In an effort to prioritise public safety, Plant Based World Europe has rescheduled its event in London from the summer to October 2021.
Plant Based World Europe, the continent’s first dedicated vegan expo, has moved its dates to October following growing international demand and the announcement of the UK’s roadmap for a return to normal life.
Originally set to take place in the summer, the event will now be held on October 15 and 16, 2021 at north London’s Business Design Centre. The show has been grabbing attention from industry professionals and global buyers, and show organisers JD Events have made the decision to postpone the event in an effort to prioritise safety and confidence of attendees by allowing time for vaccine rollouts and international travel to fully reopen.
While the UK government’s roadmap has set June 21 as a tentative date for lockdown measures to be fully relaxed, there is no guarantee of that date and it’s unclear to the organisers whether international visitors hoping to attend Plant Based World Europe would be allowed into the country.
The event organisers say that the additional months will be crucial for delivering a safe show, accommodating for the government’s target to vaccinate all adults by July and better rapid testing measures to make everyone feel comfortable and confident to attend.
Plant Based World Europe will run in the same quarter as its sister event for North America, which has been rescheduled for December 9 and 10 in New York City. At the London show, visitors would be able to taste products, ask questions, meet new contacts, and gain a deeper knowledge of the benefits of introducing plant-based food into a business. Among the brands signed up to attend are household names like Waitrose, Starbucks, Nando’s, Quorn, OmniPork and Meatless Farm.
Read our exclusive interview with Quorn ahead of exhibiting at Plant Based World Europe.
Jessica Booth, new product development manager for Meatless Farm, said: “We are happy the team moved it to the new dates in October as restrictions relax. We can’t wait to connect with new and current buyers as the industry picks back up after the last year and the mainstream demand for plant-based options continues to increase.”
Jonathan Morley, managing director of Plant Based Global, added: “The new show dates will allow millions [of] more people to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and only builds further anticipation for the in-person events we all miss so much.
“We all want to reconnect in person with our suppliers, buyers, guests, investors, friends, and colleagues — and meet new contacts. To do that with confidence and respect for everyone’s safety is paramount.”
