Food & Drink Expo with California Walnuts
After a 2-year hiatus, one of the UK’s largest Food Shows, Food and Drink Expo, returned to Birmingham NEC with a vengeance as 42,000 visitors took the opportunity to once again meet face to face with 1,700 companies in the UK food industry.
California walnuts attended with a booth in the main arena and during the 3 days, 79 trade buyers visited the stand to discuss trade enquiries amounting to 772MT.
Companies included manufacturers, bakery wholesalers, importers and retailers.
California walnuts featured in the Food and Drink Expo Show Guide and representatives from the CWC were interviewed by the event organisers allowing additional exposure to around 25,000 delegates regarding the benefits of California walnuts.
Original California Walnut recipes were recreated for distribution to showcase how California walnuts can be used in a variety of confectionery products.
The booth featured flavoured walnuts from the US, Korea and Japan.
As with IFE held in London, the numbers of attendees were down on the numbers prophesised by the show organisers. But as we experienced with IFE, the quality of enquiries from visitors to the booth was up with 67% of the 79 visitors being Directors of owners of the companies they represented.
21 companies specifically asked for either direct or indirect access to stock California walnuts. 4 required flavoured samples.
A summary of the show results ‘Facts & Figures’:
- Visitors over the 3 days: 42,000 attendees
- Exhibitors: 1,700
- Stand Visitors: 79
- Directors/Owners: 67%
- Wholesalers/Importers: 24%
- Food Manufacturers: 9%
- Walnut enquiries estimated at 772MT from 21 companies.
Further trade exhibitions are planned in 2023.
