Give Your Business A Boost At Speciality

Returning for its eighth successful year, the trade show - which is free to attend - offers visitors an unrivalled sourcing experience with the opportunity to discover many new products, meet with new suppliers and benefit from practical business advice and creative ideas through the Fine Food and Small Business Forums.

In 2007, the show attracted a record breaking 6440 visitors including buyers from independent stores and leading food halls, top chefs, restaurateurs, deli owners, distributors and food writers. This year, visitors will be able to sample the wares of over 700 producers, of which 100 are first-time exhibitors looking to showcase their produce to an eager audience of foodies.

A wonderful array of products will be available to see, touch, taste, smell and compare including speciality meats, fine wines, temptingly different cheeses, innovative condiments and luxury bakery goods. The combination of producers who use traditional methods and the highest quality ingredients alongside those supplying highly innovative new products, give the show a truly remarkable appeal.

Sweet temptation
This year also sees the launch of the Speciality Chocolate Fair, an exciting new section dedicated to manufacturers, transformers and chocolatiers to meet increasing visitor demand for sourcing artisan chocolate. Whether you’re a pastry chef, chocolatier, deli owner or food hall buyer, there will be lots to learn, inspire and sample.

Special attractions at the fair include the Great Taste Awards and the highly popular Fine Food and Small Business Forums, which attract a raft of high profile and motivating speakers and demonstrators, keen to impart their knowledge and experiences to visitors. 

The Fine Food Forum gives visitors the opportunity to learn how to identify and source the very best foods and drinks through insightful, interactive presentations by some of the UK’s top chefs and industry figures.  Visitors can enjoy new tastes, revisit favourite flavours and find out what the future holds for this burgeoning sector. The programme is designed to be both inspirational and informative with sessions such as menu design trends. Likewise, the Small Business Forum features experts providing practical business advice and useful ideas to help small businesses improve their profitability and deal with the everyday challenges they face. Places are available free of charge at both events on a first come, first served basis.

Foreign flavours
International pavilions at this year’s event will feature speciality foods from France, Italy, Spain, America and Ireland and nearly all the UK regional food groups will be present, giving visitors the opportunity to meet producers and source products from all over Britain.

2008 also sees an exciting development for this well-established event, with a move from the National Hall into Olympia’s Grand Hall marking the latest chapter in its impressive history. The new location benefits visitors by housing larger attractions and wider aisles, making it the perfect environment in which to meet suppliers and discover the diverse range of products this unique event has to offer.

Paul MacDonald, event director, enthuses, “The Speciality & Fine Food Fair continues to be a ‘must-attend’ event for anyone who sources fine foods.  This year there’s even more new products to see and suppliers to meet - including 80 small producers – guaranteeing visitors a fresh, stimulating experience. If you want to know what’s happening in the fine food world, this is the place to be.”

For further information about the event and to register for free guest passes, please visit www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk