TradeScope exhibited at the Specialty & Fine Food Fair 4-6 September. We have exhibited and visited this show many times before.
One of the key strength of the show is that most speciality / premium wholesalers exhibit at the show. If you have a new product, there are opportunities to run your product by the likes of Cotswold Fayre, Hider, Diverse and Empire Bespoke, as well as 3-4 others.
The visitors are a mixed bunch. The main visitor type is independent speciality retailers (farm shops, delis, fine food). This can be useful if you have a buzzy product because you can secure a list of interested independent retailers, which can be useful when approaching speciality / premium wholesalers.
There is also an occasional gem, such as supermarket chain buyer, but they are few and far between. Most supermarket buyers do not attend this show.
As with any exhibition, you have a large number of individuals looking for free food samples or selling services.
The show is made up of two large floors. The ground floor is main country pavilions. Cotswold Fayre, one of the more established wholesalers in the premium sector, has a pavilion in which they secure 20-30 of their suppliers exhibit under their umbrella.
There is a large chocolate area on the first floor, as well as many smaller producers stalls.
All in all a good show.