Welcome
Well… if the first issue of Café Life is anything to go by, we are in for an exciting 2025. This was a labour of love that kept on growing, with a smorgasbord of insight, interviews, previews and advice. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
There are two words that leapt out of our sumptuous ‘Ice cream & desserts’ special: Salted caramel! It’s the flavour of the hour, challenging the more traditional consumer picks. While a younger demographic is forcing operators to think differently and become more agile around taste combos, Insta-friendly creations and menu versatility.
For the first time, we have three exclusive previews. There’s a mouth-watering debut for lunch! NORTH in Manchester, the UK Food & Drink Shows promise a wealth of networking opportunities, while the London Coffee Festival is becoming an essential staple on the industry calendar.
Packaging requirements go under the microscope with Richard Harrow’s invaluable advisory, as we also zone in on syrups & flavourings, alt-milk for tea drinkers and coffee suppliers & roasters.
Enjoy the ride!
Alex Bell - Editor
LinkedIn
Contents
REGULARS
4 Lifestyle – Islands Chocolate / Vita Mojo / Hagen / Cornish Bakery / Franke / Shrooma / Richard Harrow packaging advisory
PREVIEWS
18 lunch! NORTH
36 UK Food & Drink Shows
54 London Coffee Festival
ICE CREAM & DESSERTS
22 Gelato Bricks
26 Suncream
28 Vegware
31 Central Foods
32 Symphonie Pasquier
34 KTC
TEA
40 Natural selection – Glebe Farm Foods, Tea-rrific
SYRUPS & FLAVOURINGS
44 Beyond the Bean
48 IBC Simply
50 Simpsons Beverages
52 SHOTT Beverages
COFFEE SUPPLIERS & ROASTERS
58 Andronicas
62 Fracino
66 Voyager
