Important connections made at Warwickshire Food & Drink

Warwickshire Food & Drink Expo 2019 was given an international flavour when a delegation from Jordan dropped in on a fact-finding visit.

The Expo, supported by Warwickshire County Council at Warwick Racecourse, was a great success as dozens of local producers and suppliers took the opportunity to swap information and make contacts.

 Comments from exhibitors included:

"...a great event, not only for meeting potential buyers but also for just talking to other small business."

"...delighted to support the event, it was fabulous. We spoke to a lot of other businesses and had a great time."

"...events like this are brilliant - you talk to other suppliers and producers and learn a lot and pick up little nuggets of information and think 'I could do that'.

All day there was a good stream of visitors and, in the afternoon, these included the guests from Jordan who were visiting England to learn about democracy.

Warwickshire County Council was asked to host them to show them how a local authority works and, as they had a particular interest in tourism and agriculture, a visit to the Food & Drink Expo was arranged.

They were welcomed to the event by council leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe.

"It was lovely to meet our guests from Jordan," Cllr Seccombe said. "Despite the cold and windy weather, we offered them a very warm welcome and it was great to see them clearly engaged by what we do as a council and impressed by all the fantastic and diverse produce from Warwickshire.

"Feedback from the Expo was very positive. It was evident that a lot of networking was going on with many valuable contacts made."

Among exhibitors at the event was Mandy Kemp, owner of Wootton Wawen-based vinegar supplier Vinegar Tips.

"Events like this are brilliant - you talk to other suppliers and producers and learn a lot and pick up little nuggets of information and think 'I could do that.'

"It is such a good event and so reasonably priced. I made contact with a wedding event company which is actually two miles from where I make the vinegars . I didn't even know they were there so we made a really good connection. That one conversation alone made the event worthwhile for me."

Also exhibiting was John Dwyer Bakery Ltd, which has been baking in  Rugby since 1989 and now employs 43 people.

General Manager Peter Gault said: said: "We are in a very competitive market with the likes of Warburtons and Kingsmill, but have proved that the smaller, independent guy fighting for shelf-space can still thrive.

"We are very happy with what we do and just want to grow organically on a steady upward curve, year on year and keep employing people. Events like the Food & Drink Expo are a great help.

"We were delighted to support the event, it was fabulous. We spoke to a lot of other businesses and had a great time."