Sector breakdown

So you want to target…

…the grocery sector
…the foodservice sector
…the wholesale sector
…the speciality retail sector
…the manufacturing sector

…the grocery sector

According to the IGD, the UK grocery market continues to report robust growth despite tough trading conditions.  In part this can be attributed to the ability to respond swiftly to changing shopper trends. It is easy to see then why 33% of visitors to Food & Drink Expo in 2010 were involved in the grocery market, with big names such as: 

  • Asda
  • Julian Graves
  • Spar
  • Marks & Spencer
  • Tesco 
  • Sainsbury’s
“Food & Drink Expo is a fantastic place to launch a new product, lots of great visitors and contacts.  We have already rebooked.”
Pippa Witcher – Chief Yum
The Big Yum

…the foodservice sector

The UK foodservice sector has an estimated worth of £33.2 billion with around a third of this attributed to the food element.  Food & Drink Expo’s dedicated foodservice section attracted over 8,000 visitors from independent cafés and coffee shops, cost sector caterers, large restaurants and hotel chains including:

  • Alimento Catering
  • Down by the Riverside Cafe
  • Birmingham City Council
  • Town and Country Inns
  • Mitchell and Butler
  • Mount Pleasant Hotel
“Great so far!  We have seen lots of foodservice buyers.  The show is all about food & drink businesses and doesn’t have any timewasters!”
Rishma Remtulla – Product Development & Sales Manager
Laila’s Fine Food

…the wholesale sector

 The UK grocery and foodservice wholesale market was worth an estimated £26.3bn in 2010, 2.9% up on the previous year.  Food & Drink Expo attracts buyers representing  both small and large-scale wholesale and cash & carry operations from across the UK and internationally: 

  • 3663 
  • Brakes
  • Today's Group
  • Woodward Foodservice
  • Booker 
  • Landmark
  • Valley Fresh Foods
“This show was one of the best we have been to. There were plenty of visitors, very few time-wasters and a general sense of high optimism and excitement across visitors and exhibitors alike.”
Paul Hargreaves
Cotswold Fayre

…the speciality retail sector

The appetite for more locally produced foods continues to be strong with a desire among shoppers to support their local economy, combined with better perceptions of freshness, better traceability and environmental benefits, as well as growing concern over food security.  Speciality retail visitors included:

  • Fortnum & Mason
  • Harvey Nichols 
  • Cheese Cellar Ltd
  • Broadway Deli
  • Four Seasons Deli
  • Bespoke Foods
“It’s our first time at Food & Drink Expo and the show has exceeded all our expectations.  The quality and quantity of the buyers has been fantastic and we have been kept busy.  We will definitely be back in 2012.”
Claire Martinsen
Breckland Orchard - Director

…the manufacturing sector

The food and drink manufacturing industry is the single largest manufacturing sector in the UK, with a turnover of £72.8bn.  28% of visitors to Food & Drink Expo in 2010 were primarily from the manufacturing sector.  Across the entire visitor base to the show, 29.5% were interested in sourcing ingredients, 22.6% in food safety and hygiene and 23.9% in packaging.
 
We welcomed representatives from:
  • Allied Mills
  • Bakkavor
  • Cadbury plc
  • Premier Foods
  • Rachel’s Organic
  • Moy Park
“We have seen different packaging companies and got lots of new ideas. The event really does show there is life in the food and drink industry.” 
Victoria Seel – European Co-Pack Quality Coordinator 
Heinz