If you have an interest in Cornwall’s vibrant hospitality and catering industry then you cannot afford to miss Expowest Cornwall, the sector’s foremost regional trade show. Taking place in Wadebridge from Tuesday 6 – Thursday 8 March it will showcase a greater range of local, national and international drinks exhibitors than ever before.
Established over 30 years ago Expowest Cornwall, taking place just before the summer season kicks off, is one of the most important dates on the Cornish business calendar and an essential event for anyone who wants to play a successful part in this vibrant community. It’s the place where suppliers large and small showcase their latest products and services for Cornwall’s busy trade buyers – and forge those crucial face-to-face relationships that are still so important in this proudly independent part of the world.
What’s more, it enables visitors to see, touch and taste the latest products, to keep up with the very latest trends and innovations that are shaping the market, and to swiftly weigh up a wide variety of competing offerings all under one roof. There are also exclusive offers, which exhibitors only make available at this show, that in themselves make a visit extremely worthwhile. With more than 160 exhibitors, it provides a unique opportunity to connect with a huge range of different companies showcasing everything from foodservice to fresh produce, bakery to business services, drinks to catering equipment, and speciality foods to sundry supplies, plus much more besides.
The drinks industry, always thirsty for novelty, is evolving especially rapidly at the moment – and those that get left behind are sure to lose out. In 2018 there will be a greater range of local, national and international drinks exhibitors at the show than ever before, showing the latest in hot, cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well all the ancillary equipment and services. You’ll find them throughout the show, and also with a cluster in Liquid, the show’s dedicated drinks experience centre. This area is always buzzing and provides the on-trade and off-trade with great opportunities for discovering new and exciting products, techniques, services and trends, as well the chance to network with smart innovators, artisan producers and trade experts.
Alongside regular well-known exhibitors such as St Ives Cider, Voyager Coffee, Camel Valley Wine, Keltek Brewery, Cornish Tea, Salcombe Distilling Co. and Skinner’s Brewing Company, you’ll meet many first timers like Thatchers Cider, Dynamite Valley Brewing Co, Sweet Potato Spirit Co, Heineken & North Coast Wine Company. In addition to drinks producers you’ll also find all the equipment and services that you need from exhibitors such as Westcountry Drinks, Clearbrew, Abbotts (S.W.), Cornwall Training & Consultancy, Old Mill and the British Institute of Innkeeping. The LWC Bar & Experience area will be hosting a programme of events for you to enjoy.
Taking place at 12.00pm, 1.00pm, and 2.00pm daily are beer and food matching sessions, organised by LWC Cornwall and Cornwall College Business. Come along and join them to find out how pairing beers and cider with dishes in your establishment can lift a dish and showcase the complexity of a great brew. Featured drinks will include Portland Ale, Cruz Campo, South West Orchard Cider and Birra Morena. On Tuesday 6th March at 3.00pm, LWC will host a gin masterclass and tasting featuring Agnes Arber, Tarquins, and Plymouth Gins. On Wednesday 7th March at 3.00pm, LWC will host a rum masterclass and tasting featuring Old J and Dead Man’s Finger Rums.
If you’re looking for well-informed business advice and specialist expertise, the show’s “Knowledge Hub” offers both. Staffed by the “Executive Members” of the Cornwall Business Forum it provides invaluable help on everything from marketing to cyber security and website design to sales training. The Hub will be holding seminar sessions on topical issues during the show, including GDPR and marketing “Brand Cornwall”. It’s just one more exclusive feature that attracts huge numbers of buyers from hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes, supermarkets, grocers, delis, farm shops, independent stores, holiday parks & tourist attractions, schools, colleges, universities and hospitals.
The Final Straw Cornwall is a campaign to rid Cornwall of single use plastic straws and raise awareness of the damage single use plastics are causing to our environment. Expowest Cornwall is delighted to be supporting the campaign and hopes to help communicate the importance of reducing the amount of single use plastic use in Cornwall and beyond. Final Straw Cornwall will be running a Straw Amnesty where businesses visiting the show can bring in their plastic straws and they will repurpose them into something new and informative for the Final Straw campaign.
Expowest Cornwall is more than a trade show – it’s also an eagerly anticipated social event where the whole Cornish business community gets together to enjoy the company of colleagues, suppliers and customers. It’s vibrant, inspiring, fun and social. Although the digital revolution has brought many changes people like to buy locally, from those they know. This is especially true of Cornwall and its primary industries, hospitality and catering – if you want to tap into the very heart of this market at the start of the summer season, this show is an absolute must.
For more information about the show, to book a stand, or register to attend, please call 01934 733433, visit www.expowestcornwall.co.uk. or follow @Expowest_UK.