Hybrid Food & Drink event offers two bites of the cherry for businesses
“The food and drink showcase is a great opportunity for local suppliers to demonstrate their range of produce, knowledge and expertise in this field."
The day will consist of a morning exclusively for buyers before opening up to the racegoing public in the afternoon when the inaugural race meet of the season takes place. The double emphasis will give exhibitors the chance to do trade deals with the hospitality industry as well as then selling to the public during the afternoon.
Organised by the newly formed Coventry and Warwickshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), the event encompasses a wide range of hospitality sector suppliers. Exhibitors so far include independent food and drink producers from distillers, vineyards and breweries to bakeries and chocolatiers as well as selfie booths and packaging.
The showcase is perfect for
start-ups
and fledgling businesses as they meet
will with peers in the industry and make valuable business contacts.
Auntie’s Sauces and Napton Cidery are two examples
of now well-established names in the region after embracing the opportunities and support from these kinds of events.
Hospitality businesses are invited to attend at 10.30am to network and do business. There will then be a panel discussion and cookery demos from 11.30am. The morning will end at 12.30 when the event then turns around and opens up to the racegoing public.
Colleen Muldoon-Taylor, Business Development Manager at Destination Coventry, said: “We are proud to be collaborating with our partners to host an event which will cultivate and enable further partnership working across Coventry and Warwickshire. At the last Meet the Supplier event, one hospitality business made connections with four food and drink producers. Their products now feature across the operator’s venues.
“The hybrid nature means that exhibitors will get the chance to showcase their products to two distinct audiences, creating meaningful connections and building business leads in the morning, and then the opportunity to sell direct to the public in the afternoon.”
Councillor Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The food and drink showcase is a great opportunity for local suppliers to demonstrate their range of produce, knowledge and expertise in this field. It’s great to see a local Warwickshire venue working with our partners to deliver this great event.
“As a region we have an excellent range of suppliers of food and drink, and they are vital towards our economic growth. The showcase event is a great opportunity to raise the profile of what Coventry and Warwickshire has to offer across this important sector, helping to support our local economy.
“The work with our partners at Coventry City Council to develop the Coventry and Warwickshire Producers Network has proved invaluable in helping suppliers connect, collaborate, access business support services and grow.”
Any businesses wishing to exhibit at the showcase should please contact colleen.muldoontaylor@destinationcoventry.co.uk. Hospitality and supply chain businesses can register to attend for free and are welcome to stay on to enjoy the afternoon's racing (attendees arriving after 12.30am will need pay entry to the racing).