique , independent non-food products which can complement their food & drink offering . The launch of the Non-Food Trail is an exciting new addition to the event and one which adds additional value to our core buyer audience and a key buyer market for non-food producers to access .”
The joy of discovery As an industry of exhibition professionals , we know one of the thrills of a live event is wandering off the beaten path , scrapping the timetable and seeing where chance encounters can lead . At Speciality &
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Fine Food Fair one of the most beloved features each year is The Discovery Zone , where buyers can find the products they didn ’ t realise they were looking for . From fresh takes on classic food and drink products to completely new creations , The Discovery Zone is a bustling hub of exploration , learning and , yes , discovery . It ’ s limited to producers who have been operating for less than three years , which means that at the 2021 edition many of the exhibiting businesses were born during and sometimes out of the Covid-19 pandemic . Whether through an unexpected redundancy , a need to diversify or just the |
free time to finally bring a long-nurtured dream to life , this year ’ s Discovery Zone at Speciality & Fine Food Fair is a shining example of the creativity , positivity and entrepreneurial spirit that has been at least one positive to come out of the past 18 months . We ’ ve seen it in the world of events too . If you haven ’ t already , take the time to visit an event in person this September and remind yourself why it is we do what we do . Exhibitions are back , and they ’ re better than ever .
Speciality & Fine Food Fair takes place on 6-7 September at Olympia London .
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September — 13 |