Expowest celebrated its 30th year of exhibiting in Cornwall with a bumper day one attendance as businesses turned out in force to start planning ahead and buying for the coming season.
A total of 2,400 Cornish business people came to the start of the three-day event (March 2-4), at the Royal Cornwall Showground, which traditionally fires the starting gun on the season ahead for Cornwall’s catering and hospitality sector.
Peter Sugden, managing director of organisers Exhibitions South West, described it as an excellent start. He said: “The response has been fantastic and, more than that, there is a real feeling of optimism in the air and you can see that business is being done. It gives me a great deal of confidence about the year ahead for the sector for those prepared to invest in their businesses.”
Expowest features a comprehensive range of local and national suppliers offering everything to meet the needs of anyone in the hospitality and catering industry and now also the care and nursing home sector. Over the years the event has become firmly established as a crucial trading time for businesses as they look to plan for the coming season.
Ian Doble, of Doble Quality Foods, has exhibited at every one of the 30 Cornwall exhibitions. He said: “It remains a very important show for us. It’s a shop window for what we do and a great opportunity to meet existing clients as well as new people to the area and the industry looking for new ideas and products.”
Matthew Stevens, of St Ives-based Matthew Stevens and Son fish and seafood specialists, added: “Once again Expowest is kick-starting a new season. It’s a key date in the calendar for us as a business and also a very enjoyable show to catch up with customers old and new.”
