Buyers to decide Innovation Challenge finalists at lunch! 2013: Over 50 new food-to-go product innovations to compete for prestigious show awards

Buyers to decide Innovation Challenge finalists at lunch! 2013: Over 50 new food-to-go product innovations to compete for prestigious show awards

The award-winning lunch! trade show is putting visitors firmly in the driving seat of its Innovation Challenge Awards this year, when it returns to the Business Design Centre in London, on 26-27 September.  For the first time ever, all products entered into the Innovation Challenge Showcase – including food, drink, packaging, equipment and technology – will have to win over the show’s visiting retailers and buyers first, before making it through to the second round and onto the prestigious shortlist.

Voting will commence at the Innovation Challenge Showcase when the show opens next week at 10am on Thursday 26 September.  The fifteen products to secure the most votes before 4pm that day (one per visitor) will then be invited to ‘pitch’ their new innovations live to a panel of industry judges at noon on Friday 27 September; with the results to be announced just a few hours later at 2pm.

It’s been a great year for innovation across the food-to-go sector, and this year’s lunch! certainly boasts more new launches than ever,” says lunch!’s event manager Chris Brazier.  “It’s always a challenging task to decide a shortlist of just 15 – particularly given the quality of brand innovations that have been entered this year.  So, we thought, who better to help judge the entries than our visitors themselves?  And I for one can’t wait to see who makes the shortlist.”

Innovation Challenge entrants to date include:

Alan Nuttall Ltd: The Nuttall Flexeserve Zone® allows flexible hot merchandising using different temperature regimes per zone.  Each of the four zones are controlled individually (surface conduction, hot air convection, lights only, or completely off) to deliver significant power efficiencies and reduce waste.

MR. SHERICK’S Shakes is the only range of branded, premium and indulgent milkshakes available in the UK.  Launching at the show, they are blended from the finest ingredients and bursting with extraordinary flavours and textures.  Available in Pot Au Choc, Strawberry Pavlova, Softly Banoffee, Cookies and Cream, and A Hint of Mint.

Bear Nibbles: Alphabites is the first no nonsense delicious cereal for kids, with absolutely no refined sugar or salt.  Instead they use coconut blossom nectar, the deliciously sweet sap found in the flowers of the coconut tree, to make Alphabites naturally sweet and crunchy without the need to add any sugar at all.

Broderick’s: Brodericks Mini Bites are an innovative way of enjoying the Brodericks Brothers’ handmade Belgian Chocolate Chunky treats.  Each portion is a bite-sized 25g and individually wrapped for freshness.  At the same time, the product does not compromise on quality and remains as indulgent as ever.

Loxfield Distribution Ltd: The Staybowlizer is a completely new kitchen utensil invention.  It can hold large and small bowls very still and in place whilst whisking, mixing and beating ingredients, giving users a free hand to add further ingredients at specific times.  It can also be used as a bain-marie on a saucepan and a trivet.

Cho THE DRINKING GAZPACHO: ¡Cho! is a new range of on the go savoury drinks launching in the UK.  Made from blended vegetables, fruit and extra virgin olive oil, with mountain spring water, it is available in four unique flavours, all created by a Spanish, Michelin starred chef.

Coffeebrewer Nordic A/S (Grower’s Cup): The Coffeebrewer is probably best described as a single-brew French Press.  Launched in September 2013, it is a two-cup solution with an easy pourer.  This unique innovation allows the consumer to brew and serve an authentic single estate coffee experience on the table.

Creative Nature: The Heavenly Cacao superfood bar is a healthy alternative to high-street chocolate.  A unique and delicious blend of 100% raw plant-based superfoods, it contains innovative ingredients like 100% Raw Organic Peruvian Cacao and Goji Berries packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.

DairyStix: Each individual DairyStix contains 100% West Country milk.  No additives or preservatives are included thanks to the sophisticated way the milk is pasteurised.  DairyStix uses 50% less packaging than traditional jiggers and is the only producer of ambient milk portions that is 100% British farm assured.

Dawson Foodservice Equipment: The Lainox Compact Green Combination Oven range is packed full of all the characteristics expected from a world-renowned brand delivering the highest quality Combination Ovens in the form of the Heart Green.

Drink Me Chai: Tea:Latte is a new range of teas with frothy latte milk, launching first with a delicate blend of fine Earl Grey tea.  Low fat and instant and packed in easy to use sachets, they offer something completely different for customers wanting to be part of the “latte” culture but without the caffeine hit of coffee.

Empire Dogs: The Earl of Frankfurt is a great British gourmet hotdog, made using only outdoor bred and reared British pork, and spices garnered from the four corners of the world.  Low in fat (7%) and salt, it is a guilt free delicious alternative to all other hotdog products.

Filbert’s Fine Foods: French Rosemary Almonds capture aromas and flavours of Mediterranean cuisine, presented in new look re-sealable packaging.  Each almond has fresh rosemary and a sprinkling of sea salt.  They’re hot air roasted using a unique nut roasting machine for a healthier option.

Glamour Puds Ltd: This new Passionfruit Chiffon Pie is a popular American classic crossing the pond for the first time.  It has a light-as-a-feather mousse in a crisp pastry shell, topped with a striking seeded passionfruit jelly.  Full of fruity flavour, and a delicious blend of textures, it’s almost incidental that it’s also gluten-, dairy- and soya-free.

INVO: INVO Coconut Water’s innovation is something that you cannot see.  Unlike other coconut waters, they don’t heat-pasteurise or freeze in one country, then thaw and HPP in another one.  They harvest, bottle, and cold-craft (HPP) their coconut water at source.  A world’s first.

