A trade show dedicated to the food and drink sector is coming to Nottingham for the first time in September.

Catering and Hospitality Expo is expected to feature more than 90 exhibitors and draw visitors from across the country.

Staged at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick, on September 19th and 20th, the event is open to trade representatives only and is the ideal opportunity for East Midlands food and drink companies to promote their products to a relevant audience.

It is also the perfect chance for those in the catering and hospitality trade to source new ideas, products and suppliers, said Fiona Anderson, managing director of East Midlands business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum.

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, and operates across the East Midlands, is teaming up with the organisers of the event, Consortium of Events and Tourism Limited, to recruit exhibitors from Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Rutland and Northamptonshire to the regional section of the show and also as general exhibitors.

The Forum will also be managing the area that showcases regional products, and is appealing for interested manufacturers and companies to come forward.

“Catering and Hospitality Expo has been held at various venues around the UK over a number of years, and has attracted thousands of trade visitors,” said Fiona. “This is the first time that it has been held in Nottingham. It’s a great opportunity for our members and others in the regional food and drink sector to put their products in front of restaurants, hospitality organisations and catering companies.”

Exhibitors are expected to include local and national companies, food service providers, catering companies, equipment suppliers, restaurants, hotels, hospitality organisations, top chefs, industry services and manufacturers and producers wanting to sell into the catering and hospitality sector.

“There are plans to make this an annual event in Nottingham so attendees and exhibitors have the chance to be part of it from the start,” said Lisa Unwin, membership and marketing manager at The Food and Drink Forum.

“The response we have received already from companies wanting to exhibit has been brilliant. It’s great to see so many producers from our area making the most of an opportunity to showcase what the region has to offer. We hope that the Catering and Hospitality Expo 2012 will help to develop supply chains between the manufacturing and hospitality industries and would encourage all attendees to drop by the regional area to sample some tasty treats.”

Entry to the September event is free for those in the food and drink industry. Collections will be taken for the Children’s Air Ambulance.

For more information about booking a stand, contact The Food and Drink Forum on 0115 9758810 or email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR perfect10pr.blogspot.co.uk