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The 2018 London Produce Show and Conference

Table of Contents

Foodservice Industry Conference: Foodservice Forum

Wednesday June 6, 2018

Our Foodservice Forum adds another level of value to the LPS and appeals to culinary heavy hitters and major UK and international foodservice companies.

The interactive one-day seminar programme dedicated to the UK’s diverse and thriving foodservice industry launched is now in its third year. Attendees of the Foodservice Forum will participate in seminars, discussion panels, chef demonstrations and ideation sessions – all with a view to improving the performance of fresh produce in the foodservice and catering arenas.

Attendees:

    • Learn from industry experts about what it takes to be part of the UK’s creative and burgeoning food scene and how to grow your foodservice business
    • Share experiences and common ground with other foodservice suppliers, top chefs and fresh produce experts
    • Find out how to create more space for fresh produce and for your company in the foodservice industry
    • Learn about the evolution of London’s dining scene
    • Discover how to sell to and source more effectively from wholesale markets
    • Grasp the latest cooking techniques from top research and development chefs
Foodservice Forum 2018 Agenda:

Fresh Produce Boosts Profits

Producers, wholesalers and foodservice providers explore the changing face of procurement as the demand for Fresh Produce continues to grow

8.30am – Registration & Welcome Refreshments

9.00am – Welcome

Jim’s Video | Jason’s Video

9.15am – On The Horizon – Eating & Drinking Trends – Where To Next?

    • Simon Stenning, Executive Director, MCA.
      Simon will present the latest data from MCA on the Eating Out Market and the way in which consumers are currently behaving, as well as outlining the key trends that MCA have identified as being most relevant for the UK Foodservice Market in 2018 and onwards.

      MCA’s data covers the total market, all branded operators, and research with over 72,000 consumers each year, delivering rich insight into the what is really happening.

PDF Presentation | Video

10.00am – A Fresh Way Of Looking At Food – The Food Boss

    • Kate Taylor, founder of The Food Boss, is a leading nutritionist, food consultant and fitness coach. Kate tells the audience about her career journey to-date and why she feels so passionate about encouraging people to eat and live healthily.

PDF Presentation | Video

10.15am – Panel Discussion 1: Health & Wellbeing – The Role of Fresh Produce

It is a recognised fact that diet plays a significant role in people’s wellbeing and levels of output are significantly increased where restaurants, businesses and schools have a healthy catering offer in place. Kate Taylor, The Food Boss, explores the role of fresh produce on menus in promoting a healthy lifestyle with our panel of expert retail, restaurant and foodservice providers.

Video

11.00am – Networking Break

11.30am – Chefs’ Round Table Discussion

There is a far greater demand for Vegan and Vegetarian Meals than ever before. How much has this impacted on your business in terms of menu planning, sourcing of ingredients and application of skills?

With the trend for plant-based meals now firmly established, Lin Dickens, Marketing Director for bartlett mitchell and lifelong vegetarian, asks our Foodservice Forum panel of chefs how this has impacted in their kitchens.

Video

12.15pm – Chef Demo, sponsored by LifeWorks Restaurant Group

A leading UK chef celebrates cooking with fresh produce:

Paul Gayler MBE – One of the UK’s Culinary Masters, Author of 25 Cookery Books and former Executive Chef de Cuisine at The Lanesborough for 22 years, now a leading Consultant

1pm – Networking Lunch

2pm – Special Feature Interview: Fresh Produce Entrepreneurs

Chris Sheppardson, Founder and Managing Director of EP Business in Hospitality and Chess Partnership, interviews a panel of leading entrepreneurs that have led their businesses to success by promoting fresh produce as central to their brands.

Video

2.45pm – Panel Discussion 2: Ask The Procurement Experts

Christopher C. Gaulke, Lecturer Food & Beverage Management and Supply Chain, Cornell University, USA delivers a short presentation on some of the macroeconomic, social, and political factors impacting produce procurement by U.S. foodservice operations.

Jason Danciger, Managing Director, Hana Group UK, then moderates our final panel, bringing together some of the leading buyers, procurement specialists and influencers in our sector.

The day’s discussions will raise a number of questions and we give our procurement panel the chance to respond and challenge these in what promises to be a lively conversation where audience participation is wholeheartedly encouraged.

