Judges, including CEDA chairman Jack Sharkey and HOSPA CEO Carl Weldon, decided on the finalists in the categories of interirors, technology and catering equipment.

Toby Wand, managing director at Fresh Montgomery, said: “Once again, the Innovation Awards has unearthed the most ground-breaking new products in hospitality! Visitors should seek out our dedicated area at the show housing the finalists’ products for all to see and marvel at throughout the four days. No other show is equipped to give a clearer snapshot of the weight of innovation that this industry is capable of delivering.”

The nominations are as follows:

Equipment

The finalists in equipment include: Carpigiani UK with ice cream and milkshake machine ‘Multiple Choice’; De Manincor UK with ‘De Manincor Total Control System’ – the monitoring software that controls energy consumption in the kitchen; Gamble Foodservice Solutions with user-friendly, high speed oven ‘Ovention Matchbox 360-12’; Manitowoc Foodservice’s oil conserving fryer ‘Frymaster FilterQuick 2FQE3OU’; MKN GmbH & Co. KG with compact combisteamer, ‘SpaceCombi Magic Pilot’; Pneu-Therm Limited (Hoeller Buffet Solutions) with its ‘CCP - Comfort Combi Plate’, the only UK foodservice plate that can be switched from hot to cold, and Winterhalter’s dishwasher-come-air conditioning unit ‘PT Climate Plus’.

Interiors

The companies and products competing in the final of the interiors category are: Alfresco Spaces with its stylish outdoor heating solution ‘Fire N Table’; Burgess Furniture Ltd with contemporary banquet chair ‘Inicio’; Divine Atmos Private Limited with its eco-friendly ‘Palm Leaf Slippers’; Hotel Contract Interiors with ‘Engineered Vinyl Tile’, the 100% waterproof commercial floor; Signature FSE with ‘Inductwarm® tables’, the only wooden table in the market to allow dishes to be kept warm through induction technology, and another first in its field, Vegware with ‘Recycled compostable black cutlery’, the only recycled compostable black cutlery for stylish eco-friendly dining.

Technology

The contenders in the technology category are: Hawk Safety with food safety analytical tool ‘Heat’; Kaba Ltd with ‘Kaba Mobile Key Access’ for a highly secure mobile guest experience; Ordamo’s ‘Ordamo System’ of interactive displays and restaurant ordering; Smart Space Strategy Ltd with cloud based application ‘Smart Space’; The Chef Tree Ltd with its job search app for chefs, ‘app.thecheftree.com’, and Wi-Q Limited with its ‘Wi-Q’ order and payment mobile solution.

Show visitors will be able to see each innovation for themselves in a special area throughout Hotelympia, plus the category winners will be crowned at a very special awards ceremony held on The Stage, Monday 29th February at 16:00.