FOOD SHOP PREVIEW: Shop Till You Drop at Food & Drink World

by Mary Murphy

THE joys of shopping at Bluewater or other regional shopping centres may seem pretty obvious: you can buy shoes, clothes, make- up, furniture and eat, drink and be merry, and get it all over and done with in one fell swoop.

It seems to me that this is the correct analogy for visitors and exhibitors at Food & Drink World 2006, incorporating Foodex Meatex, Food & Drink Expo and the Convenience Retailing Show, at the NEC from March 19-22.

The show will provide:

* Access to the UK’s leading convenience food and drink suppliers and manufacturers

* The ability to rub shoulders with premier food industry professionals alongside specialist and dedicated displays covering all aspects of food and drink, including retail, catering, fresh produce, organics, speciality produce and ingredients

* Packaging materials and containers; and processing and packaging machinery and equipment.

In short, it’s a one-stop shop in which you can discover the newest and most innovative food and drink products available on the world market with the added advantage of an in-depth look at the packaging and processing systems that make it all possible.

For example you can drop in on Allied Bakeries, Bernard Matthews and Ginsters at the same time as viewing the processing and packaging equipment suppliers that make the brands possible.

And you can find out how Innocent Drinks is building on its success; and check on companies such as Cadbury Trebor Bassett, Golden Wonder and Unilever.

New for 2006, and in order to create this well-rounded supply chain event, the organiser William Reed has added the missing elements of packaging supply through which the innovative developments in materials, containers and machine systems can be viewed by an audience of some 40,000 people.

In the PACK-IT feature you can sell your bottles, cartons, cans, flexible packs, machine systems, and all round services at the same time as getting a real handle on the mindset of convenience store retailers and major brand owners. Now that is, I think, a cost- effective use of time.

If you get peckish you can sample some of the latest products to hit the shelves. For example there will be Ideas to Dine For! Taste tested by a panel of industry experts, more than 100 exciting food and drink products compete from exhibiting companies across the UK. The winners will be available for sampling at the show.

Or you can pop into the Sandwich and Snack Solutions and join the great and the good for a cup of tea and a sandwich. Adjoining both Food & Drink Expo and The Convenience Retailing Show with access to Foodex Meatex, the area will feature a ‘Sandwich Trail’ clearly indicating the companies with an interest in snacks across the three elements of Food & Drink World.

On second thoughts, for food and drink supply chain professionals it is far better than a trip to Bluewater!

* Food & Drink World 2006 is organised by William Reed Exhibitions and supported by Packaging Magazine. There will be single ticket entry to the show which covers nine adjacent halls in the Birmingham NEC’s Atrium.

www.william-reed.co.uk

Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.