Christopher’s PDF Presentation | Christopher’s Video | Procurement Experts Panel Video

3.30pm – New Kids On The Block

We end the day with a glimpse into the future… Jason Danciger introduces two start-up entrepreneurs who each have an exciting story to tell about their innovative new ventures

Catherine’s PDF Presentation | Catherine’s Video | Chloë’s PDF Presentation | Chloë’s Video

4pm – Final Thoughts / Wrap-up

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Accessing the UK Market Seminar

Wednesday June 6, 2018: 14.00 – 17.00

Learn more about opportunities to trade with the UK and how to meet regulatory requirements with a tailor-made seminar, held by the Fresh Produce Consortium.

“Exporters need to know what regulatory requirements and customer standards need to be met to access the UK market, and to know when any additional control measures are coming into place,” said Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive Officer of the Fresh Produce Consortium.

“As well as providing advice on getting your products to the UK market now, this seminar is looking at the potential impacts and opportunities for future trading post-Brexit with some useful insights from key speakers.”

Attendees will have the chance to hear how successful exporting countries have identified opportunities to develop and sell their products on the UK market and how they have achieved significant growth in exports of fresh produce to the UK.

The seminar includes contributions from experts from the UK regulatory authority, market analysts, the fresh produce industry and successful exporters:

    • Learn from the UK authority how to meet plant health requirements
    • Find out how to check compliance with statutory pesticide residues levels
    • Explore the future landscape for Brexit trading relationships with economic, policy and legal analysis of the potential impacts of changing trading terms
    • Learn about global commercial opportunities from highly successful and experienced exporters
    • Finish the afternoon networking with attendees and speakers at the exclusive LPS Opening Cocktail Reception, the UK’s produce networking event of the year with 800+ attendees

Programme

PDF Presentation

14.00 Introducing the UK market: Opportunities to Trade

PDF Presentation | Video

14.15 Meeting your Regulatory and Customer Requirements: Plant Health and Food Safety

Richard’s PDF Presentation | Richard’s Video | Dr. Nazario’s PDF Presentation | Video

Questions

15.15 Networking Break

15.30 Potential Impacts and Opportunities for Trading With The UK Post Brexit

PDF Presentation | Video

Questions

16.00 Maximising Global Opportunities

José Antonio’s PDF Presentation | José Antonio’s Video | Jaime’s PDF Presentation | Jaime’s Video

Questions

16.50 Summing Up

Video

Perishable Pundit Thought-Leader Panel

The main day of the LPS18 opens with an energetic and thought-provoking Breakfast Panel discussion. The panel discussion is chaired in the Ballroom at the Grosvenor House by world-renowned fresh produce writer and analyst, the Perishable Pundit, Jim Prevor.

Check out this year’s exciting panel line-up:

THURSDAY JUNE 7, 2018 | 07.30 – 09.15

The Perishable Pundit Jim Prevor as he probes the minds of the following produce-industry experts.

  • Dr Rupy Aujla, The Doctor’s Kitchen | LPS18 Show Ambassador
    Rupy is the London-based NHS general practitioner (GP) who started ‘The Doctor’s Kitchen’; a project to inspire his patients about the beauty of food and the medicinal effects of eating well.

    Rupy describes himself as a straight-talking doctor who gives healthy eating inspiration. With a focus on plant-based eating, he creates quick and easy nutrient-dense recipes and talks about the clinical research behind the ingredients he uses via his debut cookbook and blog The Doctor’s Kitchen, as well as his videos and images on YouTube and Instagram.

    Standing at the forefront of lifestyle medicine movement in the UK, Rupy is also a clinical adviser on nutrition to the Royal College of GPs in London. Through this role, he aspires to bring the concept of ‘Culinary Medicine’ to the profession globally.

    Rupy is the Show Ambassador of The London Produce Show and Conference 2018.

  • Rich Dachman, Sysco Corporation

    Rich Dachman is a native of Denver, CO, and attended Colorado State University. He began his produce career at his family-owned business in Denver. Following the sale of the family business he and his father opened a new foodservice operation in Denver for Kraft Foods, Inc. before Rich joined Kraft’s corporate office in Chicago as national director of Produce in 1987. 

    In 1992 he joined FreshPoint Inc. and was president of FreshPoint Operating Companies in Houston, Denver, Atlanta and its central procurement office in Salinas, CA. When Sysco acquired FreshPoint in 2000, Rich was appointed to the position of senior vice president, Western Region, and in 2007 was promoted to vice president of produce for Sysco Corporation. Rich was awarded the Foodservice Achievement award by The Packer in 2010, and served as chairman for the Produce Marketing Association in 2012.

