The world’s largest business event dedicated to travel catering, passenger comfort and onboard retail – World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) – will return to the Hamburg Messe, Germany from 8-10 April 2014.

As the leading global event, the show attracts an international audience of airline and rail operator representatives. The event offers a unique window for companies to meet and network with over 1,000 visitors – whether on the exhibition floor or during the Passenger Experience Conference on 7 April.

Crantock’s inaugural appearance will focus on halal-accredited solutions. Its existing products include savoury rolls, pizzas, croque monsieur and duo boxes – savoury and sweet combination packs – but at WTCE the company will also showcase flavours in its new hot hand-held wraps. The event will mark the first time the snacks have been made available to airline caterers, which have already proven popular with major UK multiples under the Greedy Gecko brand.

Another first-time exhibitor, Pelopac Mediterranean Food Specialties, will feature authentic Mediterranean food concepts. Its bespoke range includes: brine-less olive snack packs; cracker and dip snack boxes; catering-size brine-less olive packs; and other dips & spreads. The company uses no artificial preservatives and its products require no refrigeration; enjoying a minimum shelf life of 12 months (18 for dips). Pelopac’s flexible solutions provide customisable packages to meet bespoke needs; customers can choose any savoury cracker to accompany a number of Mediterranean dips such as roasted pepper & feta, babaganoush or hummus.

Vivace, another WTCE debutant is the first and only producer of premium caviar extracted from living sturgeons. Founded in February 2010, it has commercialised an international patent pioneered by marine biologist, Professor Dr. Angela Köhler, developing a new method of obtaining natural caviar without killing the highly-endangered sturgeon species. A key component of Vivace’s approach is natural harvesting as caviar sourced from aquaculture represents responsible sustainability in the face of decreasing wild sturgeon stocks. During the last two years, Vivace has harvested over 1,000 sturgeons in a test facility leading to a future yearly production of 14 tons of natural caviar.

Meanwhile specialists in traditional Italian cuisine, MV Food & Services (an independent sister-company of Castello Montevibiano), will showcase dishes from its Primo Gusto and Mediterraneae ranges. The former is already successfully established within the aerospace industry on account of its range of Halal pizzas, paninis, dipping spreads and minigrissini. The innovative Mediterraneae range provides a new solution for healthy nutrition on the move; offering breakfast, lunch and dinner solutions, from appetisers to hot meals and desserts, as well as snacks with accompanying spreads and dressings. The range is inspired by the fusion of Michelin stared chefs and Mediterranean cuisine and caters to specific dietary requirements.

Away from the exhibition, the Passenger Experience conference will return in 2014 following its inaugural success last year. The one-day summit offers delegates the opportunity to listen and debate the issues affecting the industry, whilst providing thought-leading analysis of forthcoming challenges and opportunities.

www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com