Middleton Foods exhibited at Anuga in Cologne for the first time in 2015 thanks to the support from the team at the Department for International Trade in the Black Country, which included an exhibitor grant from the trade show access programme. This was Middleton's first overseas exhibition and was research to gauge the size of the market for their products outside of the UK.
Throughout the show, Middleton Foods cooked British Fish and Chips for all the visitors and served thousands of portions over the five days of the show. The exhibition was a success, producing huge interest in their range of products from overseas and UK buyers.
This year, the Middleton team are going back with a new wider range of products, reacting to customer’s comments and the interest generated at the last exhibition. In particular, they will be showing their new range of Gluten Free catering products alongside their Chicken Breading and Marinades which they are hoping will prove very popular with the international community.
Heather Crocker, International Trade Adviser with the Department for International Trade, commented: “Middleton Foods are a great example of how enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to continually build their knowledge of international markets and diversify their product range to meet the demands of the international customers, can deliver tangible results for a business. I will be working with the company over the coming months to prepare for this year’s show, including research into new market opportunities through my colleagues based in British Embassies in Europe.”
Paul Stanley, Foodservice Manager at Middleton Foods, added: “We are delighted to be working with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and the International Trade Team by exploring new opportunities within European markets. At Anuga this year we will be showcasing our new gluten free range of products made in our dedicated stand-alone, gluten free factory here in Willenhall. This new dedicated factory creates an environment where all wheat products are removed, giving us full control over manufacturing and eliminating the risk of cross-contamination completely. We believe there will be a strong export demand for these products."
Anuga 2015 not only had a record number of exhibitors, but the delegate attendance figures also increased. Around 160,000 trade visitors from 192 countries attended Anuga in Cologne from 10 to 14 October 2015. Anuga is a specialist exhibition for the food industry and is attended by a vast number of international visitors and exhibitors.
