With just over a month to go until the HTA Catering Conference now is the time to book your place to ensure you don’t miss out on this unique event for the garden industry. This year’s conference and dinner, themed ‘A Recipe for Growth’, takes place at The Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 June.
With the focus on strategy and operations on day one and food on day two this action packed programme covers a whole raft of topics pertinent to running a garden centre catering operation. With a combination of speakers from inside and outside the industry, plus panel session, it is a great way to gain inspiration and knowledge. The event provides the opportunity to network with garden centre catering peers and also meet with suppliers in the accompanying exhibition.
The latest updates to the programme include:
Paul Pleydell from Pleydell Smithyman who will be looking at the key ingredients required to create a great garden centre café in his session titled ‘Designing a Café is like cooking a great meal’.
David Denny, HTA Marketing and Insights Manager will help to set the scene by looking at the latest market information and consumer insight and expectations for catering.
Paul Weston from Frobishers will be using examples from across the industry to show how premierisation and differentiation can help to achieve a recipe for growth.
New for 2018 will be a stage demonstration from Quorn foods who will be showcasing the versatility of this sustainably produced, healthy protein source.
Martin Breddy, Managing Director of Squires Garden Centres will be talking about their catering offer across the group especially new Café bar at the Woking centre.
They join speakers including Jim Cregan from Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, Josh Brown from Harris + Hoole, Paul Hargreaves from Cotswold Fayre, Jane Land from Veganuary, Tom Hunt from Poco, James Debbage from Green Pastures.
TV Chef Rosemary Shrager will be providing the after-dinner speech in the evening.
Exhibitors booked to attend so far include Arden Coffee Ltd, British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), Citation, Frobishers Juices Ltd, Dawn Foods, Eden Furniture Ltd, Frobishers Juices Ltd, Funnybones Foodservice, Jestic Foodservice Ltd, Matthew Algie & Co Ltd, Newberry International Produce Ltd, Pleydell Smithyman Limited, Quorn Foods, Review Systems, Sound Leisure, Space Catering Equipment Ltd, Sussex Bakes Ltd, Tea from the Manor, The Handmade Cake Company Ltd and Vision Commercial Kitchens.
To find out more and book your place visit www.hta.org.uk/cateringconference
For details about sponsorship opportunities at the event please contact the HTA Commercial team: Tim Bell on 07808 775177 / tim.bell@hta.org.uk or Phil Swainston on 01235 776181 / phil.swainston@hta.org.uk
