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SHOW REVIEW
A firm favourite
The third Caffè Culture exhibition took place at Olympia in London on the
21 and 22 May, and despite a background of uncertain economic times,
has been hailed as the most successful show yet, drawing 4433 visitors
and over 220 international exhibitors. Since its launch in 2006, the show
has increased by 65% and become truly established
as the industry’s most dedicated event.
Café culture’s in the basket
Café culture favourites fruit smoothies and
muffins entered the ‘basket of goods’ used
Still growing launching, surviving and thriving in one of
to calculate the Retail Price Index (RPI) for
“The event has been going from strength the UK’s most competitive sectors. Paul
the first time ever earlier this year, whereas
to strength and this year’s was certainly Allen, author of Your Ethical Business,
time has been called on the once-popular
the best yet. Despite concerns of a major provided a complete guide to starting and
cases, such as ‘stubbie’ beer bottles.
economic slowdown within the retail operating a truly green and ethical café –
The ONS (Office of National Statistics)
sector, the coffee bar industry is from choosing suppliers, through to
collects about 120,000 prices every month
continuing to grow at unprecedented staffing and recycling policies. Visitors to
for a ‘basket’ of about 650 goods and
levels, with predictions that it will double Caffè Business also heard lively debates
services. The change in the prices of those
in size over the next decade,” said Elliot about how to make maximum profits from
items is used to compile the two main
Gard, the event’s director. “We’re delighted coffee and the benefits of local sourcing,
measures of inflation: the Consumer Prices
that Caffè Culture now plays such a pivotal hosted by author of Wake up and Smell
Index (CPI) and Retail Prices Index (RPI).
role in the industry’s calendar, providing a the Profit, Hugh Gilmartin, and Clare
The Bank of England then uses the CPI
much needed opportunity for the whole Benfield from Café Culture magazine.
as its inflation target while the RPI is used
community to come together to network, Located at the heart of the show, the Caffè
to calculate increases in pensions and
share ideas and do business.” Theatre, in association with Macmillan
some other state benefits. The contents of
Visitors were able to meet up with Cancer Support and the World’s Biggest
the basket are reviewed every year, and
suppliers of thousands of products and Coffee Morning, saw chefs provide
changes can be made for a number of
services specifically designed for the practical food and menu planning
reasons. Some items enter the basket
coffee bar market, as well as enjoying free demonstrations, giving ideas to those
because spending on them has reached a
access to a first-class programme of looking to offer innovative food and
level that demands inclusion to ensure that
seminars and workshops. Three theatres beverages to their customers. From
the basket represents consumer spending.
played host to a range of in-depth talks, utilising seasonal and local produce to
Some are included to improve the
debates and demonstrations from leading designing menus to attract the family
coverage of particular categories with
industry experts, top baristas and chefs, market, sessions offered real business
high variability in prices and some to
covering the full spectrum of issues faced benefits and provided inspirational recipe
diversify the range of products collected for
by those working in the industry. ideas.
already established items. Fruit smoothies,
The exhibition also played host to a
say the ONS, have been included as the
Debates and seminars series of in-depth SCAE Workshops where
emerging market of healthy soft drinks
The Caffè Business theatre dealt with visitors were able to gain a real insight into
continues to rise in supermarkets. Muffins
some of the most significant issues faced every aspect of starting and running a
are included for the first time to represent
by owners and managers of hospitality successful café or coffee bar. Workshops
snacks such as croissants and cakes that
related companies. Russell Smith, author included fundamental and advanced
people generally buy with a coffee in cafés
of How to Start a Successful Business and barista training through to coaching on
around the UK.
The Independent’s small business every aspect of starting a new business –
columnist, provided expert advice on from creating a sound strategy, finding the
12 AUGUST 2008 CAFÉ CULTURE
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