  • Curt Epperson, Publix Super Markets

    Curt is the Business Development Director of Produce and Floral at Publix Super Markets, the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Publix operates across the Southeastern US and is headquartered in Florida.

    Curt was promoted to his current position in 2017 after supporting the company’s produce business in a variety of retail and support roles. He joined Publix in 1984 as a part-time package clerk (bagger) and, after a short stint in bagging, Curt quickly moved into the produce department as a part-time produce clerk. He worked all the produce positions before being promoted to Produce Manager in 1995.

    In his role, Curt enjoys giving his associates the information and tools they need to succeed. His responsibilities include: scheduling weekly meetings to share information, discussing the produce and floral departments’ mission and strategy, and perpetuating the Publix culture.

    Curt is married to Tammy and has two children, Caity and Christa. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors, biking, boating and hanging out with his family.

  • Steve Fox, Bartlett Mitchell
    Steve is the Purchasing Director of UK-based independent contract caterer Bartlett Mitchell, a position he has held for the last three years.

    A caterer by profession, Steve has been a procurement professional for the past 20 years. He started out in the contract catering sector; working his way up from Chef Manager to Operations Manager before his move into Procurement.

    As an experienced caterer, one of Steve’s key assets is being able to relate to the people on whose behalf he is procuring. In any food-related business, he believes it’s important to keep chefs in mind when implementing procurement strategies.

    Steve also feels his experience in food production and delivery enables him to make informed decisions that work best for the business – not just in terms of price, but also quality and service level.

    In his role at Bartlett Mitchell, Steve is also engaged with environmental and sustainable issues.

  • Theresa Huxley, Sainsbury’s
    Theresa is a Technical Manager at retailer Sainsbury’s, where she has worked for almost 25 years. Brought up on a mixed farm in Shropshire, Theresa has always had a keen interest in science and technology, and its role in maintaining sustainable agricultural and horticultural production systems.

    Through working at Sainsbury’s, Theresa has established a solid track record of proactively working with and supporting the UK horticulture industry, including driving quality and innovation through facilitating commercial growers’ adoption of outputs from R&D and innovation, which she deems critical for a sustainable, competitive and agile industry.

    Amongst the most significant industry step changes Theresa has achieved are: the adoption by tomato growers of hydroponic growing systems, the transition of strawberry growers from field-based production to protected table-top production systems and to packing their produce in top-seal punnets, and encouraging topfruit growers to invest in intensive production systems and pre-grading facilities.

    Importantly, Theresa has lead the way in shaping a more direct working approach between grower and customer, which she refers to as ‘evolution not revolution’.

    Theresa is also well-known for passionately supporting the promotion of Professional Horticulture education, and for actively mentoring and encouraging into the industry the next generation of Professional Horticultural and Plant Scientists, and Biologists.

    In 2009, she founded the Huxley Training Orchards at Hadlow and Pershore colleges with the vision that they serve as a valuable teaching resource. The orchards also facilitate interaction between students and commercial fruit growers to highlight potential career opportunities available to those with Professional Horticultural skills in the context of future food and fuel production.

    Theresa says she feels blessed to be in a career that she enjoys, working with an industry she loves, and for a company that has allowed her to follow her interests and make a difference.

  • Paul James Morgan
    Paul James Morgan is the Category Manager for fruits and vegetables for Spinneys Dubai. He has been involved in the buying and sourcing of fresh foods for nine years and started his career in the fresh produce department at Musgrave Retail Partners GB, managing categories for the Budgens and Londis brands. After four years purchasing fruit, vegetables, fish and meat he joined Sainsbury’s to work in the food-to-go category (sandwiches, sushi and salads). In 2015, he moved to Spinneys Dubai, a leading retailer in the Middle East with over 65 stores across the UAE and Oman. As category manager of fresh produce he sources directly with growers around the world. Spinneys is the first retailer in the region to join GLOBALG.A.P. and hold the license for Waitrose stores in the Middle East.
  • Jonathan Olins
    Jonathan is the Managing Director of Poupart Imports, which has supplied fresh produce to wholesale and non-retail customers in the UK since 1895.

    Jonathan is the fourth generation of his family to work in the fruit industry, joining the trade in 1976. He started his career within the family business, Louis Reece, becoming a salesman in the wholesale markets. After five years in the role, he progressed to become an importer/distributor.

