News
New dates for CanTech the Grand Tour 2022
Due to the continuing travel restrictions and general uncertainty resulting from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, CanTech The Grand Tour in Warsaw has been moved from 14-16 March to 6-8 June, 2022.
A full refund on bookings subject to terms and conditions is guaranteed if there are any problems with the new dates.
Season’s Greetings
Here’s wishing all of our readers, customers and partners a happy and healthy holiday season, and prosperous New Year.
Asia CanTech to return in 2022
After the unfortunate postponement of our 2021 Asia CanTech event, we are now delighted to announce the return of the conference in 2022, taking place from 24-26 October in Bangkok, Thailand. To register and take advantage of early bird rates, click here.
A little team update
This week we are saying goodbye to Kyra as she pursues her new dog walking business that has taken off in a huge way! We wish her all the best for the future. This means that for any event enquiries from now on, Chris Seldon will be your contact. Please email [email protected].
Regaining our sociality…
We’re gaining some normality back here at Bell and it feels great.
Firstly, thank you to Sarah and Neil who hosted a wonderful outdoor barbecue for the whole Bell team on the 9 September. The weather stayed warm and sunny, and we enjoyed good food, some games and most importantly, each other’s company!
This week saw us all return to the office for two days a week of our choosing. It’s going to take a while getting used to wearing presentable clothes for those days we’re in, but it’s going to be so valuable seeing each other safely face-to-face on a more regular basis.
We’re also getting back into the swing of in-person events; the Dairy and Food & Drink Technology teams recently travelled to Birmingham for the PPMA event; Suzanne is soon off to be a judge at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards in Stafford; and Alex is the lucky Bell team member that gets to travel internationally for the first time in two years, for the 42nd edition of Host Milan at the end of this month. You could say we’re loving being busy!
Celebrating 120 years of Tea & Coffee Trade Journal
Tea & Coffee Trade Journal celebrates a massive anniversary milestone this year, and its special commemorative issue is out now – read it here.
Inside you will find out more about the publication’s origins and will even be able to read the 1901 edition of the Journal in its entirely, following a wonderful feature authored by TCTJ‘s specialty editor Donald N Schoenholt. Enjoy!
Safety first – Asia CanTech 2021 postponed
It is with regret that we have decided to postpone this year’s Asia CanTech conference (due to take place in October 2021).
While some travel restrictions are easing, there is still a great deal of uncertainty, and the Covid-19 situation in Thailand and south east Asia continues to be difficult. Added to this some international corporations are keeping travel restrictions in place for the safety of staff and colleagues. Taking all of these considerations into account, we decided to be safe and postpone the conference until next year.
Read the full statement from conference director Neil McRitchie here.
World Confectionery Conference set for a physical event in September 2022
With such a fine response to the debut World Confectionery Conference that attracted hundreds of online visitors from around the globe, we are pressing full steam ahead in unveiling plans for our physical event in Brussels next year.
The date has been set for 9 September 2022, and will take place at Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place, featuring a full conference programme and our accompanying exhibition, celebrating the latest key developments across global confectionery, bakery and snacks markets.
Dates & location announced for CanTech the Grand Tour 2022
We are pleased to announced that our CanTech The Grand Tour 2022 event will take place in Warsaw, Poland from 14-16 March.
Head to www.cantechthegrandtour.com, and read CanTech editor Jill Sayles’ latest blog here for more information. Further details will be announced across both the CanTech International and CanTech the Grand Tour websites.
That’s a wrap – World Confectionery Conference 2021
Congratulations are in order for the Confectionery Production team today, as the inaugural and virtual World Confectionery Conference has been hailed as a great success.
The team meeting this morning was hugely positive, with glowing feedback still coming in from participants.
Read more in CP editor Neill Barston’s blog about the event here.
Rhea joins the FDT team
Today we’re giving a warm welcome to Rhea Sethi, who takes over from Katie Healy as advertising sales manager of Food & Drink Technology.
We wish Katie good luck in her new role and look forward to working with Rhea, who says she will strive to continue the strong relationships we have with our food & drink advertisers and clients, as well as building new ones.
Welcoming Jackie
After 18 years at Bell, Sue Burke has announced her well-earned retirement. We’re sad to see her go but know we will all keep in touch.
Sue passes the baton now to Jackie Purnell, who we are delighted to welcome to the company.
Jackie will take over as art designer for all our magazine titles, a big responsibility but one we have every faith in her delivering!
