Promoting retail excellence is the theme of this year’s Pro-Retail show, with the organisers keen for retailers to adopt best-practice techniques to promote a professional business approach and drive profitability.

Event organiser, Clive Bacon, says: "We are hoping to use the show this year as an opportunity to reach out to retailers and help them drive retail excellence. Pro-retail is one of the most influential trade shows in the independent market and as such is responsible for providing positive, profit-making business solutions - a responsibility we take very seriously."

The show welcomed 6,500 retail visitors last year and the organisers have high hopes for similar numbers this year. More than 180 leading suppliers will be present and many will be taking part in Pro-Retail’s popular Transfer Trading scheme.

This comprises around 120 exclusive show deals. A brochure featuring all of them will be available at the show.

This is obviously a good reason to visit, however an even better one might be that all retailers attending the show have the chance of winning one of nine top-spec dairy deck chillers, worth £2,725 each via, free prize draw. Plus if you’re a trading P&H customer, you’ll get the stock to fill it.

Sticking with free stock, and kids’ confectionery manufacturer Swizzels Matlow will be running a ’buy three get one free’ show deal across its range. This includes new lines: hot orange and swizzelberry Refreshers; passionberry and cherry & orange Drumstick lollies; and the Chunky New Refresher lollipop.

Meanwhile premium chocolate confectionery manufacturer Thorntons is using Pro-Retail 2007 to launch its range to independents.

The impulse bars, bags and boxes have been available through the grocery multiples for some time where they are said to have sold well. Now, the chocolates are available to independents through Palmer & Harvey.

products galore

There’s more to Pro-Retail than confectionery. Northern Foods/Green Isle, for instance will be exhibiting its new Goodfella’s range of Delicia Thin Classics. Burtons Foods has the new Cadbury Half Choc range. Kettle Chips has two new varieties - soulmate cheeses with onion and Mexican limes with a hint of chilli. Jenks will be showcasing new additions to the Ryvita range; and Anadin is launching new-look packaging.

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=== the details ===

Pro-Retail 2007 takes place at the Telford International Centre in Shropshire from April 24-26.

Opening times are 9.30am-5pm on Tuesday April 24 and Wednesday April 25, and 9am-4pm on Thursday 26th.

For tickets, retailers can contact their P&H rep, call 01923 690678, log onto [http://www.pro-retail.co.uk], or register at the show on the day. All ticket holders will be issued with a voucher that entitles them to a free lunch.