The events specialist says that the fair closed after three days as the busiest SFFF to date, with a record number of re-bookings by exhibitors for the 2015 event.

Olympia’s Grand Hall came alive with the unveiling of a giant chocolate saxophone at the opening ceremony on September 7, which was sited in the Speciality Chocolate Fair, one of the dedicated sections of the show, another being the Small Producer Village, which was an area for new companies.

Live cooking demo theatres included the Fine Food Forum, Speciality Chocolate Live and the Small Business Forum – a stage for industry experts to give advice to the entrepreneurial and business-owner audience.

The Fine Food Forum and Speciality Chocolate Live theatres saw a jam-packed schedule of seminars, talks and demonstrations from some of the UK’s leading chefs and chocolatiers.

Chef consultant Steve Walpole was the first host of the Fine Food Forum, and he also gave the last demonstration on the opening day entitled: ‘Tricks of the Trade’. “It’s my second year being involved with the Fine Food Forum; 2014 is all about showcasing the very best quality ingredients,” he said.

“There is so much appealing produce on show from the UK and abroad, and there are many regional producers represented here with such a great mix and variety on display in the Small Producer Village – this puts a big smile on my face.”

The Craft Guild of Chefs took over the Fine Food Forum on the final day of the SFFF and delivered some creative culinary skills. Craft Guild CEO Martin Bates hosted the day, which saw Rob Kennedy from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, barbecue expert Ben Bartlett, Harrods executive sous chef Allister Bishop, and Basten all take to the stage.

Another highlight of the fair was the announcement of the Great Taste Supreme Champion on the final day, and this year’s winner was the raspberry Sorbetto produced by Snowflake Luxury Gelato.

At the end of the show, products donated by exhibitors were sent to local foodbanks for the Trussell Trust, which runs the UK’s largest network of foodbanks that provide emergency food and support to people in need. The trust supported more than 900,000 people with food parcels in 2013/ 2014, of which around a third were children.

Next year, the SFFF will be moving to the National Hall at London’s Olympia exhibition centre and will run from September 6-8. For further information, visit www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk