Challenges of The Restaurant Industry Post COVID – Join our free panel session at Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo 2024

Join us at the upcoming Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo on October 15th & 16th at ExCeL London. This event is set to be a pivotal gathering for the foodservice industry, showcasing the latest innovations and insights from leading experts in restaurants, takeaways, and catering. We are delighted to be chairing a panel exploring some of the challenges which still face the restaurant industry following COVID. Meet award-winning Head Chef Sally Abé and Aida Khan founder of SHOLA Karachi Kitchen to discover any pivoting & opportunities which took place in their businesses and their thoughts on the future for hospitality post COVID.

All of the seminars at the expo offer a unique opportunity to glean invaluable insights, strategies, and best practices from the forefront of the industry. Whether looking to enhance customer experience, optimise operations, or explore new culinary trends, these sessions are not to be missed.

Who’s on our panel:

Sally Abé is a fine-dining chef at the top of her profession. She has worked in some of the best establishments in the UK, including The Savoy, The Ledbury, and she retained a Michelin star at The Harwood Arms, the UK’s #1 gastropub. She currently runs The Pem, named after the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, which boasts a team of 80% women producing some of the finest dishes in London. She was named Female Chef of the Year in 2021 by SquareMeal, and was shortlisted for GQ’s overall Chef of the Year in 2021. She is constantly working to get women into the hospitality industry and create fair, safe, and happy living standards within kitchens across the UK.

Sally’s debut book, A Woman’s Place is in The Kitchen, published in June 2024 is about the rise to become an award-winning chef in the brutal world of restaurant kitchens; how a girl from The Midlands who used to cook herself Smash to get by is now one of the most successful fine-dining chefs working today.

Aida Khan is founder of SHOLA Karachi Kitchen. An entrepreneur at heart, Aida Khan comes from a family with a deep passion for food. From an early age, she learned how to cook traditional family-style food from her mother, whilst her father taught her to love food through his passion to eat.

A former banker, Aida Khan’s passion for cooking led her to study at Leith’s School of Food and Wine and pursue her passion for cooking. She made her mark in the food community of London through her Karachi offerings in Supper Clubs, and in March 2019, Aida opened SHOLA Karachi Kitchen in West London.

Mex Ibrahim, Co-Founder of Women in the Food Industry

Mex Ibrahim was formerly Head of Marketing and Social Media at Great British Chefs – the UK’s fastest growing food website. After almost eight years in that role, Mex co-founded Women In The Food Industry – a Community Interest Company for conversation, insight, stories, resources & community support as women in food face obstacles of inequality & inclusion.

Mex is also MD of her own freelance social media, marketing and content creation agency, a trustee of School Food Matters, a member of the Guild of Food Writers and an Associate member of the Royal Society of Public Health. Her expertise includes sustainability, food entrepreneurs, equality within the food industry and ethical eating.

Our panel takes place on  Tuesday 15 October at 14:15 n Keynote Theatre 4 at the Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo 2024

Visit this link to learn more about the seminar programme for Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo, and register for your complimentary trade ticket.

About the Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo 2024

This is the ultimate foodservice trade show, encompassing every avenue of the restaurant & takeaway industry. Offering access to everything from cutting-edge point-of-sale solutions to the latest culinary technology, this is the perfect progressive space for experienced restaurateurs and budding takeaway entrepreneurs alike.

With the sustainability movement continuing to play a key role in driving change in the food and drink world, the Sustainability Trail will see the sector’s most inspiring suppliers showcase their industry-altering solutions at the cutting-edge of eco-innovation within the packaging industry.

Covering all areas of restaurant takeaway, this brand-new feature will enable visitors to discover the most sustainable suppliers in Europe, who have all been cherry-picked to feature on the trail, having been recognised for pushing the boundaries of sustainable development.

In the Keynote theatre, visitors can hear from the finest minds in restaurants and takeaways. There is a fantastic line-up of guest speeches, seminars, and panel discussions featuring representatives from globally-recognised brands and fast-rising culinary institutions. Audience members will learn industry secrets from the world’s biggest eateries and gain invaluable perspectives on where the industry is headed next!

What better way to grow your perspective than surrounding yourself with restaurateurs and takeaway businesses? In the spirit of sharing meals, the Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo is a space for connection and collaboration. Use your time to meet with peers, talk shop, and build your contact book!