World Confectionery Conference 2021 moves online
Due to the continuing situation this year with covid-19, the Confectionery Production team has concluded that running a physical show for the World Confectionery Conference this year may not be possible. We want to make the inaugural World Confectionery Conference the most successful event possible, so we have taken the decision to hold a virtual event in June 2021.
In association with vFairs, we will be running a full conference schedule of top industry speakers, alongside a virtual exhibition space. Delegates enter a virtual lobby and can choose which presentations and exhibition stands to visit. Real-time networking is available, and registrants can access all of the presentations, video and other content in their own time for one month following the event.
For more information contact events manager Kyra O’Sheen at: [email protected], or conference director Neil McRitchie at: neil@bellpublishing.com.
Back to Bangkok for Asia CanTech 2021
We’re bringing in the New Year with some exciting Asia CanTech news. We will be returning to Bangkok, Thailand, from 25-27 October 2021 for a ‘real’ event, all being well in the world. It will be great to do face to face networking again, meeting and socialising with our friends and colleagues over a can of drink. We have decided to go back to the Sheraton Royal Orchid – it is a tried and tested venue and we know they will keep us Covid-safe if necessary.
We have had a lot of enquires for the show which must be down to cabin fever, along with the success of last year’s Virtual Asia CanTech event, where we were joined by over 140 can makers and suppliers from over 30 countries.
If there is a problem and we can’t go ahead with the show due to travel restrictions etc, we will offer the same as we did last year – the option of a full refund or to move the booking to one of our other events.
Hopefully we can all work together to help make Asia CanTech 2021 a must-attend event for the metal packaging industry.
Season’s greetings
Wishing all our readers, customers and partners a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and holiday season. Let’s look to the New Year with positivity and hope.
Welcome to Jill!
We’d like to give a warm welcome to Jill Sayles, our new CanTech International editor.
Thank you also to Alec who held down the CanTech fort for a short interim period.
Jill joins us as an ‘unprecedented’ year draws to a close, and while a Christmas party isn’t possible at the moment, the Bell Publishing team looks forward to a virtual meet and greet!
Please join us in welcoming Jill via email [email protected], Twitter @CanTechIntl or LinkedIn.
World Confectionery Conference postponed to October 2021
Considering present business conditions, and with participants’ safety and health in mind, the World Confectionery Conference will be moved from March next year to a revised autumn date of Friday 1 October 2021.
Our global sector showcase will be held at the same location, Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place, addressing a wealth of industry developments and challenges affecting international sweets, snacks and bakery markets around the globe, including related equipment and systems manufacturers.
All existing bookings will be honoured and automatically moved to the new date of the 1 October. We would like to thank you for your continued support and look forward to welcoming you in October.
For further details on awards entries and registration, contact events manager Kyra O’Sheen at: [email protected].
Virtual Asia CanTech developments
As we edge closer to our first ever virtual Asia CanTech event, there have been some exciting new developments.
Firstly, we have redirected the usual home page of Asia CanTech to a new web address, and this will be the website the event is hosted on. The site is live now for everyone, including exhibitors and attendees, to explore ahead of the live date on 23 November: asiacantech.vfairs.com.
Secondly, not only have we created a dedicated Twitter account for Asia CanTech – @AsiaCanTech – but we will also now be sending bi-weekly updates for the event to CanTech International newsletter subscribers. The emails will offer exclusive insights in the run up to our live date.
Sign up to the newsletters here: and register for Virtual Asia CanTech 2020 here.
Tea & Coffee Trade Journal named “Best Tea Publication”
Congratulations are in order for the Tea & Coffee Trade Journal team as Vanessa has just informed us that the journal has been named “Best Tea Publication” at the 2020 World Tea Awards, organised by Questex.
Vanessa says: “This is an honour and I would like to thank all our tea writers for their amazing story contributions and unyielding enthusiasm. We would not have won without your story ideas, well researched and well written stories, and your passion.”
An update about our digital magazine issues
In March this year as lockdown changed our working lives, we opened up digital issues of each of our magazines free of charge, however please note that from next week – 14 September – only subscribers to will be able to view them.
Make sure you don’t miss out on exclusive industry content by signing up via the home pages of each website:
Dairy Industries International
With a subscription, you’ll receive a whole year or two years’ worth of magazines (depending on which you choose), and this will also give you online access to back issues of the magazines, with the earliest dating back to January 2008.
Subscription prices start from £95 for an online only subscription or £100 for both print and online.
Happy reading!