Speciality Food April 2025

specialityfoodmagazine.com 47 reduction innovations to implement into their own business. ● Business Advice Hub , a dedicated area providing exhibitors and visitors to the showwith access to free business advice and services. Alongside the new zones will be established favourite, the Plant- based Zone. Supported by The Vegan Society, this will offer vegan and plant-based products, including meat alternatives, snacks, drinks and ingredients. Also new for this year will be two dedicated street food areas serving a wide selection of exciting dishes and snacks. To ensure visitors make the most of their visit, an online digital event companion will offer a comprehensive event guide, interactive floorplan, seamless indoor navigation and real-time notifications (see p49). UK Food & Drink Shows is organised by market-leading business information provider WilliamReed. Covering industries ranging from food and drink to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, WilliamReed publishes digital and print media including The Grocer , and organises prestigious awards, business events and conferences. “We look forward to once again welcoming visitors and exhibitors to the UK Food & Drink Shows in April,” said WilliamReed exhibitions managing director Andrew Reed. “At a time of continuing challenges in the shape of high input prices and rising employment costs, alongside the pressure on consumer spending, the shows offer an opportunity to gain invaluable insight and inspiration. From expert panels and presentations to face-to-face meetings with peers and industry associations, the UK Food & Drink Shows can help equip your business with the tools to flourish.” PANELS AND PRESENTATIONS Some of the UK Food & Drink Shows panels and presentations retailers and buyers won’t want to miss. MONDAY 7TH APRIL FROM LOCKDOWN TO AWARD-WINNING: BUILDING A BUSINESS ANDMAKING IT A SUCCESS 11AM, FARM SHOP & DELI STAGE An exclusive interviewwith 2024 Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards Newcomer of the Year The Cheesy Living Co. THE CONVENIENCE SHOPPER: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW 11AM, CONVENIENCE STORE STAGE Food and drink insight experts Lumina Intelligence offers the latest data and insight on the convenience shopper. THE FEMALE LEADERS SHAPING CONVENIENCE 11:45AM, CONVENIENCE STORE STAGE This session puts the spotlight on some of the most inspiring and influential women in the UK convenience retail sector. Find out how their careers began, the challenges they overcame and the advice they would share to aspiring women. A RETAILER’S GUIDE TO BUILDING BIGGER BASKETS 12:45PM, CONVENIENCE STORE STAGE Join this session to hear how simple changes to core categories can support building bigger baskets if the right range is executed in the right place in your stores. CLAIRE POINTON: EXPANDING THE POSSIBILITIES OF DELIVERY 12:45PM, THE GROCER STAGE Claire Pointon, managing director at Just Eat, on working with retailers, grocers, independents and brands to tap into audiences they might not otherwise reach. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHO CAN ATTEND? As an industry event, the UK Food & Drink Shows are open to trade visitors, industry professionals, and businesses involved in the food and beverage sector. This includes retailers, foodservice professionals, hospitality professionals, distributors and wholesalers, producers and manufacturers. As this is a trade-only event all visitors will be vetted in advance and entry is not guaranteed to the shows until you receive your visitor confirmation email. CANMY CHILDREN VISIT THE EVENT WITHME? Unfortunately, we do not permit entry to anyone under the age of 18 as this is a trade-only event. We do have exceptions for breastfeeding mothers or if you are a parent and need to bring a young baby with you. Please contact antonia.green@wrbm.com for more information. Please note however that pushchairs are not allowed. IS THE VENUE ACCESSIBLE? We’ve worked tirelessly to make our venue fully accessible to all our guests. Visit the NEC website for more information. IS THERE A CLOAKROOM AT THE EVENT? Yes. Cloakrooms are open 30 minutes before the show opens, until the close of show. Coats, bags, suitcases and umbrellas will be permitted in the cloakroom at the daily cost £2 per coat or umbrella £3 per bag or piece of luggage. HOWCAN I GET TO THE NEC? By road: The NEC is situated at the hub of the UK motorway network, enabling visitors to travel directly from the M6, M1, M40 and M42. Pre-book your parking to save time and money at: www. thenec.co.uk/visitors/parking-at- the-nec/ By rail: The NEC is served by Birmingham International Railway Station, connected by a covered bridge link. Travel time from London is 90 minutes and trains run directly to many regional towns and cities. For details of train routes and timetables, contact National Rail enquiries on +44 (0) 8457 484950 or look up nationalrail.co.uk WHERE IN THE NEC ARE THE INDIVIDUAL SHOWS LOCATED? • Farm Shop & Deli Show (Hall 20) • Food & Drink Expo (Hall 17 and 18) • National Convenience Show (Hall 19) • Foodex Manufacturing Solutions (Hall 6 and Hall 7) HOWCAN I REGISTER TO ATTEND THE SHOWS? Registrations for Farm Shop & Deli Show are now open and FREE for anyone in the trade. Please visit farmshopanddelishow.co.uk CAN I ATTEND THE OTHER UK FOOD & DRINK SHOWS? Yes, registering for one show allows you free access to all four UK Food & Drink Shows: Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions. CAN I VISIT ONMORE THAN ONE DAY? Yes, once registered you can come along any day and your ticket allows you in on multiple days. I would recommend that people come to the FarmShop &Deli Show if they’re starting out with a farm shop or a deli, or if they’re an established business, because there’s such a huge variety of stands that you can really learn something and improve your business EMMA MOSELY, CHAIR, FARM RETAIL ASSOCIATION