On Tuesday 27th June, the Source Roadshow will be taking place at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium, for one day only. After a successful launch in 2022, it will be bringing the best of the South West to Bristol’s food and drink buyers in 2023. 
In 2022, this new trade show hosted 200 exhibitors showcasing food & drink, equipment and all the services a catering, hospitality, or food retail business needs. The post-show visitor survey showed that 71% of the visitors placed orders at, or shortly after, the show, while 63% found 5 or more new suppliers. 97% said they would recommend the show to a colleague or related business, and 100% of attendees said they would be back in 2023!
Working with Taste of the West, the South West’s regional food group, and BARBI, the Bristol Association of Restaurants, Bars and Independents, along with a broad mix of trade publications, and local business press, this event presents trade buyers with an engaging, exciting, and valuable business opportunity to taste, test and compare. Discover remarkable local products with fascinating provenance stories to tell, and spend valuable time with passionate producers and knowledgeable suppliers.
If you are buying food and drink, to reflect the need and demands from your customers, the value of face-to-face interaction cannot be underestimated, particularly after the last few years. We are all recognising the benefit of getting together to network, and realising the additional opportunities this presents to collaborate and create meaningful long-term relationships. People do business with people and shows like this help connect individuals. Trade shows are a great opportunity to build relationships with new partners, catch up with colleagues, clients, and friends, as well as to learn new information and get a feel for the latest market trends. It’s just so much easier to make those all-important buying decisions when competing offerings are shown side by side. You can’t do everything on the internet!
Just a few of the exhibiting companies are: Alvis Bros, Dole (previously known as Total Produce), Hunt’s Cider, Qtos Catering Equipment, The Real Olive Company, and White Lake Cheese. A list of the current confirmed exhibitors can be found on the show website.
Alongside the exhibitors, the organisers are creating a Feature Space to allow visitors to relax and kick back in between checking out the latest food, drink, and business services on offer from the exhibitors. This area will feature a live DJ, Michael of Soul Education, who will provide the musical backdrop to the day and, new for 2023, the show’s “Leading in Innovation & Sustainability Area” is going to signpost visitors to organisations within the show that display these qualities within their business products and services. See how companies are working towards doing business in a way that is better for everyone! The organisers are also delighted to host the City of Bristol College, who will be at the show to introduce visitors to the next generation of hospitality stars.
This year Bristol is celebrating 650 years since it became a county in its own right. Over the centuries it has gone from strength to strength as a centre for trading, thanks to its location on the River Avon. As members of Business West, Bristol’s Chamber of Commerce, who are themselves celebrating their bicentennial this year, Hale Events are delighted to be once again bringing the Source Roadshow to Ashton Gate Stadium this year.
Mike Anderson, Hale Events MD said “Although our trade show is a mere toddler when compared to these significant Bristol anniversaries, having only launched last year, we are proud to be continuing this city’s trading heritage, and to be doing so at such an iconic Bristol venue”.
The Source Roadshow takes place on Tuesday 27th June, from 10.00am to 6.00pm at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol. Visiting this show is free for trade buyers, who can register now, at bristol.thesourcetradeshow.co.uk. Information about exhibiting at this show is available from James Curtis, or Paul Thomas on 01934 733433 or by emailing stands@hale-events.com.
