Our Gluten Free Food Fair in the Marine Hotel is over for another year!
That just means it’s time to start planning for next year!
This year’s Event was well attended with 15 Exhibitors attending in person and another 8 companies sent along their leaflets and/or samples for distribution to the visitors.
Between 250 and 300 people turned up and all went away with an armful of goodies thanks to the generosity of the Exhibitors! Apart from the usual bag of cakes, breads, sauces, meats etc many folk left clutching a box of Glutafin GF Brown loaves courtesy of Glutafin.
You can imagine the consternation at the hotel when I told the staff to expect a delivery of 50 cases of Glutafin Loaves on the Friday! – That’s just 400 loaves (8 in each box!) Anyway, the shock was eased a little when I explained that the loaves are a bit smaller than your usual pan loaf and that 50 cases wouldn’t take up too much space! (Let’s face it, I had to say something!)
On the day it all worked well – the loaves were delivered and re-distributed to the happy visitors.
In attendance we had a number of Exhibitors who attended last year’s event such as Glutafin, Doherty Meats, Thyme & Co, CELIA Lager and Riso Gallo while new comers this year were Pure Bred from Gallaghers in Co Donegal, Keogh’s Crisps, Middleton’s GF Batter, Rule of Crumb, Aloe Vera, O’Donnells Crisps and Golden Popcorn.
Sadly, for various reasons, both Juvela and Lazy Day Foods had to cancel attendance on the day and they were missed as both have an excellent GF range of products and a wealth of knowledge concerning the GF life style.
This year, we also had a “Partners” table to accommodate companies interested in joining us but unable to because of distant locations. Companies such as Amy’s Kitchen, Quinola Ltd, Ilumi, Delicious (from Cork), Sowan’s (part of Gempack Ltd), Ballymaloe Foods, Glebe Farm and Bezgluten (all the way from Poland).
Flyers were handed out and samples raffled off to lucky visitors including an excellent new GF Cook Book written by Denise O’Callaghan from Delicious Bakery in Cork.
We also had a lady from Smudges Inc doing balloon modelling and Face Painting – all good fun for the kiddies!
When the visitors had all left and the dust had settled we retired to the Hotel’s Marconi Restaurant where we sampled a meal from their excellent Gluten Free menu!
A good day all round and thanks to everyone who made it possible either as a visitor or an Exhibitor!
Our next Event will be in connection with Coeliac Awareness Week in St George’s Market, Belfast on the 16th May. Maybe see you there?
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