MANTINGA UAB: Mantinga Soup is the first drinkable soup from a cup in Europe (patented).  Available in five varieties – Mexican, Chicken, Broccoli, Pea, and Mushroom – it tastes homemade.  The long boiling time (more than two hours) gives the soup its special, rich taste.

Mash Direct Ltd: With less than 300 calories, Mash Direct’s Cheesy Beano offers a filling, healthy lunchtime alternative for when soups, salads and sandwiches just won’t do.  Made from Mash Direct’s Great Taste 2013 award-winning Mashed Potato, it maintains the taste and texture of homemade food in a convenient lunchtime pot.

Mello Drinks: mello is the first range of fresh, chilled melon juice on the global drinks market.  Not only are melons the UK’s No.1 selling exotic fruit but 60% of consumers are actively looking for new juice flavours.  mello captures the refreshing flavours and outstanding health benefits of a whole melon in a convenient on-the-go format.

NETRON Cafe & Restaurant Technologies: Netron’s Mobile Management Reporting application (iPhone and Android) give restaurant owners and managers real-time all key performance information about their business on the go.  Benefits include live cash and credit card status, number of meals sold, stock check reports and more.

RAP: AirRap is a combination of lightweight paper laminated to film to form receptacles suitable for hot ‘food on the go’ products; such as paninis, pasties, sausage rolls and savouries.  AirRap has been specifically designed to run on standard flow wrap lines with only slight modifications.

Thor Drinks are challenging the soft drinks giants by offering a range with crisp and dry flavour profiles developed especially for adults.  Using an apple base, they add Green Tea and Gentian (Thor Original), Ginger and a hint of chilli (Thor Fire), Green Garden Mint (Thor Ice), Passionfruit, Hibiscus and a hit of Caffeine (Thor Thunder).

Vegesentials Fresh & Fruity Drinks               are 100% pure, raw, fresh drinks free from added sugar, additives, concentrates, preservatives and heat pasteurisation.  Half fresh fruit, half fresh vegetables, they are cold pressed and cold pressurised for premium quality.  From fruity, earthy to savoury, the flavours cater for all palates.

Plus, there will also be new innovations on show from Odysea Ltd (Karyatis Meze-to-Go); Ombar; SUPER!NATURAL; Tanpopo Japanese Food Ltd (Tanpopo Spicy Prawn Ramen Noodles); Vivid Matcha Drinks; Radnor Hills (Heartsease Farm, Raspberry Lemonade); Little Big Shot – Healthy Energy Drink; Be Fast…Breakfast on the Go!; Delice de France (Salted Caramel Flowerpot Muffin); and The Food Doctor (The Food Doctor Crisp Thins); Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn (Joe & Seph’s Peanut Butter Popcorn); ELLER foodPackaging GmbH (The PaniniBag, the BurgerBag & the WrapBag); Mom’s Fabulous Hot Dogs (Mom’s Fabulous Chilli Cheese Hot Dog); Pidy Ltd (Fruity Cups); Tri-Star Packaging (The Artisan 2 Tortilla); Peppersmith (Peppersmith tingz); Coffeebrewer Nordic A/S – Grower’s Cup (The Teabrewer); The Wholeleaf Company (The Wholeleaf Retro Fit); The Ying Yang Food Company (Xue Bar); and Délifrance (The Crois’sandwich).

lunch! 2013 – the UK’s leading, multi-award-winning, trade event for the food-to-go industry, will showcase the latest new food and drink products, packaging, equipment and technologies from 290 exhibiting companies at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 26-27 September.

For further information and to register for a free trade pass, please visit www.lunchshow.co.uk and use priority code LUNPR2 where prompted (direct link: www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/Lunch.aspx?AffiliateCode=LUNPR2).

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Media enquiries & press pass request to: Emma-Louise Jones, PR Manager
Editorial representatives of relevant trade and consumer media (including freelancers) are invited to apply for press passes to lunch! via email to [email protected] (please note, additional details may be requested to verify journalistic activity and all press passes are issued at the management’s discretion).
t: +44 (0)1273 645134                 e: [email protected]
Website:              www.divcom.co.uk
LinkedIn:            www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=5009585
Twitter:               www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK
Facebook:          www.facebook.com/DiversifiedUK

Exhibitor enquiries to: Chris Brazier, Group Event Manager
t: +44 (0)1273 645123                 e: [email protected]
Website:              www.lunchshow.co.uk
LinkedIn:            www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3143327
Twitter:               www.twitter.com/lunchexhibition
Facebook:          www.facebook.com/pages/lunch/106355532742317

Notes:

lunch! won Best Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Excellence Awards in 2012, and Best UK Trade Show Exhibition (under 2,000sqm) in 2010 & 2011 (it was named a finalist in both categories in June 2013).
 
High resolution imagery is available upon request:

Visitor information: TRADE only

  • Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 0QH
  • 10.00-17.30 on Thursday 26 September and 10.00-17.00 on Friday 27 September.

Diversified Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton and Nailsworth (Glos).  In addition to lunch!, Diversified UK’s portfolio includes Casual Dining (new for 2014); The Natural Food Show (part of Natural & Organic Products Europe); Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden (new for 2013, co-located with Natural Products Scandinavia); Ocean Business (including Offshore Survey Conference & Ocean Careers); MARELEC Marine Electromagnetics conference in Hamburg, Germany; camexpo; office*; SITS – The Service Desk & IT Support Show; SITS Europe in Berlin, Germany (new for 2014); Natural Products magazine; and the Natural Beauty Yearbook.

Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a successful portfolio of sector leading exhibition, conferences, publications and websites.