An Exceptional Collection of Industry Leaders Are Set to Take the Stage at the Inaugural lunch! NORTH Trade Show
The lunch! NORTH trade show, dedicated to the café, coffee shop, and food-to-go industries, has unveiled an exceptional keynote and panel lineup for its first year. Taking place on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th March, at Manchester Central, this inaugural event promises to bring industry-leading voices, expert insights, and forward-thinking discussions to the North.
Organised by the team behind the successful London-based lunch! show, which attracted over 8,000 visitors in 2024, lunch! NORTH is set to deliver the same energy and inspiration to a brand-new audience. Sponsored by Uber Eats, this premier event will showcase key industry leaders and provide a platform to explore the biggest opportunities and challenges shaping the café, coffee, and food-to-go markets.
Day One: Tuesday 11th March
Day one in the Keynote Theatre will feature a presentation on The Future Of Food-To-Go, delivered by Simon Stenning, visionary Founder of FutureFoodservice. Drawing from the latest Future Foodservice report, he will highlight key growth drivers and emerging trends in the food-to-go market. Marta Pogroszewska, Managing Director of GAIL’s, will also offer an exclusive interview, sharing insights into the phenomenal success of the artisan bakery brand, discussing its approach to team and customer care, rapid expansion, and what’s next for GAIL’s.
The Operations Leaders Panel will feature Emily Bagshaw (Tortilla), Emily Hawkley (Burgerism), Shoaib Muhammed (Wendy’s – Square Burgers), and Edyta Stec (GAIL’s), who will discuss how they successfully manage their teams and operations. The New Openings Panel, featuring David Abrahamovitch (Grind Coffee), James Daly (Foldies), Mat Finch (Cornish Bakery), and Brett Parker (GAIL’s), will explore ambitious expansion strategies within the food-to-go market.
Coffee lovers won’t want to miss The Coffee Shop Leaders Panel, chaired by Will Kenney (200 Degrees Coffee), bringing together Jack Brewitt (92 Degrees), Matt Farrell (Bold Street Coffee), Liz Garnell (Gourmet Coffee Bar & Kitchen), and Claudio Riberio (Federal Cafe & Bar) to discuss industry insights and current market dynamics.
Finally, Adrian Frid, Senior Operations Advisor of Caffè Nero, will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the brand’s continued expansion and its integration with 200 Degrees Coffee and Flying Coffee Bean. Meanwhile, Christian Binney, Food Development Director at Burger King UK, will highlight the brand’s latest food innovations, sustainability initiatives, and exciting collaborations that are shaping the future of fast food.
Day Two: Wednesday 12th March
Day two kicks off with an essential keynote session, Food-To-Go: New World, New Vision, by Gavin Rothwell, Director of Food Futures Insights. With experience advising leading retailers and foodservice operators, Gavin will offer key takeaways from global food-to-go markets and what UK businesses can learn. The Food-To-Go Leaders Panel will feature William Gordon-Harris (Knoops), Jon Lake (Chopstix Group) and Dimeji Sadiq (Vegan Shack), discussing the biggest challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Hannah Munns, UK Convenience Trading Director at bp, will take the stage to present The Transformation Of Food In Forecourt Retail, revealing how bp is adapting to shifting consumer habits with its Wild Bean Cafe and M&S Food partnerships. The Marketing Leaders Panel will bring together Rob Burns (Chopstix) and Rebecca Di Mambro (Popeyes) to discuss innovative strategies to engage increasingly discerning consumers and build brand loyalty in a competitive market.
The Head Of Coffee Panel will feature leading figures in specialty coffee including Sam Cooper (Bold Street Coffee), Jessica Symes (Gourmet Coffee Bar & Kitchen), and Jessica Worden (GAIL’S), who will cover quality control, innovation, and sustainability.
Rounding off the event, Nicola Knight, Insights Manager at IGD, will present her session on the Food-To-Go Developments In Global Travel, exploring how grab-and-go concepts are thriving across transport hubs and what the future holds for this fast-growing sector.
As the first-ever lunch! NORTH, this event marks a significant expansion of the lunch! brand, delivering tailored content and opportunities for operators in the North. Taking place at the same time and venue as Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) but in a dedicated space, the show is set to become a key date in the calendar for anyone in the café, coffee shop, or food-to-go industry.
The lunch! NORTH and NRB trade shows are scheduled for March 11th-12th at Manchester Central. These events serve as the premier hospitality showcase of the year. Free tickets for trade professionals working in hospitality are available here.
