Five reasons not to miss Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2024

Speciality & Fine Food Fair returns to Olympia London from Tuesday 10th to Wednesday 11th September, packed with new artisan food and drink products, insightful sessions, and invaluable opportunities to network with industry peers. 

Each year retailers, wholesalers, hospitality professionals and more descend on the Fair for a packed two days of product sourcing and discovering new tastes, trends and innovations. In addition to countless fantastic British and Irish brands, the Fair also welcomes quality food and drink producers from around the world, including Spain, Australia, Thailand and Italy. 

5 highlights of 2024’s Speciality & Fine Food Fair

1. Celebrate 25 years of the Fair

This year Speciality & Fine Food Fair is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a host of new features and special events. The Fair has also partnered with Speciality Food Magazine to recognise 25 Rising Stars in the world of speciality food and drink. 

These inspiring entrepreneurs have built their brands from the ground up, created delicious, quality products, and are making their mark on the industry as individuals. 

Commenting on becoming one of the 25 Rising Stars, Tom Palmer, founder of Yep Kitchen, said, “I am unbelievably excited and honoured to have been chosen as one of 25 Rising Stars in the UK food and drink industry! Sitting in my Beijing apartment some two years ago, drafting up the initial concepts for Yep Kitchen, I never imagined it would lead me to this point. Creating this business and sharing it with the world is literally my dream come true.”

The 25 Rising Stars will be celebrated at an exclusive event on the evening of 10th September at the Fair. 

2. Discover hundreds of new products

This year’s edition of the Fair is packed with new products from across the UK and around the world. From refined liqueurs to vegan chocolate, from fiery hot sauces to quality charcuterie, the event is a one-stop-shop to source a wide range of artisan food and drink. 

At the heart of the event is the Start-Up Village, a hub for completely new businesses in the world of food and drink, where visitors can meet directly with brand owners and sample a diverse range of recently launched products. 

Pitch Live, in partnership with IND!E and Ocado, will see innovative food and drink start-ups pitching live at the show for the chance to secure a partnership with the online retailer. These hand-selected businesses will represent the best of the best at this year’s event, demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit and embodying a quality product and brand.

3. Recognise industry excellence

The Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards, sponsored by the Federation of French Charcuterie Catering Companies (FICT), are back for their fourth edition, recognising leading lights in independent retail, revelatory new products and inspiring DEI initiatives. 

The awards celebrate excellence in the world of speciality food, with categories including New Product of the Year – UK, the ‘Not Yet on the Shelf’ Award for products yet to launch into retail, and independent retailer awards in partnership with the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA)

Stefano Cuomo, CEO of Macknade and awards judge, said, “Showcasing the very best of our peers, as chosen by the communities that use them, these awards highlight the innovation and hard work that goes on in our independent businesses, up and down our nation, to not only provide incredible service and experience, but illustrating how we, as a sector, are leading the shift to progressive and sustainable supply chains and consumption – reading my peers’ entrances for these awards makes me so proud to be part of this vibrant sector!”

The winners will be unveiled on the afternoon of 10th September on the Talking Trends stage.

4. Navigate culinary trends and challenges

The Talking Trends stage, in partnership with the European Union, will host a comprehensive programme of content covering everything from the latest speciality retail trends to hot new ingredients, to topics such as DEI, empowering retail teams and consumer perceptions of ultra processed foods. 

Priya Narain, purpose and culture manager at KERB, and panellist on for the session ‘Diversity: More than just ticking boxes’, said, “Joining this important debate is crucial to me because DEI is the backbone of a thriving, innovative industry. It’s more than a tick-box exercise—it’s about fostering an environment where diverse voices lead to richer, more creative outcomes for everyone.”

Lizzie Haywood, innovation manager at Waitrose & Partners will be kicking off the Fair’s content programme with a presentation on the key ingredients and cuisine trends that are shaping the speciality food and drink sector.

She said, “I am really excited to be speaking at Speciality & Fine Food Fair again this year, it is one of my favourite trade shows of the year with so many innovative brands showcasing their products.”

5. Elevate your drinks offering

A treasure trove of speciality drinks products, the Fair is a must-attend for drinks buyers looking to discover exciting new spirits, soft drinks, hot beverages and more. 

New for this year, the Drinks Uncovered stage will include a programme of content from leading industry experts, journalists and drinks buyers. Sarah Stewart, sake wine and cheese educator at West London Wine School, will be discussing pairings of sake and cheese and the delicious synergy rooted in the power of umami, while Cibare Food & Drinks Magazine editor in chief, Eve Tudor, will be hosting a discussion of the world of low and no. 

A panel moderated by Ruth Dolby, director at Food Science Fusion will see Richard Enion, director at ENRICHD, Darwin Fletcher, founder and creator of Quirky Monkey, and Zain Peer, co-founder of London Nootropics, delving into the world of mushroom-based drinks and the rise of nootropics, adaptogens and functional beverages.

Find out more about everything happening at this year’s event, and register for your complimentary trade ticket here.