2016 has been dubbed a vintage year by judges in Hotelympia’s prestigious, original and best Innovation Awards to date.
Judges, including Jack Sharkey, CEDA Chairman, Carl Weldon, CEO HOSPA (Hospitality Finance, Revenue and IT Professionals) and Stirling Johnstone, Editor of GS Magazine, have whittled down hundreds of entries – innovative new product launches set to be on view at the four-day show (29th February – 3rd March) – to just 19 finalists in the categories of interiors, technology, and catering equipment. The winners will be decided at the event itself.
Competition was so fierce in the equipment category that the judges decided seven products deserve to go through to compete as category winners.
Equipment:
The finalists in equipment include: Carpigiani UK with innovative ice cream and milkshake machine ‘Multiple Choice’; De Manincor UK with ‘De Manincor Total Control System’ – the monitoring software that controls energy consumption in the kitchen; Gamble Foodservice Solutions with user-friendly, high speed oven ‘Ovention Matchbox 360-12’; Manitowoc Foodservice’s oil conserving fryer ‘Frymaster FilterQuick 2FQE3OU’; MKN GmbH & Co. KG with compact combisteamer, ‘SpaceCombi Magic Pilot’; Pneu-Therm Limited (Hoeller Buffet Solutions) with its ‘CCP – Comfort Combi Plate’, the only UK foodservice plate that can be switched from hot to cold, and Winterhalter’s dishwasher-come-air conditioning unit ‘PT Climate Plus’.
“We judged the equipment entries based on the innovation to the market as a whole, and the subsequent impact. We were really impressed by the range and quality of the entries.” Jack Sharkey, CEDA Chairman.
Interiors:
The companies and products competing in the final of the interiors category are: Alfresco Spaces with its ultimate stylish outdoor heating solution ‘Fire N Table’; Burgess Furniture Ltd with contemporary banquet chair ‘Inicio’; Divine Atmos Private Limited with its eco-friendly ‘Palm Leaf Slippers’; Hotel Contract Interiors with ‘Engineered Vinyl Tile’, the 100% waterproof, no hassle commercial floor; Signature FSE with ‘Inductwarm® tables’, the only wooden table in the market to allow dishes to be kept warm through induction technology, and another first in its field, Vegware with ‘Recycled compostable black cutlery’, the only recycled compostable black cutlery for stylish eco-friendly dining.
“Without question, the best batch of entries to date. Some truly great ideas which have been well thought through to provide the industry with new and improved products. Finding a winner from these will not be an easy task”. Stirling Johnstone (Chair of Judges), Editor, GS Magazine.
Technology:
The contenders in the technology category are: Hawk Safety with food safety analytical tool ‘Heat’; Kaba Ltd with ‘Kaba Mobile Key Access’ for a highly secure mobile guest experience; Ordamo’s ‘Ordamo System’ of interactive displays and restaurant ordering; Smart Space Strategy Ltd with dynamic cloud based application ‘Smart Space’; The Chef Tree Ltd with its job search app for chefs, ‘app.thecheftree.com’, and Wi-Q Limited with its ‘Wi-Q’ order and payment mobile solution.
“We have had a great range of entries in for technology this year across the board. The final six certainly provide excellent examples of innovative and new technology products and the final decision at Hotelympia will – I am sure – be a difficult one!” Carl Weldon, CEO HOSPA.
Show visitors will be able to see each innovation for themselves in a special area throughout Hotelympia, plus the category winners will be crowned at a very special awards ceremony held on The Stage, Monday 29th February at 16:00.
Toby Wand, Managing Director at Fresh Montgomery, said: “Once again, the Innovation Awards has unearthed the most ground-breaking new products in hospitality! Visitors should seek out our dedicated area at the show housing the finalists’ products for all to see and marvel at throughout the four days. No other show is equipped to give a clearer snapshot of the weight of innovation that this industry is capable of delivering.”
Launched in 2010 Hotelympia’s highly prestigious Innovation Awards shine a light on the very best new products that the hospitality sector has to offer.