With exhibition space filling up fast and several key seminar spots already confirmed, Casual Dining – the new trade event for the UK’s world leading casual dining sector, is well on track for a successful inaugural event when it launches next year, at the Business Design Centre, Islington, in London, on 26-27 February 2014.
Diversified Business Communications UK, which has a growing portfolio of market-leading events in the food sector, including the award-winning lunch! exhibition and The Natural Food Show, says it’s delighted with the industry-wide support Casual Dining is receiving. “It really is fantastic to see the way that the industry is responding to the launch,” comments group event manager Chris Brazier. “When you consider that the UK branded restaurant market is forecast to be worth as much as £22bn by 2018 , it’s perhaps not that surprising that so many companies are looking for ways to enjoy a bigger bite of these lucrative out-of-home sales. So, really, Casual Dining couldn’t have come at a better time.”
It’s not just the exhibitors that are getting behind the Casual Dining concept. Representatives from The Peach Report, Propel Info, Horizons, and Allegra Strategies, are all confirmed to join the Casual Dining Keynote Theatre programme. Whilst a host of well-known operators, such as Andrew Guy, CEO of Ed’s Easy Diner Group for example, are lending their support to the launch. With Guy just the latest addition to a growing list of popular high-street names – including Ask, PizzaExpress, Zizzi, Prezzo, Chimichanga, Pizza Hut and Carluccio’s – that have announced their intentions to send their buyers and specifiers to next year’s Casual Dining show.