A major event that provides a shop window for food and drink producers is defying the economic downturn with a bumper 120 trade stands \u2013 over 40% up on last year.<\/p>\n
More than 1,000 products will be on show at the two-day Harlech Foodservice Expo that gets underway at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on St David\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a highlight in the calendar for the high profile food wholesaler which celebrated its 50th<\/sup> birthday last year and which supplies everything from restaurants and cafes to Premiership giants.<\/p>\n Many of the exhibitors will be doing their own live cookery demonstrations and there will be opportunities to taste the products on offer.<\/p>\n The event is free to people in the trade but isn\u2019t open to the public.<\/p>\n The aim is to enable suppliers to talk directly to the customer, giving them a chance to tell the story behind their product to representatives from the tourism, leisure, education and health sectors across North Wales, the North West and the Midlands.<\/p>\n Harlech Foodservice, which has bases in Criccieth in Gwynedd and Chester, is hoping to break last year\u2019s record-breaking total of more than \u00a3500,000 of deals being secured.<\/p>\n There will also be plenty of tasting opportunities for customers especially at Harlech\u2019s own stand Caernarfon\u2019s BBQ maestro Chris \u2018Flamebaster\u2019 Roberts will be the special guest.<\/p>\n The star of S4C\u2019s Bwyd Epic Chris will join Harlech\u2019s Executive Chef Steve Roberts, from Welshpool, at the 44th<\/sup> Expo and bring his own unique style to the event.<\/p>\n Chris said: \u201cIt\u2019s my first time at the Expo and I\u2019m really looking forward to it and to championing the fantastic Welsh produce that will be on show there which is something I\u2019m really passionate about.<\/p>\n \u201cThe farmers, producers and butchers of Wales and all the other people who make our produce so amazing are my superheroes and I want us to celebrate them and their epic food.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt Flynn, Harlech\u2019s Head of Purchasing, said: \u201cWe are expecting over 2,500 to attend and there will be over 1,000 products on show.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year was fantastic but I am expecting us to smash it this year.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the suppliers I\u2019ve spoken to said it was the best show they attended and this year\u2019s is going to be even bigger and better and as soon as you walk in it will be busy and there will be a great atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n Many of the biggest names in the food and catering industry will be at the Expo, including international giants like Unilever, Wall\u2019s, McCain, Young\u2019s Seafood, Birds Eye, Chicago Town, Tropicana and PepsiCo.<\/p>\n But Wales will be well represented too with major North Wales brands like Jones Village Bakery, Snowdonia Cheese, Edwards the Welsh Butcher, Radnor Hills and T\u0177 Nant mineral water, Aber Falls, Snowdon Lager and Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy.<\/p>\n Once again there is interest from across the border as the company, extend its reach into the North West and the Midlands after winning important new contracts with public and private sector customers.<\/p>\n Food and drink are the major components of the event but there will also be an increased presence for suppliers of cleaning, accountancy and other ancillary services.<\/p>\n Matt added: \u201cEach stand will be manned by experts and customers can talk to them about their products and there will be plenty of big offers available so it\u2019s a great opportunity for people to come along and stock up at a big discount ready for the new season.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will also be a big emphasis on Welsh produce and products and we will have Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales there and our own big butchery stand which was our most successful revenue generator last year.<\/p>\n \u201cCustomers attending this year will be given order books with details of the offers and I\u2019m looking forward to that making things easier for them and increasing orders and sales.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are also launching a website in mid-February which will enable businesses to see every supplier and what their products and offers are so they can check them out ahead of the Expo and see what they want to taste, sample and talk about.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone who can\u2019t attend or simply don\u2019t have time will be able to place their orders by calling our dedicated sales team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a really important event for all concerned and we are proud to be at the fore of driving it forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Harlech also offer increased flexibility for customers who can order up to 10pm every night for next day delivery, up to seven days a week.<\/p>\n The two-day event is aimed at trade customers and is not open to the general public.\u00a0 To register for the Expo, traders and businesses should head to https:\/\/www.eventbrite.co.uk\/d\/united-kingdom–denbighshire\/harlech-foodservice\/<\/a><\/p>\n Harlech Foodservice Ltd employs 200 staff at its bases at Criccieth and Chester and between the two locations, the company runs a fleet of vehicles to deliver 5,000 product lines to caf\u00e9s, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.<\/p>\n For more on Harlech Foodservice go to https:\/\/www.harlech.co.uk\/<\/a> and to https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HarlechFoods<\/a> for Expo updates.<\/p>\n