From trending to trendsetting, Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2015 has set the fine food and drink industry alight! The three day foodie extravanganza - in its new home of Olympia National - was a feast of taste, colour and opportunity. Hailed a huge success by organisers, plans are now under way for the 17th speciality spectacular, which will take place on September 4th - 6th 2016.
Setting the trend
A record breaking number of fine food and artisan producers took part in the Fair, a vibrant showcase for the speciality sector. They included Teapigs, Quickes, The Cheeky Food Company, Sheppy's Cider, Joe & Seph's, Rubies in the Rubble, Sibberi Birch Water, Your Tonic, Giribizzi, and Ten Acre as well as Mr Organic, Champion & Reeves, Morse Toad, Green Lady, Duke of Delhi, Mighty Fine Honeycomb, PACK'D, Fudge Kitchen, Flower & White, Rebel Kitchen and Don Gaucho. Thousands of buyers, wholesalers and chefs also swept through the doors on September 6th - 8th, where they discovered new trends from marshmallows and make-your-own kits, to teas and waters. The Fair also heralded developments in the growing health and nutrition, and free from, sectors.
Speciality & Fine Food Fair had everyone talking. As well as the buzz in the aisles, the Twittersphere was also buzzing with excitement! The Fair was trending and twice clinched the top spot during its three-day run.
A new generation
Speciality & Fine Food Fair is the launch pad for many new and innovative young food and drink brands. This year they included six new businesses who won a coveted place on The Grocery Accelerator business mentoring programme. They took part in two days of nail-biting live Dragons' Den-style pitches. The winners were Taking the Pea – a range of savoury pea flavoured snacks; Naturelly - a natural, jelly treat for children; Saltrite - a 100% salt substitute; Jim Jams - a range of healthier spreads; Equinox Kombucha - a fermented tea, using herbal infusions and fruit juices, and Polar Pops - artisan ice lollies made from fresh fruit and vegetables. They have also each secured a £60,000 investment, to boost and grow their business.
Paddy Willis, for The Grocery Accelerator, said: "It has been an exciting finale at Speciality & Fine Food Fair, in our search for the next generation of food and drink brands. Now our six winners have been confirmed, their food and drink journey really begins."
And there was more...
The newly-named Fine Food Live, hosted by freelance chef Steve Walpole, was packed with live cookery demonstrations from other top chefs, including James Golding and Steven Bennett. There was also a Small Business Forum, a stage for industry experts to provide guidance to the entrepreneurial and business-owner audience, and a Business Mentoring Centre for free one-to-one business advice to visitors. On the final day of the Fair, visitors and producers were able to see the Great Taste 2015 Supreme Champion, James Whelan's Beef Dripping.
The elephant in the room
Speciality Chocolate Fair, located on the upper floor of Olympia National, saw hundreds of chocolate producers showcasing their products including Rococo and Simply Chocolate. Hosted by author and presenter Will Torrent, there were also live cookery demonstrations from chocolatiers, including Mattheiu de Gottal and Barry Johnson. The stunning centrepiece was a life size chocolate baby elephant, which won a herd of admirers. The sweet creation was the artistic handiwork of master chocolatiers Philippe Wall, Jean-Marie Dessard and Thierry Spierkel.
Rob Cunningham, from artisan curers Maynard's Farm, was a first time exhibitor at the Fair. He said: "The quality and diversity of buyers, from both farm shop and delis through to larger retailers, was truly fantastic. This is a show that you cannot afford to miss."
Gervase Fay, Head of Buying for Nutricentre, said: "Speciality & Fine Food Fair this year was an eclectic mix of producers with such a prevalent focus on health benefits from wholesome foods - which is great for the market and consumers alike."
Chef Gavan Knox, from Mr Mom's, said: "This gave me the chance to tap into the next 'big thing', and meet the people and the faces behind websites and emails. It was also a great opportunity to meet fresh, new faces in the industry."
Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director, said: "This year we moved to our new home at Olympia National which has given us the opportunity to grow the Fair - and we are absolutely delighted with the feedback that we have had from visitors and suppliers alike, many of whom have already confirmed their attendance for next year. The wealth and quality of food and drink products on display has been inspiring, and it's great to see so many new trends emerging. It just goes to show that this is a sector that is enjoying well deserved success."
