RECORD breaking deals of £500,000 were secured at a high-profile two day trade expo at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru.

The Harlech Foodservice Food and Drink Expo 2020, now in its 42nd year, welcomed almost 2,000 visitors which saw around 165 UK-wide suppliers show their produce.

Sales generated by the event were up by more than 30 per cent from close to £350,000 in 2019 to almost £460,000 in 2020. There were an additional 30 new businesses presenting their produce this year.

The expo aims to allow Harlech Foodservice suppliers to talk directly to customers, giving them a chance to tell the story behind their product and offer free taster to representatives from the leisure, education and health industries across Britain.

Global giants such as Heinz and Unilever were present at the event along with a whole host of varying size businesses including Seabrook crisps, Fentimans and Deli France. At the heart of the event is Welsh Street, created by Harlech Foodservice to champion the wealth of quality food being produced across the country and particularly in North Wales.

Butchers Edwards of Conwy was featured on Welsh Street. Founded by Master Butcher, Ieuan Edwards, who was born on a family farm in Llanrwst, the company has gone from a one shop operation on Conwy high street to a thriving meat production business supplying major supermarkets, wholesale and foodservice firms. Laura Jones, Marketing Manager for Edwards of Conwy said: “The expo is great because it gives us the face to face contact to interact with new and existing customers and to connect with them in a way which is just not possible through a catalogue.

“It’s great and so busy which gives us a chance to reach a lot of people in a relatively short space of time.”

Andrew Foskett is Joint Managing Director of Harlech Foodservice which has its headquarters in in Llanystumdwy, near Criccieth, Gwynedd.

Andrew, who runs the firm with his brother Jonathan and sister Laura, said: “The event just keeps on getting bigger and bigger every year and we had people queuing up outside before the doors opened.

“Visitors were just so keen to get in because there is a lot to see and some great deals to be had. There are many benefits to both our customers and our suppliers. The customers are able to come and see and taste the products for themselves. “It’s a really important event and we are proud to be driving it forward.”