Country Range Group’s Telford Event Raises Over £2 Million in Orders
The Country Range Group (CRG) returned to the Telford International Centre on last week for its annual exhibition and conference with over 100 visiting suppliers showcasing their products to over 300 member delegates in attendance.
Over £2 million in orders were generated for visiting suppliers from the buying group’s 12 members during the exhibition with a whole host of food and drink products sampled and brought to life through interactive demonstrations.
Following the exhibition, a special conference session took place with Martin Ward, Commercial Director, and Emma Holden, Head of Marketing, delivering presentations that shared the Group’s strategy and key focus areas – scale, data, sustainability and the Country Range brand.
The conference was rounded off by guest speaker England rugby legend Phil Vickery.
The event was also the perfect opportunity for the CRG member wholesalers to come together to celebrate the Group’s 30th anniversary year with a host of activities taking place throughout the day.
In the evening, there was a masquerade ball which was hosted by Brian Conley, three-course dinner and raffle, which raised over £5,000 for Hospitality Action. This total will be matched by CRG resulting in a total donation of £10,000.
In line with the Group’s focus upon sustainability they worked with FareShare who will redistribute all the surplus food from the exhibition.
Martin Ward, Commercial Director of the Country Range Group, said: “It’s been a very difficult few years for the foodservice industry and events like these are vital in helping our suppliers showcase their varied, unique and wonderful products to our members.
“After missing a few years of our annual exhibition due to Covid restrictions, it was fantastic to be back in Telford and see so many friendly faces come together for the day.
“A huge amount of money in orders was raised for our visiting suppliers, which made it all the more worthwhile, and the special gala dinner and masquerade themed ball in the evening were the perfect setting to celebrate our 30th anniversary.”
Ken Cameron, National Account Controller at Nairn’s Oatcakes Limited, said: “It was amazing to be at the Country Range Group annual exhibition for the first time. We’ve been available through a couple of the members but the show provided us with the perfect platform to showcase our diverse product range, drive trial and boost interest across the entire Group. The interest was exceptional – a fantastic event.”
Sally Middleton, Operations Manager at Cuzena, said: “We’re a new brand and new to the Country Range Group so it’s been amazing to interact and showcase our range to the member delegates and teams. After an incredibly positive start for the company, foodservice is a key target for us moving forward so having a presence at these events is vital.”
About the Country Range Group
With over 30 years of heritage servicing the UK & Ireland’s innovative foodservice sector, the Country Range Group is made up of 12 independent wholesalers – Birchall Foodservice, Blakemore Foodservice, Caterite Foodservice, Creed Foodservice, Dunns Food and Drinks, EFG Foodservice, Harvest Fine Foods, Henderson Foodservice, Savona Foodservice, Thomas Ridley Foodservice, Trevors Foodservice and Turner Price.
In addition to offering the leading brands from around the globe, the Group also provides over 800 products, all developed exclusively for professional caterers under the Country Range brand. Covering grocery, chilled, frozen and non-food, Country Range is widely recognised by caterers as a trusted and reliable brand delivering consistent quality and value for money without compromising on taste and flavour.
The Group also publishes its trade magazine Stir it up 10 times a year, which features the latest food, drink and industry news, Country Range brand promotions and in-depth trend reports and sector specific guides to support and inspire all foodservice caterers.
www.countryrange.co.uk
