Successful launch for co-located exhibitions.

With Bellavita Expo having acquired European Pizza & Pasta Show (EPPS), this year saw the event launch as the leading event in the UK dedicated to pizza, pasta and Mediterranean food and beverage, organised with the support of Vinitaly and Cibus and co-locating with EPPS and Ibérica Spanish Pavilion at the Olympia London exhibition centre.

“We could not have asked for a better debut for the highly anticipated first combined show in 2022!” said the show organisers in a statement.

“We had over 7,000 attendees - including top chefs such as Giorgio Locatelli, Masters of Wine such as Peter McCombie, special guests and food and beverage professionals eager to learn more about the latest products and trends of the Mediterranean food and beverage sector with over 200 brands on a fantastic show floor that has always been full of enthusiasm. A big thanks to everyone who made the show special... A new era of trade shows has just begun!”

The ninth edition of Bellavita Expo London, EPPS and Ibérica Expo 2023 will take place on 21 and 22 June 2023.

Rate reductions should be reflected in bills “as quickly as possible”

The industry body for the hospitality sector, UKHospitality, has responded to the government’s consultation on transition for the next business rates revaluation.

New rateable values - due to come in next April - are coming at a time of “unprecedented circumstances” for the industry, they point out, and is therefore something which should be reflected in the 2023 revaluation, the trade body has said in its response to a government consultation on the proposals.

In its response, the industry body highlighted the profound impact of the pandemic on hospitality property values and the financial fragility of hospitality businesses. Most are carrying heavy debt and facing soaring costs and there is therefore a need to ensure that any reduction in business rates is reflected in the bills as rapidly as possible.

In its full response, UKHospitality has called for assurance that the scheme will allow for all businesses to reach their true reduced value from April 2023, a cap on how much bills can rise, no RPI increase in the total sum of business rates and the continuation of business rate reliefs for businesses hit hardest by the pandemic.

UKHospitality CEO, Kate Nicholls, said: “The priority must be enabling reductions in bills to be felt immediately and the government needs to ensure that the cost is reduced for those sectors hit hardest by the pandemic and in most need of support.

“We strongly believe that government needs to reflect the unprecedented impact of the pandemic, compounded by the impact of an economic downturn and high levels of inflation, in the new rates scheme. If this is taken into account, the hospitality sector can play its full part in the wider UK economic recovery, creating jobs and delivering skills and boosting our high streets and communities.”