IRELAND’S largest foodservice and hospitality event CATEX returns to the RDS in Dublin from February 21-23 with a firm focus on showcasing opportunities for businesses across the island to thrive.
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and reconnect with more than 270 suppliers, network with industry stakeholders, source new energy saving and waste management technologies, and watch hundreds of chefs and baristas compete on a national stage.
Established in 1965, CATEX has cemented its reputation as the ultimate destination for the hospitality and foodservice industry and promises the opportunity to discover, network and drive profitability for your business.
Among the suppliers from the north will be Henderson Foodservice, which will showcase its innovative food suppliers that are keeping hospitality businesses in Ireland ahead of the curve and feeding into rapidly developing consumer trends.
Alongside a huge array of sampling opportunities, and first looks at new product launches, visitors can also learn more about the company’s streamlined ordering system bringing efficiency and ease, while getting an opportunity to sample at the demo kitchen with the company’s food development chef, Geoff Baird.
Cathal Geoghegan, managing director at Henderson Foodservice, which sources and supplies 6,500 products to 4,500 customers across 11 sectors including hotels, public sector offices and hospitals, says that while the hospitality industry across the island of Ireland is still facing myriad challenges while in recovery mode from pandemic lockdowns, consumer trends are developing at an increasing rate.
He said: “Post-lockdowns, our industries were facing a shortage of staff from front of house to chefs coupled with restrictions, varying consumer demands and behaviour, not to mention the cost of ingredients shooting up in recent months. As leading suppliers to the industry, we have a responsibility to be innovative and find solutions that will not only work for our customers’ business models, but for their ever-demanding consumers.
“We work with suppliers who strive to better their product offering through innovation, adapting to new trends or creating inventive recipes and packaging. It is a competitive industry, it is fast paced, but we are constantly keeping our finger on the pulse.”
Henderson Foodservice’s stand will have a range of exclusive products for CATEX including Coup de Pates, a range of premium desserts from Aryzta, some of which are exclusive to Hendersons in Ireland.
The company’s innovative suppliers at CATEX also include Mademoiselle’s diverse product range of desserts, with their approach to deliver a healthier ingredients list with a focus on sugar reduction and vegan and gluten free cakes and desserts.
With hospitality outlets expected to have ever increasing vegan options as the norm on their menus, Henderson works with Rich Sauces to stand out from the competition when it comes to vegan sauces that are outstanding in flavour, versatility and performance.
When it comes to innovation, some of Ireland’s most humble meal staples are not safe from a little variation. DeliFrance has recently reported that 41 per cent of consumers they surveyed eat bread almost every day, so they know they have to stand out in a busy marketplace, which they deliver with their hero sandwich breads.
Meanwhile Agristo, a leading supplier to Henderson’s exclusive Country Range brand, use the latest bespoke technology to deliver on coatings and flavours. At CATEX, visitors can sample the unique Double Crunch Country Range Chips to understand how they can gain an advantage over their competitors.
Cathal added: “CATEX has two main focus points for 2023: Innovation and Sustainability. As a company working across Ireland, sustainable business practices are important to us in how we operate, but also in what we can offer our customers to be more sustainable businesses too. We make it our aim to work with suppliers who have credible sustainable approaches in place to help reduce energy and food waste.”
