Maria Sales & Marketing Director
On 18th April, we headed over to Birmingham’s NEC for the Food & Drink Expo (FDE16), an event that takes place every other year. We were incredibly excited about not only exploring the different food and drink brands out there, but also learning more about the big changes and trends facing the industry. In this post, we reflect on what we saw, tasted and learnt during our three days at FDE16; from our favourite stands to the best speakers, here’s our rundown.
The big trends
These events often provide us with the opportunity to learn about the latest and upcoming trends throughout the industry. One of the biggest trends that caught our eye was the rise of protein, whether that’s in the form of meat, supplements or sweet bars. Something we’d already noticed was the growth of gin as a trendy drink of choice, and there were plenty of brands at the event, showcasing their variations of the floral spirit. The biggest surprise for us, however, was the introduction of camel milk, a Middle Eastern delicacy that is set to take the UK by storm. So keep your eyes peeled!
Displays we loved
As you probably already know, we’re admirers of everything creative and always enjoy exploring the many interesting stalls and displays. The Food & Drink Expo 2016 was no different, with a variety of stalls standing out from the crowd. From Smithy Mushrooms’ fungi-themed display, to Hey Like Wow’s colourful and inviting drink-dispensing stall that had plenty of fans, all sorts of creativity was in the air. Oh, and let’s not forget the giant fluffy camel at Camelicious – a personal fave.
Brands we can’t stop thinking about
There were so many exciting brands at the event, but there were a few that caught us hook, line and sinker. One of our favourites was Qcumber, an adult drinks company that’s put together an innovative mixer for the ever-popular gin – sparkling cucumber water!
Another popular brand was Cambrook Nuts (which go brilliantly with a gin or two!). Creating incredibly indulgent nutty snacks, Cambrook have hit the nail on the ‘luxury nut’ head – we couldn’t get enough of their packaging and the taste.
Speakers to shout about
Aside from the brilliant brands and their displays, we were also treated to fascinating talks by some of the industry’s biggest pros. One of our personal highlights was watching Great British Bake Off Winner, Nadiya Hussain, showcase her baking skills in a long anticipated presentation.
However, we were all left feeling inspired after a talk with the founder of fast food innovator, Leon. Throughout the talk, Henry Dimbleby discussed how the development of Leon’s menu came to fruition, after several rounds of reducing it to a more manageable size. He even explored the reason behind the name of the company, explaining that the choice of a person’s name was their preferred option rather than a patronising healthy message and it also added a personal touch to the brand – great thinking!
Going forward
We had an incredible three days at the Food & drink Expo, and can’t wait for the next event in 2018. We learnt a lot about the industry, and look forward to using those lessons to help develop our clients’ brands, both current and new.
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