A buzzing return for Casual Dining, Commercial Kitchen and lunch!

The hospitality and foodservice industry experienced an injection of inspiration, togetherness, and a newfound business confidence at the return editions of Casual Dining, lunch! and Commercial Kitchen over 23-24 September 2021 at ExCeL London.

Food and drink industry leaders, trailblazers, and senior decision makers came in their thousands across the two days, with a strong and positive appetite for face to face business. lunch! welcomed 5561 visitors, Casual Dining welcomed 4707 visitors, and Commercial Kitchen saw a huge increase, welcoming 4295 visitors at its debut London show.

Visitors who attended included senior decision makers and professionals from the Alchemist, BaxterStorey, Bill’s Restaurants, Burger King, Caffè Nero, Center Parcs, Coffee Republic, Compass Group, Co-op, Crussh, Dishoom, Five Guys, Greggs, Heathrow, Hilton Group, Honest Burgers, KFC, Las Iguanas & Turtle Bay Restaurants, Legoland, Leon, Merlin Entertainments, New World Trading Company, Nando’s, NHS, PizzaExpress, Pret A Manger, the Restaurant Group, Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose, WH Smith, and many more. The positive buzz across the show-floor certainly didn’t go unnoticed as exhibitor testimonials echoed the “quality” of contacts they met and “genuine enquiries” they made – concluding that the co-located ‘supershow’ was the “best show yet!”

Chris Brazier, group event director, said: “We’re so delighted to see that the industry has returned to face to face trade events in no uncertain terms. The brilliant exhibitors were back, the buyers were back and the buzz was back at our biggest show yet. We won›t rest on our laurels and have already started preparing for an even better lunch!, Casual Dining & Commercial Kitchen for 14 and 15 September 2022. A huge thank you to all our exhibitors, visitors, speakers, media and association partners for their help and support in getting these much-needed shows open again.”

Frankie & Benny’s apprenticeships on offer to students

As students across Britain start university, Frankie & Benny’s is offering three lucky students the chance to have their tuition fees, and food, paid for, for a whole year.

The Italian-American restaurant says that it is on a mission to help a handful of students pay for the upcoming year of university by covering their tuition fees – up to £9,250 - and giving them free Frankie & Benny’s for twelve months.

To continue the support, each winning student will also be guaranteed a job once they finish their degree, receiving an apprenticeship at The Restaurant Group, one of the UK’s biggest hospitality businesses. Three positions will be created and could be across any of the company’s household brands which include Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito.

To be in with a chance of winning, all students need to do is share a picture of themselves enjoying a meal at Frankie & Benny’s, or tucking into a takeaway, on Instagram with #StudentsWinWithFrankies and @ Frankienbennys (each post on social should state their university of study and why they believe they should win).

The competition, open to all students studying in Britain, is running for four weeks from 27 September until 24 October and students can post and enter as many times as they like (terms and conditions apply).

Once the competition is closed, winners will be selected by a panel of judges from Frankie & Benny’s and The Restaurant Group, based on their social posts as to why they should win, and announced in November.

“We’re always looking to support students and now, more so than ever. Students can enjoy 20% off their food bill at any Frankie & Benny’s restaurant all year-round and now with this competition we hope to give them a lifechanging opportunity,” said Jon Knight, managing director of the leisure and concessions business.

“After the past 18 months that we have all been through, we couldn’t think of anything more rewarding than supporting a handful of young budding students to get the start in life they so deserve. It’s incredible to be in a position to be able to give a handful of students this huge opportunity. The very best of luck to everyone that enters the competition, we can’t wait to announce the lucky winners soon enough.”

To learn more, or to see all T&Cs visit www.frankieandbennys.com