The Hotel, Catering & Retail Show, formerly the Hotel & Catering Show, has added a retail element and this year will welcome retail buyers along with hospitality buyers.
The show, organised by Hale Events, is one of the UK’s longest-running hospitality and food service events, first launching more than 60 years ago. It welcomes a range of retail and hospitality suppliers catering to hotels, restaurants, chefs, caterers, delis and retail outlets.
The show also includes Liquid, an area which offers on-trade and off-trade buyers to discover new products, trends and services. Within Liquid is the Mixology Bar, which is an alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks zone created in partnership with the UK Bartenders Guild.
Hale Events MD Mike Anderson explained the decision to welcome retail buyers to the show, saying, “We want to offer our exhibitors a broader market to sell to. Many food suppliers are already geared up to supply both hospitality and retail; they have branded products for retailers’ shelves, as well as catering packs for hoteliers and restaurateurs.
“We have been organising trade shows for 25 years, and have seen significant changes over the years to the products that retail buyers want to stock. There has been a shift in retail towards consumable from collectibles and other gifts. Food gifts can evoke memories of a visit, or an experience. There has been a growth in the desire to support local producers too. These factors have led us to open up opportunities at this established show.”
The Hotel, Catering & Retail Show will take place on 14-15 March at Bournemouth International Centre (BIC).
