The Restaurant Show celebrated its 20th anniversary at London’s Earls Court exhibition centre from October 6-8, with more than 350 suppliers of food, wine, interiors and business advice exhibiting.
But the fact that there were only a very small number of fresh fruit and vegetable exhibitors did not go unnoticed at the show.
Kent-based Watts Farms was one of the few fresh produce growers at the event and partner in the firm Mike Gray believes that fruit and vegetable suppliers to the foodservice industry should have been there.
“We supply a lot of the top restaurants in London with fruit and vegetables, including The Grove,” he said. “And The Restaurant Show is a very good opportunity to meet our customers and discuss things face to face.
“A lot of fresh produce suppliers feel that they have enough business so do not come to promote themselves, but it is a competitive industry and chefs want to know where their produce has come from.”
Watts Farms grows cresses, herbs, baby leaf salads, soft fruit and vegetables such as asparagus and carrots at its five farm sites in Orpington. The firm also runs a wholesale business that imports fruit and vegetables. Watts has not only supplied caterers for the last three years, but also provides Asda with spinach and baby leaf lettuce.
Watts Farms’ Kieran Crickmar has noticed that chefs are increasingly looking for Thai vegetables, with green Thai aubergine and bok choi becoming firm favourites. “Even if chefs are not cooking Thai food, they are looking for a point of difference,” he said. “We actively work with them to supply want they are looking for.”
TV chef Rachel Green, ambassador for Select Lincolnshire, also noticed a lack of fresh produce at the show. “Where is all the fresh produce?” she asked. “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase what is available at a time when it has never been so popular with restaurants. Select Lincolnshire is passionate about its fresh produce, and its food, flowers and bulbs have put the county on the map; you would think that other organisations would want to shout about their produce too.”
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