One of Wales’s showcase events of the hospitality season is back on the calendar with the return of the Harlech Foodservice Expo next month.
More than 70 food and drink producers from international household names to high quality artisans will exhibit at the free event for trade customers at Venue Cymru on March 2 and 3.
Big guns Wall’s, Hellman’s, Weetabix, McCain’s and Young’s Seafood will all take stands, as will Quorn, with increasing interest in vegetarian and vegan options.
Welsh suppliers include Village Bakery, Snowdonia Cheese, butchers Edwards of Conwy, Ty Nant mineral water, Aber Falls, Snowdon Lager and Harlech’s own Bwydlyn Butchery.
Top Welsh food wholesaler Harlech are expecting more than 2,000 visitors to the 43rd Expo after it had to be called off last year due to the pandemic.
This year sees more interest across the border as the company, which has bases in Criccieth and Chester, extend their reach into the North West and the Midlands after winning important new contracts with public and private sector customers.
Expo 2022 organiser Matt Flynn, Harlech’s head of purchasing and marketing, said: “Everyone wants to get back to business and the feeling is very positive with people back out and about and tasting food and drink.
“This is the start of the season for the catering and hospitality trade and we are focusing on the quality of our suppliers rather than sheer quantity and on major suppliers.
“There will be plenty to see as well, with TV screens on stands and chefs doing live cookery demonstrations, including our own development chef manager, Stephen Griffiths.
“There will be plenty of opportunities to taste what’s on offer, with more than 50 exhibitors cooking on their stands, to see new ideas and to take advantage of special new deals being offered by suppliers.”
Among the expert demonstrators is Harlech’s Stephen Griffiths, who said: “The Expo is the best time of the year and this year most of all after missing out in 2021 as we’ll be seeing everyone in one place again.
“We’ll be featuring our new Bwydlyn Select range along with our premium quality Brongain range, but we’ll also be explaining what you can do with different cuts of meat from nose to tail.
“I’ll be demonstrating different recipes and styles from around the world using our products and I’ve also invited Essential Cuisine to provide their range of speciality sauces, rubs and seasonings to show the kind of variety that can be offered to our customers.
“It’s my role to support them to get the best out of what we supply and give them new ideas on how to get the most out of our products and perhaps bring that bit of theatre to your menu.”
The two-day event is aimed at trade customers and is not open to the general public.
To register for the Expo, traders and businesses should head to www.bit.ly/3stHkMi