    After the family business was sold, Jonathan joined Poupart in 1987 and set up Poupart Imports in 1998 to concentrate on supplying the non-supermarket sector. Today, he specialises in procuring a wide range of counter-seasonal fresh produce from South America and South Africa.

  • Brian Riordan, Lifeworks Restaurant Group
    Brian Riordan serves as Managing Director of LifeWorks Restaurant Group, the premium B&I offering of Aramark Ltd. Brian joined Aramark in January 2012 as Regional Managing Director. Previously, he held senior positions in the hotel, catering and support services industries, including Operations Director at Restaurant Associates and previously Operations Director at Marriott International Hotels. Brian also has experience in sales and marketing where he led teams in the 5 Star hotel and conferencing markets. He is a member of the Institute of Hospitality and qualified with a BSc in Hospitality Administration (USA).
  • Maria Wieloch, ICA Sweden
    Maria is the Senior Category Manager for fruit, vegetables and flowers at supermarket chain ICA Sweden. Since joining ICA, she has held several different positions within the retailer’s fruit, vegetables and flowers business.

    Before her current position, Maria was the Head of Business Development at ICA, where she looked after issues such as sustainability, among others.

    Maria graduated in economics and management from Lund University in Sweden in 2004. Before joining ICA in 2008 she worked in the paper and packaging industry for SCA Packaging, which has since become DS Smith. She spoke at The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference in 2017.

  • Peter Gohl, Spar Group

    Peter held various brand-marketing positions with international food and personal care companies in the FMCG industry before joining The SPAR Group in 1986. The SPAR Group of Southern Africa operates out of six distribution centers servicing 800 stores.

    Peter was Marketing Director for six years, after which he became GM Perishables and launched the SPAR Group’s first perishables distribution facility and then he was responsible for the creation and implementation of the group’s fresh private label ranges.

 

 

2018 Seminars

The LPS brings together some of the sharpest minds from the global produce industry to present a series of educational seminars and workshops that explore the topics and issues that impact directly or indirectly on the working lives of every show attendee.

Stage 1 Seminars

THURSDAY JUNE 7, 2018 | 10.00 – 17.00 | The Great Room Balcony

10.00 – Pacific Alliance: Panel Discussion

  • Moderator: John Giles, Divisional Director, Promar International (UK)

  • Panelists:

    Ignacio Fernández, Director, ProChile (UK)

    Felipe Ángel Campo, Executive Director, ProColombia (UK)

    Julián Gustavo Salazar, Trade and Investment Manager, ProMéxico (UK)

    Jaime Cárdenas, Director, Peru Trade & Investment Office in the UK

    Matthew Churchill, Business Development Manager, Greencell (UK)

    Learn about the advantages and the opportunities of sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables from the Pacific Alliance countries: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

    Latin America remains a hugely important and significant source of counter-seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables for buyers across the Northern Hemisphere. Listen to our panel of trade experts discuss the Pacific Alliance with regards to its potential to jointly promote produce, improve access to markets and facilitate the movement of labour.

    The panel will also describe how the fresh produce offer is evolving from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru with new exportable products, in addition to the latest agricultural developments taking place and the investment opportunities within each of the four countries.

    Matthew’s PDF Presentation | Matthew’s Video

11.30 – Innovative logistics: Remote Container Management

  • Captain Peter Wedell-Neergaard, Senior Reefer Specialist, Maersk

    Understand the rationale behind this ground-breaking innovation in refrigerated technology, and the full visibility it provides to users across the reefer supply chain.

    Remote Container Management (RCM) allows users to monitor the conditions inside containers from the moment goods are locked inside, right up to delivery at their final destination.

    Captain Peter will discuss RCM, how it has developed and the advantages it offers customers throughout the reefer supply chain.

PDF Presentation | Video

12.30 – Sourcing from Serbia: An emerging supplier

  • Alek Pavlović, Director of USAID Competitive Economy Project, Serbia

    Discover the opportunities to buy fresh fruits from Serbia – an emerging, sustainable source in South East Europe for apples, berries, stonefruit and vegetables.

    Having traditionally focused on the Russian market, Serbian exporters now have their eyes firmly set on finding long-term partners within the UK’s retail, import and wholesale sectors.

    As Serbian fruit and veg production expands and facilities modernise with the latest technologies, Alex will guide attendees on what Serbia has to offer UK buyers in terms of quality standards, volume expectations, sustainable supply, and competitive prices.

