In 2015, Melbourne will play host to the only tradeshow focused on the hospitality and catering industry, with Foodservice Australia running from 31 May 2015 – 2 June 2015 at the Royal Exhibition Building.

Event Director Tim Collett said the show will be “the best yet, with a fabulous range of exhibitors and special events designed to inspire and inform operators of restaurants, cafes, bars and commercial kitchens”.

“The key to this industry is to provide a unique experience for customers that makes them want to come back,” Mr Collett said. “At the same time you have to be efficient to make a profit and stay in business. This show is the perfect place to refresh your thinking and stay ahead of the pack,” he said.

John Hart from Restaurant & Catering Australia said the show is an important destination for professional hospitality operators.

“It is the only event focused on our industry and an incredibly valuable use of your time. In just a few hours you can find dozens of new ideas, products and suppliers,” Mr Hart said.

New Restaurant and Bar Theatre space

New in 2015 will be the Restaurant & Bar Theatre. Event organisers said the intimate space will offer a series of free seminars and workshops around the hospitality space.

Guests include international bartender Hayden Wood, American Chef Eddie Adams, interior designer James Harper and management guru Tony Eldred.

Casual dining also represented

The café, canteen, lunch and food-to-market represent a dynamic and significant market segment, according to the event organisers.

In the Café School chef Peter Wright will be hosting daily workshops on coffee, sandwiches, pizza, burgers and ice-cream.

Institutional caterers

Institutional caterers are also an important part of the mix, according to the event organisers.

Businesses that serve food in the aged care, hospital, school, defence or mining sectors will be able to find ideas for their menu. Event organisers said institutional caterers should also be sure to attend the volume catering panel running on day two of the show.

Who is exhibiting?

In addition to all the free workshops and seminars there will be over 150 companies showing and sampling the latest food, drink and equipment. These include big names such as Unilever Food Solutions, JBS Meats, Parmalat, Hudson Pacific, Mission Foods, McCormicks, Brookfarm, Inghams and many more. However it is also about niche producers.

The Regional Producers Pavilion provides a unique forum for smaller growers and manufacturers to be represented and connect with chefs and buyers. This year there will be pies from Tasmania, olive oil from Nullamunjie, cakes from Geelong, freekeh from Adelaide and fresh seafood from Port Lincoln.

Gluten Free World

New in 2015 is Gluten Free World with products and advice on how to service this important market segment. Coeliac Victoria and industry expert Sue Shepherd will be available to answer questions and help chefs with menu options.

Exhibitors with gluten free products to sample include Freedom Foods, Passage Foods, Gluten Free Life, Gotzinger Smallgoods, Julians Gluten Free, Soy Products, Well & Good, Rebellion Brewing, Lupin Foods and Forage Cereals.

Kitchen and dining equipment

The right equipment can transform a kitchen or dining room, according to event organisers. Unox, Robot Coupe, JL Lennard, Winterhalter, Kingo and Advantage Kitchens will all be launching new products at the show.

Furniture buyers will be able to see the latest ranges from Kingo, FED, Alliance Furniture and JMH. Businesses looking to update their uniforms will be able to speak to the team from Alsco or new players Cargo Crew.

Unilever Food Solutions Chef of the Year

The prestigious Chef of the Year competition returns to the Foodservice show even stronger this year with record entries and new industry partners Unilever Food Solutions, Unox Australia, JBS Meats, Chisholm Institute, Alsco, Sous Vide, Robot Coupe and Bidvest.

This national competition sees professional chefs compete against each other and the clock, with just one hour and a mystery box of ingredients to prepare their best dishes. All professional chefs are invited to enter and the top 32 cook live at the finals in Melbourne. The winners will share $10,000 in cash and valuable prizes.

Competition director and black hat chef Gary Farrell said there has been a record number of entries and judges had to work hard to choose the top 32 who will be cooking live in Melbourne. They include Haruhisa Sonobe from Nobu, Alexis Besseau from Bathers Pavilion, Luca Guiotto from Catalina, Mark Knox from Est, Antoine Beriault from Mr Hive, David Warne from Royal Mail Hotel, Vanessa Mateus from Pope Joan and Daniel Wilson from Huxtable.

Last year’s winner Matt McCool has moved to the W Hotel in Bali and will miss the event. However, his fellow finalists Rosie Griffiths, Travis Goodlet and Jesse Hughes are all coming back to have another try. Given their experience and results last year in Sydney, event organisers said these chefs would have to be considered ‘red hot favourites’.

Unilever Food Solutions is the Platinum Sponsor of the event and will have their professional products available for sampling on their stand alongside. Visitors can also talk to official oven suppliers Unox, meat suppliers Southern and Beef City, training providers Chisholm, uniform suppliers Alsco, blender suppliers Robot Coupe, Sous Vide Australia and drygoods supplier Bidvest.

Registration

Entry to the show is free if attendees register online. However, attendees must be over 16 and work in the food or hospitality industry.

For more information on the show, exhibitors, special events and registration visit www.foodserviceaustralia.com.au or call Specialised Events on 03 9999 5460.

Foodservice Australia 2015

The Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, Melbourne

Open 10am – 5pm for three days only

Sunday 31 May, Monday 1 June, Tuesday 2 June

Special Events

Café School

Gluten Free World

Restaurant & Bar Theatre

Unilever Food Solutions Chef of the Year

Australia’s Best Pie

Regional Producer’s Pavilion

Foodservice Conference

Foodservice Gala Dinner