If you want to catch up with what’s happening in the food and drink market then you should head to the Telford International Centre in Shropshire on April 25-27 to attend Palmer & Harvey McLane’s Pro-retail show. All the big names will be there including Cadbury Trebor Bassett, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kellogg’s, Nestlé and United Biscuits. Other big brand manufacturers due to attend include Walkers Snacks, Masterfoods, Wrigley, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Imperial Tobacco and Gallaher. Specific forecourt suppliers attending include Maccess, Convenience Distribution Group and Flowerfete.

Pro-retail is open to every independent retailer across the UK, and includes a package that makes it free, and easy, to attend.

Event organiser, Clive Bacon, explains: "As ever, our trademark Pro-retail package will be available to every attending retailer, including free admission, free nationwide transport to and from the event, free lunch and free refreshments.

"Our main message to forecourt retailers for 2006 is that we are geared for your success. Visitors to this year’s show will see some fundamental changes to the way it is organised, meaning that retailers will gain more from the experience than ever before."

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

The popular Transfer Trading scheme will be back and P&H promises it will be bigger and better than ever. Including more than 150 exclusive deals such as ’buy-one-get-one-frees’, it gives P&H independent customers the chance to order the products they’ve seen at Pro-retail straight away.

To take advantage of the scheme you have to be a P&H Ambient or Chilled & Frozen customer. Copies of the Transfer Trading brochure are sent to all qualifying customers at least a week prior to the show and these outline all the participating suppliers and products available. To qualify for the Transfer Trading scheme, you need to contact your local branch to open an account before Pro-retail.

Meanwhile, new for 2006 is the Pro-retail prize draw, where the first prize is a Ford Focus. Other prizes include luxury holidays and digital cameras. All you have to do to enter is turn up at the show.

Sports fans should definitely visit the show on Tuesday April 25, when ex-footballer Ian Wright will be on the United Biscuits stand to publicise an on-pack promotion on McCoys, KP Nuts and Jaffa Cakes. And Olympic gold medal cyclist Chris Hoy will be on the Soreen stand.

Retailers can register for Pro-retail by telephoning the hotline on 01923 690 678 or visiting the official show website at www.pro-retail.co.uk

PROFIT EARNERS

Unipart Automotive, formerly Brown Brothers, will be launching a new car care range at the show.

Products include the vacuum-packed Jumbo Pop-up sponge. Designed to maximise the space available in the car care category, the sponge is vacuum-sealed in shrinkwrap to allow retailers to display higher quantities during the summer periods when there’s high demand. The merchandiser, which houses up to 20 sponges, can be wall-mounted on a shelving hook.

Also available are Brites sunglasses which come in a variety of rotating counter-top and floor-mounted stands. The range comprises 60 different fashion and sports styles. All the sunglasses conform to British standards, and are upgraded constantly to ensure the display remains fresh and reflects current trends.

SHOW TIMES

Tuesday, April 25, 9.30am-5pm

Wednesday, April 26, 9.30am-5pm

Thursday, April 27, 9am-4pm