PDF Presentation | Video

13.30 – Shopper marketing: The importance of understanding the shopper vs. the consumer

  • Nick Kirby, Shopper, eCommerce & Analytics Director, Bridgethorne

    Learn how to focus on understanding the shopper to drive sales at retail.

    Even though the majority of shoppers claim they know what they want to purchase prior to entering a store, research has shown that, surprisingly, almost 20% will buy on impulse in categories from which they had no intention of purchasing.

    In today’s highly competitive retail environment, the shopper must be at the heart of commercial and marketing strategies to avoid losing sales in the last fifty yards of the shopper journey.

    Nick will demonstrate how to improve shopper understanding, build engagement, and, ultimately, win in the battle for share of spend.

PDF Presentation | Video

14.30 – Buying British: The Big Opportunity

  • Jack Ward, CEO, British Growers

  • Mark Phillips, Sales & Marketing Consultant, ProduceView

    Find out about the big opportunity to expand British fruit and vegetable production, the advantages of increasing local supply for buyers, and the new retail analytics available.

    British Growers has outlined a future in which it believes there are extensive opportunities to raise the competitiveness, profitability and UK market share for British producers of fresh fruits and vegetables.

    With the UK heavily reliant on produce imports, the uncertainty surrounding post-Brexit supply, and the ‘Buy British’ ethos remaining strong, Jack will highlight the ways in which buyers stand to gain from expanding domestic production.

Jack’s PDF Presentation | Video

15.30 – Citrus from Chile: A buyer’s guide

  • Monserrat Valenzuela, Manager, Chilean Citrus Committee

    Hear about the latest production and market developments taking place under the Chilean Citrus Committee, which forms part of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) and whose members represent 78% of Chile’s citrus exports, including clementines, mandarins, navel oranges, lemons and grapefruit.

    This season (2018), Chilean citrus exports are forecast to rise by 17%, compared with the 270,000 tonnes supplied in 2017. With planting and exports on the up, Chile’s citrus sector has recognised the need to diversify its destination markets, which currently include North America (receiving 82% of the export total), followed by Europe (6%) and Asia (8%).

    In particular, the Committee views the UK as a highly competitive market where channel evolution is opening up new opportunities for Chilean exporters. During this seminar, Monserrat will explore the new developments underway in Chile, as well as the volume projections going forward, and where Chile fits into today’s global marketplace.

PDF Presentation | Video

Stage 2 Seminars

THURSDAY JUNE 7, 2018 | 10.00 – 16.30 | The Buckingham Suite

10:00 – Global forces: The global produce industry and the implications for the UK

  • Professor Miguel Gómez, Associate Professor Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University USA

    Gain an insight into the key trends shaping the international trade of fresh fruits and vegetables; from the primary factors affecting produce industry globalisation to the implications for the fresh produce industry in the UK.

    Miguel will also analyse both the situation and the outlook for the UK’s key fresh produce trade partners, as well as address important contemporary issues, such as Brexit, US-China trade disputes etc., and their possible impacts on the produce industry of the UK.

PDF Presentation | Video

11.00 – New buzzwords: Food Tech & Open Innovation

  • Alessiod‘Antino, CEO, Crowdfooding

    Understand the Food Tech movement, and how to tap into the concept of Open Innovation.

    Having emerged in the USA some years ago, Food Tech is taking Europe by storm as start-ups increasingly use technology to transform the dynamics of the food sector. At the same time, Open Innovation is a new concept whereby corporates and start-ups are finding new ways of collaborating to embark on future innovation strategies together.

    Alessio will talk about the latest Food Tech trends and highlight some local UK companies involved in the movement, while detailing the future of Open Innovation and the innovation benefits that larger companies can expect to garner from working with entrepreneurial-minded start-ups, and visa versa.

PDF Presentation | Video

13:00 – Plant-based diets: The latest consumer research

  • Carolyn Hudson, Marketing Manager, England Marketing

    Access the latest consumer opinions on plant-based diets, together with the inside track on the leading movers and shakers within the industry.

    UK consumer eating trends are changing; requiring growers, farmers and retailers to respond to new market requirements. Recent research evidences that vegetarian and vegan diets are on the up thanks to an increasing interest and popularity among consumers committed to plant-based eating, as well as a growing number of adults eager to reduce their intake of animal-based protein.

    Carolyn will unveil brand-new research about one of the hottest food trends of the moment, by presenting consumer opinion alongside current thinking from industry leaders, including the opinions of retailers, producers and leading standards organisations.

