Food to go in the spotlight at February conference

The key trends and growth drivers in the dynamic food to go market will be under the spotlight at a major industry event in February.

MCA’s Food to Go Conference, which takes place on 7 February at Ham Yard Hotel in Central London, will see executives from leading operators and specialists such as KFC, EAT and Itsu sharing the stage with retail experts from M&S and Spar, while HIM Research & Consulting will host a panel session of leading convenience retailers who have successfully incorporated food to go into their businesses.

The speakers will shine a light on growth plans as well as operational, marketing and supply challenges and opportunities, which will define the sector’s future growth. The following day will feature a Food to Go Study Tour, where delegates will have the chance to visit key forward-thinking food to go operations in the city and include operator talks and sampling.

Accounting for a quarter of all eating out spend in the UK, the food to go market is worth £20.2bn and in 2016 is expected to grow at a rate 5.7% compared with 2.3% for the total eating out market.

Mark Wingett, editor of MCA, said: “The MCA Food to Go Conference is focused on one of the most dynamic and fast moving sectors in the UK’s eating out industry – the engine room of the UK’s eating-out sector. It encapsulates a broad church with each section competing strongly to be front of consumers’ minds. The full-day conference will look at the key trends and drivers for this increasingly important growth sector and is a day that anyone with an interesting in this market should not miss.”

For those wishing to attend, an early bird rate of £395 + VAT expires on 31 December 2016. Full price tickets are £495 +VAT from 1 January 2017. Study Tour places on day 2 are priced at £225 + VAT. To book your place please visit www.foodtogoconference.co.uk or contact Holly Hodges on 01293 846 514 or Holly.hodges@MCA-Insight.com