Bellavita Expo goes Mediterranean for its largest ever food & beverage event, at it returns to London’s Business Design Centre from 7th-8th November for the sixth year running.

This year’s event will see over 250 exhibitors bring together a huge variety of authentic products, from iconic household brands to regional artisan producers, exhibiting 3,000 high-quality Mediterranean products , thanks to our co-operation with Vinitaly and Cibus, and our co-location with the Ibérica Spanish Pavilion.

Guests will have the chance to experience these products first-hand, with the benefit of the insight of their producers and experts of the trade. This year, producers will emphasise the growing market for organic food and drinks , with many free-from, vegetarian and vegan alternatives on showcase, as consumers move increasingly towards these more healthy, sustainable products; organic pastas, olive oils and cheeses, and free-from pastries and gazpacho are among the many alternative goods on display.

There is something to satisfy all appetites at Bellavita, whether you are looking for staple Mediterranean charcuteries, sweets and cooking sauces, or – for those seeking more exotic fare – fried pickled mussels , organic donkey milk and hemp croutons will be ready to partake in. In beverages, Villa Sandi will uncork a number of premium proseccos, or guests may sample a range of Tuscan Chianti , Umbrian Chardonnay and Riojan Tempranillos . Stands dedicated to products hailing from Molise in Italy and the Spanish autonomous communities of Andalucía and Galicia in particular will be there, with producers on hand to guide buyers through the best that these regions have to offer.

Beyond the Expo floor, producers and buyers will have the chance to network in a brand new dedicated private label networking area . Professional guidance and support will be found in Bellavita’s three main stages, including the Pizza Academy , which will take guests on a journey through the secrets of Italian pizza making.

Offering their insight in the culinary masterclasses and seminars are distinguished Michelin-star chefs Giorgio Locatelli ( Locanda Locatelli ), Gennaro Esposito ( Torre Del Saracino , on the Amalfi Coast) and Theo Randall ( Theo Randall at the InterContinental ), while trade magazine editors Stefan Chomka of Restaurant Magazine and Andrew Catchpole of Harpers will chair and participate in panel discussions. In attendance at wine panels this year are wine presenter and expert Angela Mount , and Masters of Wine Nancy Gilchrist , Christine Marsiglio , Caroline Gilby and Peter McCombie , who will also award the prize for this year’s Best Organic Mediterranean Wine. Nicoletta Tavella , head of the Netherland’s largest school of Italian cuisine La Cucina del Sole will act as Bellavita’s Resident Chef, lending her considerable experience as part of the opening masterclass.

These speakers will lead and participate in a series of in-depth talks and discussions for guests to learn from some of the biggest names in distribution including Carson & Carnevale , Fields, Morris & Virdian , Corney & Barrow and The Graft Wine Company . Subjects up for discussion at this year’s panels include: maintaining relationships with distributors, balancing cost and quality of ingredients, the challenges of online and offline retailing, and the rising popularity of organic and volcanic wines.

Masterclasses in food and beverage pairing will take place on the BeFood and BeWine stages, thanks to the Bellavita Food Pairing Lab , matching Italian and international dishes with wines and premium beers. WSET qualified sommelier Raul Diaz will lead a pairing masterclass, matching three classic Italian wines from different regions with non-Mediterranean foods, while guests will be kept quenched with a new range of Mediterranean flavours ideal for food pairings, courtesy of Birrificio Angelo Poretti. Throughout the tasting experience, dedicated support and tips will be available from these esteemed experts, and WSET qualified sommeliers, as they taste a number of sparkling, low intervention, volcanic and high-altitude wines.

The Expo will culminate once again with the annual Bellavita Awards , where 300 influential buyers are invited to honour the quality of this year’s Mediterranean products, based on a number of criteria, including: taste, packaging, story, innovation, market relevance and sustainability.

Following the strong reception to last year’s London event, Bellavita Expo London 2019 promises to deliver its biggest show yet.