Foodservice Show Takes Off!

Foodservice Australia, the only tradeshow dedicated to the restaurant, catering and bakery sectors will be held in Melbourne next year, and organisers say it will be bigger and better than ever before.

After 40 years serving the food industry, the show was relaunched this year in Sydney. With a new organiser, new features and new venue it attracted a quality audience that exhibitors said were ‘genuine and interested’.

The show will run in Melbourne from 2-4 June and will be 50% larger, with many new companies joining the list of exhibitors. This means it will be even more valuable for foodservice operators hungry for new ideas.

Exhibition Organiser Tim Collett says, “We had a very good show in Sydney, but that is only a taste of what will happen in Melbourne. With the support of industry, we are now building a great show – something everyone wants.”

One of the first changes was to move the show back to the Royal Exhibition Building. “This was the original home of shows in Melbourne. It has now been fully renovated and is the perfect place for our show,” Collett said.

“The Royal Exhibition Building gives us room to grow without losing the boutique feel of the show. It is walking distance to the city, has easy access for visitors, full services for exhibitors and incredible atmosphere.”

The popular ‘Chef of the Year’ competition will be returning with the MLA joining as a platinum sponsor. The top 32 professional chefs in Australia will be competing for $10,000 in four kitchens built under the dome, right in the middle of the show.

Also returning will be the Restaurant Theatre which offers free seminars for foodservice operators. Topics this year will include online marketing, industrial relations, selling your business and global food trends.

There will be a special section just for bakers and patissiers featuring suppliers of finished product as well as the latest equipment and ingredients, free workshops and the enormously popular pie competition

Organisers report that interest from exhibitors has been strong, and that stands are selling quickly.

Tim Collett says “Companies like the fact that this event is focused and we make exhibiting easy. If you want to reach the foodservice market you should be in a foodservice show. It is simply the best way to meet buyers and generate business.

“We know marketing dollars are tight so we have kept our rates as low as possible and added value for exhibitors. We offer a free powerpoint, free forklifts, free electrical testing and free how to exhibit classes with every shell stand.”

Food companies already booked include Kraft, Fonterra, Kellogg’s, Kikkoman, Callebaut, McCormicks, Procal, Sanitarium, Rinoldi Pasta, Top Hat and Hakka. Equipment suppliers include Robot Coupe, Birko, Stoddart, Winterhalter, FSM, Mackies, Oppenheimer, W&P Reedy and Unox.

Companies wanting to book a stand should contact the organisers. Stands range from only 4m² so small companies can get involved to the maximum stand size of 36m² to accommodate a diverse range of exhibitors across the whole spectrum of the foodservice industry.

Industry professionals planning to visit the show should mark the dates in their diary and register online for free entry. That way they can keep up with all the latest news and special events.

Foodservice Australia runs from 2-4 June 2013 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. Entry is strictly trade only. For more information and free visitor registration visit www.foodserviceaustralia.com.au or call 03 9999 5460.

Source: Foodservice Australia, 4 December 2012