Gift Focus - Jan/Feb 2018 (Issue 105)

The latest in artisanal products will be covered from sweet and savoury to snacking including Arden Fine Foods (UK), which will have a stand showcasing its top-of-the-range bakery products and Franklin & Sons. This company will display its high-end water and soft drinks, while the trendiest and tastiest cheeses will be found at the Blacks Cheese stand. Away from food and drink, Dandelion Stationery will showcase its upmarket products, Elizabeth Shaw will bring its top of the range hampers and greeting cards – perfect for gifting – while Monty Bojangles will wow with its chocolate confectionery. Gift retailers will come away with ideas and inspiration for new stock, as well as plenty of business advice on how they can boost their bottom lines and take their businesses to the next stage. The insightful Farm Shop & Deli Live area will offer one of the best draws to the show, hosting a comprehensive educational programme including live demonstrations, topical debates, tastings and presentations given by industry leaders. Laura Hamilton, a presenter on Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun who now owns a coffee shop, deli and post office called Lord Roberts on the Green, will share her advice at the show. Compere Richard Fox will quiz her on her method for high-end sourcing and how niche products help her store stand out. Further business advice will be delivered around the new GDPR legislation and how this affects smaller retailers. The stage area will also offer learnings on the art of counter techniques and upselling on luxury items such as artisanal charcuterie, wines and cheeses. Another session will be taken by successful deli owners who will impart their valuable trade secrets, while a further section of the programme will focus on business guidance. Experts will share their experience for diversification within business, as well as making the most of technological advances in retail for recruiting and retaining customers. Tips on moving from single to multi-site trading and how speciality suppliers can really support independent retailers will also be covered. Awards One of the highlights of the show will be the Farm Shop & Deli Awards. Back for their fifth year, they will reveal the crème de la crème of British independent retailers. A panel of judges – including food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, Elaine Lemm plus representatives from Neal’s Yard Dairy and Booths – will score stores based on levels of service, innovation and community involvement in speciality retail. Category and regional winners, as well as the overall Farm Shop & Deli Retailer of the Year will be announced at the Farm Shop & Deli Show on Monday, 16 th April. Additionally, a team of professionals will judge the Britain’s Best Loaf competition, which has become the talk of the craft bakery sector since its inception. Awards will be presented to the bakers excelling in five categories – Sourdough, Wholegrain, White, Innovation and Gluten Free. The Farm Shop & Deli Show’s Commercial Manager, Dan Eversfield, said, “Artisan food continues to be one of the success stories of the UK food and drink industry and a key sector for gifting as new products continually one-upmanship each other on innovation, differentiation and appeal. The Farm Shop & Deli Show will showcase the very best products that our country has to offer, providing invaluable inspiration for businesses in the UK and further afield.” The Farm Shop & Deli Show is co-located with the UK’s largest food and drink trade event – Food & Drink Expo – National Convenience Show and Foodex, as well as the new The Ingredients Show. Together they’ll bring together suppliers from across the whole food and drink industry, from retailers to manufacturers. g a taste of what’s to come The Farm Shop & Deli Show will be back providing a platform to keep up to date with the latest, most innovative food, drink and gifting products presented by more than 450 exhibiting companies For further information, visit farmshopanddelishow.co.uk IN BRIEF Show Farm Shop & Deli Show Organiser William Reed Where Birmingham, NEC When 16 th - 18 th April, 2018 Website farmshopanddeli show.co.uk Twitter FarmShop_Deli giftfocus 71 farm shop & deli show