PDF Presentation | Video

14:00 – Ag-tech: Why it adds value for the entire supply chain

  • Dr. Ed Moorhouse, Director, Agri-Food Solutions

    Discover the latest precision farming technologies – from drones, satellites and sensors to robotics, artificial intelligence and biotechnology – and the added value for the entire fresh produce supply chain. 

    Billed as ‘the future of farming’, ag-tech is expected to play a key role in the management and security of food production in the future, particularly in view of the post-Brexit demand for innovation. 

    This session will deepen your understanding of the solutions that can optimise growing conditions, better forecast yields, improve consistency, remove variabilities, reduce risk and increase yields. Ed will examine various ag-tech innovations, and how they can add value and cut costs for both fresh produce suppliers and their buyers.

PDF Presentation | Video

15:00 – Energy: Ways to mitigate rising costs

  • Craig Watson, New Business Client Lead, nPower

    Find out about the future energy cost panorama and how to make savings and reduce costs via the various energy management solutions available to fresh produce buyers and their suppliers.

    Energy costs in the UK are forecast to rise by 15-20% by 2021, meaning unless businesses manage their energy spend efficiently, ultimately the burden of this additional cost could reduce turnover and potentially profits.

    From LED lighting, back-up generators and wind turbines, to energy supply contracts, optimising in-store energy usage and staff training, Craig will detail how retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators and fresh produce growers can mitigate and reduce rising energy costs.

PDF Presentation | Video

16:00 – Routes to market: How to compete for supply

  • John Giles, Divisional Director, Promar International

    Explore the many routes to market that are developing in the UK and understand what fresh produce suppliers will expect realistically from their buying customers in the future and visa versa.

    The routes to market are changing fast in the UK, meaning well-organised growers and distributors have more options than ever before to get their produce to customers. Buyers in all their guises therefore can no longer expect supply to come automatically, be it from the UK or overseas.

    Each of these routes to market – whether they are large and mature or niche and expanding – are in competition with each other; making the job of choosing to be in the right one more demanding than ever before, and the task of buying more complex than in the past.

PDF Presentation | Video

 

 

 

Chef Demonstrations

The LPS Chef Demonstration Theatre leads the trade show in #celebratingFRESH. Our carefully selected group of leading chefs demonstrate how they are placing fresh produce at the heart of their high-end menus and showcase a variety of cooking styles and trends using many of the products that visitors can view and source on the show floor.

LPS18 Chef Line-Up

10:30 – Dipna Anand, TV Chef, Brilliant Restaurant
*Featuring product provided by Robinson Fresh
Video

11:30 – Christian Weij, Puur-E
*Featuring product provided by the Dutch Fresh Produce Industry
Video

12:30 – Carlos Martinez, Group Head Chef, CHUCS & KX
*Featuring product provided by ProColombia
Video

13:30 – Robert Ortiz, Executive Head Chef, LIMA Restaurant
*Featuring product provided by The Trade Commission of Peru
Video

14:30 – Tom Cenci, Executive Chef, Duck & Waffle
*Featuring product provided by Mudwalls Farm Produce
Video

15:30 – Dr Rupy Aujla, The Doctor’s Kitchen
Video

PDF Presentation

 

 

 

Student Programme

Nurturing the leaders of tomorrow at The London Produce Show and Conference, we aim to help the industry in its constant drive to attract new talent by offering the opportunity for students of horticulture, business and culinary subjects to meet, learn and engage with representatives of the fresh fruit, vegetable and flower industries.

At the LPS18, students will enjoy a bespoke seminar programme led by several fresh produce professionals, who cover a wide range of industry jobs and sectors and will give the students valuable insight into the career progression opportunities that exist in the industry.

Dedicated mentors will then guide students around the show floor to introduce them to the trade at large and again highlighted the massive diversity of opportunity that the fresh produce industry has to offer. Students from the UK and overseas are given free and full access to every element of the show, to expose them to as many people and sectors as possible.

 

 

Produce Industry tours

Exploring produce locations around London

The final day of The London Produce Show and Conference concludes on June 8, 2018 with a series of bespoke tours to key produce locations in the south of England. Each tour is hosted by experienced professionals from the relevant sector for your enjoyment

PDF Presentation

Wilkin & Sons Hosts The LPS18 Production Tour

7.30am-4pm: only 25 places available

Round off your London Produce Show and Conference experience with a fascinating production tour of the Wilkin & Sons’ 300-year old family business in Tiptree, Essex.

