Farm Shop & Deli Show to offer three days of free business advice

Speciality food remains in high demand and the 450-strong range of exhibitors at the Farm Shop & Deli Show will cover all aspects of this sector, giving farm shops, delis, bakers, butchers and garden centres the opportunity to source quality produce that will fuel growth throughout the coming year.

The latest in artisanal products will be covered from sweet and savoury to snacking. Exhibitors will include Arden Fine Foods (UK), which will have a stand showcasing its top-of-the-range bakery products and Franklin & Sons, which will display its high-end water and soft drinks, while the trendiest and tastiest cheeses will be found at the Blacks Cheese stand. Away from food and drink, Dandelion Stationery will showcase its upmarket products, The Art File will bring its range of unique stationery and greeting cards, while Monty Bojangles will wow with its chocolate confectionery.

One of the main highlights of the show will be the Farm Shop & Deli Live stage, which will see a host of industry experts cover the most topical issues on everyone’s minds – all designed to help visitors increase their businesses’ bottom lines.

One session will cover the art of upselling, with retailers taught the best ways to encourage ancillary purchases at the point of sale, such as coffee, charcuterie, wine and cheese. This ties into a further session on ‘counter techniques’ whereby customers are inspired into additional purchases.

The best way to learn is from those who have done it and Farm Shop & Deli Live will bring a host of trading deli owners who will share their secrets to success with the audience welcome to seek the advice they most need.

The hottest topics in the industry will be explored including food waste – an issue that has come to prominence in recent years and remains an issue close to consumers’ hearts. Visitors will learn tips to reduce waste, as well as prolonging shelf life. Provenance, a similarly important issue for consumers, will also be discussed with TV presenter Adam Henson. Participating in a live interview, he will shed light on how speciality retailers can and should charge premium rates for quality produce.

An undeniable visitor benefit of Farm Shop & Deli Live is the free business guidance it offers. A series of experts will offer their advice on matters from diversification and becoming a multi-site operator to using technology to retain and engage customers and using PR and social media. Retailers will also learn how to establish a brand, launch a product and maximise shopper spend. Giving yourself a point of difference and standing out from the competition is key in retail and all that will be covered during the three days at the show.

The Farm Shop & Deli Awards, now in their fifth year, will take place at the show on 16th April 2018. The top UK independent retailers will be judged by a panel including food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, Elaine Lemm and representatives from Neal’s Yard Dairy and Booths.

Additionally, a team of professionals will judge the Britain’s Best Loaf competition, which has become the talk of the craft bakery sector since its inception. Awards will be presented to the bakers exceling in five categories – Sourdough, Wholegrain, White, Innovation and Gluten Free.                         

Dan Eversfield, Farm Shop & Deli Show commercial manager said, “Artisan food continues to be in high demand as consumers look to spend their disposable income on the finer things in life. Farm Shop & Deli Show will showcase the very best products that our country has to offer as well as offering invaluable business advice for retailers in this field.”

Farm Shop & Deli Show is co-located with the UK’s largest food and drink trade event – Food & Drink Expo –National Convenience Show and Foodex, as well as the new The Ingredients Show. Together they will bring together suppliers from across the whole food and drink industry, from retailers to manufacturers.