CELEBRITY CHEF GENNARO CONTALDO TO OPEN ICE CREAM & ARTISAN FOODS SHOW

It has been announced that celebrity chef and Jamie Oliver mentor Gennaro Contaldo will officially open the Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show 2020, on Tuesday 11 February, at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate. He will cut the ribbon, judge one of the National Ice Cream Competition categories and meet exhibitors and visitors.

Gennaro Contaldo was born in Minori on the Amalfi Coast. He regularly appears on Saturday Kitchen (BBC1) as well as his own TV show, the highly successful Two Greedy Italians (BBC2). In 1999 he opened his own restaurant ‘Passione’ in Charlotte Street, London. His first cookbook, also called ‘Passione’, published by Headline in 2003, won Best Italian Cook Book 2003.

The Ice Cream and Artisan Foods Show is the only trade show specifically for the UK ice cream sector. It has been running for 75 years and is organised by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the industry’s trade body and is renowned for showcasing the latest in ice cream trends from everyone from ice cream parlours to impulse retail frozen treats.

It is also the setting for the National Ice Cream Competition, the most prestigious industry awards, with winners announced at a Gala Dinner on Wednesday 12 February.

“We’ve made some changes to the forthcoming show,” explains Zelica Carr, ICA CEO. “Previously it was known as the Ice Cream and Gelato Expo. But following a survey of our members we have extended it to cover other products sold by many ice cream retailers, which they wanted to see exhibited at the show – all under the umbrella of ‘artisan foods’.”

The ICA’s 2019 survey revealed that 69% sell coffee, 63% sell tea and other hot drinks, 61% sell cakes, 61% sell confectionary and 41% sell savoury snacks. Over 80% also wanted to see general catering equipment and supplies at the show.

The Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show is open to all trade – not just ICA members.

To register to attend, or to enquire about taking a stand, please visit www.ice-cream.org or call/email 01332 203333 or email [email protected]