Retailers from across Scotland and the north of England gathered recently (24 April) at Hampden Park for the 2019 JW Filshill Trade Exhibition.
The event, Filshill’s biggest to trade show to date, attracted over 80 KeyStore retailers and 60 suppliers. Several on-trade customers also attended.
Trade seminars covering training, food-to-go and vaping were well attended by retailers. Tom Fender, Managing Director of Paisley-based Bolt Learning, spoke about the benefits of online training for convenience stores while Gary Routledge, National Business Manager at Juul Labs, discussed the growing importance of the vaping category and how retailers can capitalise on its growth in the future. Juul has entered an exclusive partnership with Filshill to develop the category.
Food-to-go and how this category can help c-stores create a point of difference saw Steve Appolinari, Sales Director of Fife Creamery, outline recent developments at the chilled foods supplier.
Retailers were also given an insight into how the deposit return scheme (DRS) for empty drinks containers will look when it is introduced in Scotland. Reverse vending machine (RVM) manufacturer Tomra showcased its equipment and answered questions ahead of the Scottish Government’s introduction of a DRS.
Following the event, suppliers donated surplus stock to Clydebank Foodbank, with Filshill customer Clydebank Co-op coordinating the uplift and delivery of product.
Craig Brown, Filshill’s Retail Sales Director, said: “This has been our most successful trade exhibition and we were delighted that so many customers saw the value in taking time out of their businesses to see what’s new, talk to our suppliers and spend time with other retailers.”
