Together with co-located trade shows IFE International Food & Drink Event and IFE Manufacturing, HRC welcomed over 27,000 industry professionals across three days to learn, network and streamline their product sourcing.

New for 2023, Chef HQ was a demo kitchen stage and networking area showcasing the latest culinary innovations. Chefs including Craft Guild National Chef of the Year Ben Murphy, Next Level Chef UK winner Jade Greenhalgh, chef Andrew Wong and Number 6 in Padstow chef patron Paul Ainsworth took to the stage to discuss their careers and culinary inspirations.

Andrew Aston, head of wellness & nutrition at BaxterStorey, commented: “I absolutely loved the atmosphere at the show: it felt positive, energetic and vibrant. I caught up with friends, met new friends, connected with some wonderful producers and manufacturers all while experiencing some fantastic ingredients from all over the world.

“The culinary competitions and the skills theatre delivered a great platform for all ages of chefs and what a place to test themselves in front of a large, curious audience. Very well done to every single person who brought the show to life and thank you for leaving me inspired.”

HRC’s Vision Stage and Tech X stage saw sessions covering a wide range of important trends and topics in the world of hospitality and foodservice. Day one kicked off with an industry update from Kate Nicholls OBE, chief executive of UKHospitality, followed by a hospitality 2023 global view from IGD.

This was followed on day two by a keynote session from HRC chef ambassador Monica Galetti, who discussed the growing role of tech in the kitchen, the industry’s transformation over the course of her career and inspiring the next generation of talented chefs.

HRC will return to ExCeL London alongside The Pub Show @ HRC, International Salon Culinaire, IFE, International Food & Drink Event and IFE Manufacturing on 25-27 March 2024. Find out more at hrc.co.uk.