- Sign up for your free tickets to the exciting new trade event in Manchester this March
lunch! NORTH
lunch! NORTH is an exciting new event, held in Manchester, celebrating innovation and excellence in the Northern food and drink scene, and fostering relationships between producers, experts, buyers and retailers
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This March, the North’s café, coffee shop, and food-to-go sectors will take centre stage with the debut of lunch! NORTH, an exciting new trade show dedicated to showcasing the best in innovation, and expertise. Held at Manchester Central on 11th to 12th March 2025, the event is set to become the premier gathering for professionals in this fast-growing industry.
Co-located with the well-established Northern Restaurant & Bar event (NRB25), lunch! NORTH offers hospitality professionals a unique opportunity to discover the latest speciality food trends, connect with leading suppliers, and gain insights from some of the most respected voices in the industry. Together, the two events will create an unrivalled platform for the entire northern hospitality community.
Keynote Theatre, panels and live sessions
A dynamic programme of keynote interviews, panel discussions, food-to-go research insights, and live sessions is set to inspire and inform attendees at lunch! NORTH.
The line-up includes Marta Pogroszewska, managing director of GAIL’s, who will discuss her journey in growing one of the UK’s most beloved bakery brands, which has expanded from a single site in London to more than 100 locations nationwide in 2024.
William Gordon-Harris, executive chairman and CEO of Knoops, will join the Food-to-Go Leaders Panel on day two of the event. As the driving force behind Knoops’ premium hot chocolate brand, Gordon-Harris will share insights into how Knoops is leveraging its niche offering to compete in a booming northern market, where premium and experiential food-to-go options are increasingly in demand.
The Coffee Shop Leaders Panel will feature Claudio Ribeiro of Federal Cafe & Bar, a Manchester favourite. Federal has become a northern institution, garnering local and national acclaim, including ‘Best Coffee Shop’ at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards. The panel will feature expert commentary and lively debate on the current state of the coffee market and its future direction.
The event will also feature a range of other dynamic panels covering key topics, including the Operations Leaders Panel, Coffee Shop Leaders Panel, New Openings, Food-to-Go Leaders Panel, Marketing Leaders Panel, and Menu Innovation. Each session will provide actionable insights and practical takeaways for professionals across the café, coffee shop, and food-to-go industries.
The full seminar and demo programme is now live here.
Networking and inspiration
lunch! NORTH is the ultimate platform for café owners, coffee shop operators, and food-to-go professionals to connect, share ideas, and discover the latest products and trends. Whether you’re an independent operator or part of a larger chain, lunch! NORTH has something to offer everyone in this vibrant sector.
Taking place alongside NRB25, lunch! NORTH is set to become the cornerstone event for the café, coffee shop, and food-to-go markets in the North. Register now for your free trade tickets and join the celebration of the North’s hospitality excellence.
