Independent foodservice wholesalers came together with suppliers over two days this week for the annual Development and Innovation Days, hosted by The Wholesale Group, giving the opportunity to establish new relationships, strengthen existing partnerships and take advantage of exclusive event deals.
Held over two days in Nottingham, the Development and Innovation Days provided the opportunity for more than 20 foodservice wholesalers to connect with 60 new and established suppliers, discuss purchasing strategy and access exclusive deals. The event also included a networking dinner and marked the start of a busy 2026 events calendar for members and suppliers from The Wholesale Group.
Brands including Bannisters, Wafflemiester and Birds Eye joined an expo format on day one, before other suppliers including Kraft Heinz, Nestle Professional and Santa Maria joined wholesalers including Ewood Foods, Holland Bazaar and SJB Foods for a series of one-to-one meetings on day two.
Key innovations on display included Marshfield Farm’s Moment and Orange Marmalade Ice cream, Pacific West’s Breaded Anchovy Fillets and Fish Stuffed Olives, a range of Gourmet Sausage Rolls including the Vegan Onion Bhaji Gourmet Roll from Cornish Premier Pasties, a range of bakery products from La Lorraine Bakery Group and Seafish UK’s award-winning Battered Haddock Burger.
The Wholesale Group’s own-brand range also had a presence at the event, with the launch of CORE Juices, the new CLEAN Solutions range and CHEF Approved coffee beans.
Feedback from both wholesalers and suppliers was overwhelmingly positive, with many quick to praise the network created by The Wholesale Group.
Nick Jordan from Foodbridge FSG said: “It’s been great to meet a lot of members that before now I’ve not had time to see, and to allow them to trial the products to bring them to life. We’ve made new connections and showcased our new products, including Salt and Pepper Chicken Thighs and 80g Crispy Ripple Chicken Fillet, to enhance the wholesalers’ ranges.”
Darren Gaulton from Charles Saunders, a Board Member of The Wholesale Group, said: “The Development and Innovation Days are about boosting engagement and increasing accessibility. It’s a fantastic opportunity for networking with members and suppliers, while discussing the latest trends, sharing NPD plans and learning how we can all work together to help overcome common challenges in the industry.”
Coral Rose, Managing Director – Foodservice at The Wholesale Group, said: “We’re constantly listening to our partners. We took into account feedback from those who attended last year and made some changes to ensure we put on the best possible event for our members and supplier partners.”
Following the event, food waste and hunger charity Fareshare collected all leftover goods to be redistributed to frontline charities in the area.
For more information, visit thewholesalegroup.co.uk.
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