LUNCH! NORTH ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS, INCLUDING LEADERS FROM GAIL’S, KNOOPS & FEDERAL CAFE
The inaugural trade show for cafés, coffee shops, and food-to-go businesses in the North unveils an inspiring line-up of industry leaders
The inaugural lunch! NORTH trade show, dedicated to the café, coffee shop, and food-to-go industries, has revealed an impressive line-up of speakers for its debut at Manchester Central on March 11th-12th, including leaders from industry giants such as GAIL’S and Knoops.
Organised by the team behind the long-running London-based lunch! show, which attracted over 8,000 visitors in 2024, lunch! NORTH is set to bring the same energy and inspiration to the North. Sponsored by Uber Eats in its inaugural year, the event will showcase industry-leading voices and provide a platform to explore the big opportunities and challenges shaping the café, coffee and food-to-go markets.
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 over 100 locations nationwide in 2024.
The Coffee Shop Leaders Panel will feature Claudio Ribeiro of Federal Cafe & Bar, a Manchester favourite with locations in the Northern Quarter and Deansgate. Federal has become a northern institution, celebrated for its award-winning brunch menus, high-quality coffee, and Australian-inspired hospitality. Ribeiro has garnered 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 Food-to-Go Leaders Panel will feature William Gordon-Harris, CEO of Knoops, known for its premium chocolate drinks. The brand has been featured in the Good Housekeeping Food Awards and was named one of the “Top 10 Food-To-Go Brands to Watch” by The Grocer. 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.
Katie Tyler, Event Director for lunch! NORTH, said: “We’re thrilled to launch lunch! NORTH and bring the same inspiration and energy from our successful London show to Manchester. The North’s café, coffee shop, and food-to-go market is thriving, and this event provides an incredible opportunity to bring operators together to network, share ideas, and shape the future of the industry. We’re so happy with the incredible line-up of speakers we’ve confirmed so far and can’t wait to make our debut in the North this March.”
As the first-ever lunch! NORTH, this event marks a significant expansion of the lunch! brand, delivering tailored content and opportunities for operators in the North. Taking place at the same time and venue as Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) but in a dedicated space, the show is set to become a key date in the calendar for anyone in the café, coffee shop, or food-to-go industries.
The lunch! NORTH and NRB trade shows are scheduled for March 11th-12th at Manchester Central. This event serves as the premier hospitality showcase of the year. Free tickets for trade professionals working in hospitality are available here.