A group of 25 will have the opportunity to visit Wilkin & Sons on Friday June 8 on the final day of the LPS. Widely renowned for its jams and marmalades, over the past decade Wilkin & Sons of Tiptree in Essex has branched out into the fresh fruit trade; supplying strawberries and raspberries exclusively to UK retailer Sainsbury’s during the summer season.

The Wilkin family and their forbearers have been farming in Tiptree, Essex for over 300 years. They have grown fruit on site for the last 150 years, and manufactured jams for the last 133 years. They have proudly held a Royal Warrant for the last 107 years (since 1911).

A fiercely independent business, Wilkin & Sons is the holding company with a number of brands operating under that umbrella, Tiptree foremost amongst these. They also have other jam brands, a patisserie business, a tea room business, a Christmas pudding manufacturer and a growing fresh fruit offering too.

The LPS Production Tour hosts will be Andrey Ivanov, the General Manager, and Chris Newenham, Joint Managing Director of Wilkin & Sons. Mark Smith, the Factory Manager, will also be on hand. On arrival, attendees will enjoy teas and coffees in the tea room, where Andrey and Chris will give the group an overview of where the business has come from, where it is today and some of the challenges which the future holds. After that, there will be a buffet lunch in the museum, before heading out to the farm.

Attendees will enjoy a visit to the factory, farm, tea room and museum. The tour will take in a walk through the factory operations from start to finish, including the hand-sorting of fruit and increasing automation.

On the farm, the tour will take in the diversity of the Wilkin & Sons’ crops and some of their innovations in terms of technology, given that Tiptree is such a dry part of the world. Strawberry harvesting will be well under way during the tour, but the group will also see a wide variety of production of raspberries, quince, cherries, apricots, and plums. Attendees can expect to return to Grosvenor House in London by coach by 4pm.

 

 

Reynolds logoThe Exclusive Reynolds’ Foodservice Tour

8am-3pm: only 17 places available

We are very pleased to announce that Andy Weir, Head of Marketing for Reynolds, will once again take a team of foodies on an exclusive guided tour around selected London eateries on the final day of The London Produce Show and Conference on Friday June 8, 2018.

Reynolds is one of the leading national suppliers of fresh produce to the foodservice industry, and Andy’s tour will give participants a good overview of the use of produce in different streams of the London eating-out scene.

Andy’s knowledge and expertise will provide a great overview of the booming foodservice picture in the heart of England’s capital and a taste of exactly what chefs and operators are looking for in 2018.

The tour includes stops at Sticks’n’Sushi, Freshii and Bill’s. You will meet some of the owners, chefs and key personnel who are helping to shape the UK eating-out industry. With plenty of food to eat throughout the tour, taking breakfast before departure is not recommended!

 

Bespoke London Retail Tour

8am-3pm: only 40 places available 

Join us for an insightful educational tour of the grocery supermarket scene of South and North London, on the final day of The London Produce Show and Conference – June 8, 2018.

Join us on a thought-provoking and enjoyable tour of the fresh produce aisles at a cross-section of the UK’s largest food retailers. The diversity of store formats will help you compare key factors from packaging, range, advertising, and availability to customer service, merchandising and quality.

Attendees will enjoy a take-away breakfast from Grosvenor House and depart at 8am on a dedicated executive coach, returning to the hotel by 3pm. You will receive a detailed, tightly-organised schedule for the day plus headlines on the stores you will be visiting. Your host will give you the inside track on what to look out for, before hopefully being joined by a few Retail Executives in some stores. Throughout the day, there will be opportunities to discuss the range of store formats, network and catch up over lunch.

 

New Spitalfields Hosts The LPS18 Wholesale Market Tour

6.30am-11am: only 40 places available 

LPS18 Wholesale Market Tour participants will witness first-hand the working environment at New Spitalfields Market, a purpose built wholesale market in Leyton, London, that opened in 1991. Home to well over 100 businesses, the market is the largest revenue-earning fresh produce and flower market in the UK. Spitalfields has a broad base of market tenants and an extensive exotic fruits and vegetable offering.

The agenda includes a tour of the market pavilion, the catering supply buildings area and meetings with leading wholesalers, refreshments for all participants, and an overview of the running and management of the site by the team leaders, Jan and Chris Hutchinson.