Show Press Releases

Visitors and exhibitors hail Farm Shop & Deli Show a major success

Visitors and exhibitors to the Farm Shop & Deli Show, held at Birmingham's NEC earlier this week, have hailed the exhibition a major success including a number of tweeted tributes! Held for the first time, the event was specifically designed to meet the unique business and retailing needs of farm shops, delicatessens and artisan food halls.

Sitting at the heart of the event, and the show's major highlight, was Farm Shop & Deli Live, a theatre area which hosted a series of sessions focussing on a number of hot topics facing the speciality retail sector. Speakers included Gregg Wallace, the well-known foodie and presenter of the hit TV series Master Chef, who delighted the audience with his talk on the latest food trends.

Speaking at the show fellow presenter Zoe Jackson, a director of Jamie Oliver Ltd, said: “There is an amazing variety of people, both exhibitors and visitors.  A really all round experience as this industry is not just about pretty products but also their delivery and execution.”

Her views were echoed by Wild Trail director Gordon Leatherdale who gave a presentation on Better Retailing: What the customer wants. He said: “I thought the show was great. I have had some really positive feedback from various attendees. I think the real difference is the live events, which have been, I understand, really useful for retailers and producers.

He went on: “I thought the show was relevant, well planned and put together and in my mind should become a landmark trade show.”  

A number of exhibitors heaped praise on the new show. Nigel Bogle, managing director of Lakeland Computers, said: “We're foodies and there's an optimism in this sector. The show had a great buzz. We saw exactly the right sorts of people. The marketing has been great and very specific.”

Ernie Parkinson of Thistle Products said: “The size of the exhibition really suited us. It's an intimate setting and we were are able to give plenty of time to each person who came to our stand as they were not in rush to see hundreds of exhibitors.”

Farm Shop & Deli Show was only the second trade show Samosaco had exhibited at, Tee Sandhu said: “Our aim was to get as many leads as possible as we're quite small. We have been so busy and we are very happy with the positive feedback.”

Another small business looking to increase sales was Trioni. The company's Helen Blackburn said: “We've met very interesting people from small independents to big buyers We're a small company but we can produce more and from our point of view we've seen buyers from all over the country.

Feeding Your Imagination's Paul Da-Costa-Greaves applauded the fact the show was co-located with the National Convenience Show. He said: “It's been a very good show. I couldn't go far wrong as I am looking to get my products into the convenience sector. I have seen people right across the board.”

A number of visitors tweeted their delight. The message from @seren_foods was: “Great day at the Farm Shop & Deli Show, a very productive day with lots of new customers. @Iccsltd tweeted: “Three terrific days @FarmShop_Deli show. Some amazing people looking to buy eureka. Also a new foodhall from Northern Ireland. Fabulous.”

The tweet from @Wormersley Foods was @FarmShop_Deli Enjoyed trip there yesterday and well done getting a good range of exhibitors.

Event manager Jack Halliday said: “I am sure that visitors to the Farm and Shop & Deli Show have gone home with a wealth of information on great new products and ideas to boost their business. The message from exhibitors is that they have seeing the right sorts of people and getting great feedback and positive leads.”