Following the success of its event in Belfast last year, the Country Range Group’s (CRG) annual trade exhibition and conference returned to Telford on 18th June with more than 650 delegates from across the foodservice industry gathering to hear the Group’s plans to accelerate growth and strengthen its position as the leading foodservice buying group.
Under a vibrant Global Fiesta theme and inspired by a summer packed with major sporting events, exhibitors embraced the occasion with interactive demos, tastings and engaging stand activities, creating a lively carnival atmosphere throughout the exhibition. Now in its 26th year, the event was CRG’s largest exhibition to date, with 125 stands bringing together CRG members, supplier partners and industry leaders for a day of innovation, insight and networking. The exhibition also generated a staggering £4 million in orders over the course of the day, which was another record for the Group.
Collaboration Takes Centre Stage
The focus of the conference was the launch of CRG’s ambitious new five-year strategy, which sets out a clear mission to help member businesses achieve faster, more profitable growth. Unveiled by CRG Chief Executive Martin Ward, the strategy is built around the Group’s core values of Collaboration, Respect and Growth and is underpinned by five strategic pillars: Scale, Our Brands, ESG, Digital and Data.
The Group also outlined ambitious growth targets for 2030, including achieving £1.5 billion in sales and increasing the value of its own-brand portfolio to £250 million.
The conference also saw the introduction of CRG Impact, the Group’s brand-new charitable initiative, which aims to raise £1 million for worthy causes over the course of the Group’s five-year strategy.
Martin Ward, CRG Chief Executive, said: “Our annual exhibition and conference is always an important opportunity to bring our members, suppliers and partners together, but this year’s event marked a particularly significant milestone for the Group. The launch of our new strategic roadmap provides a clear vision for the future and a framework that will help our members achieve faster, more profitable growth. With ambitious targets in place and a strong focus on collaboration, innovation and value creation, we are excited about the opportunities ahead. The event once again demonstrated the strength of CRG, bringing together hundreds of delegates to share ideas, explore new opportunities and shape the future of foodservice together.”
Aside from unveiling of the Group’s strategy the conference provided attendees valuable insight into the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of foodservice. Head of Marketing Emma Holden delivered a comprehensive market update, sharing the latest consumer and industry intelligence, including a fascinating look at how GLP-1 weight loss medications are beginning to influence menu development and purchasing behaviours across the sector.
The thought-provoking programme continued with a panel of marketing and sales leaders from across the Group, who explored the rapidly evolving foodservice landscape and discussed how wholesalers can better understand customer needs, strengthen supplier partnerships and unlock new opportunities through greater collaboration.
Together, the sessions reinforced CRG’s commitment to equipping members with the insight, expertise and support needed to navigate a changing marketplace and drive sustainable growth.
Exhibition Showcases Global Innovation
A major addition to this year’s exhibition was the debut of CRG’s live demo stage, The Discovery Kitchen, which quickly became one of the standout attractions of the day. Designed to provide practical insight and inspiration, the stage featured a packed programme of live cooking demonstrations, workshops and expert presentations from Premier Foods, Délifrance, Natasha’s Foundation, IDDSI specialist Andy Cullum and Springboard FutureChef. Covering topics ranging from menu innovation and food waste to allergens, texture-modified diets and nurturing future hospitality talent, the sessions provided delegates with valuable expertise, practical advice and actionable ideas to support their businesses.
Alongside the networking opportunities, product sampling and latest industry innovations on display, the exhibition once again demonstrated the strength of collaboration across the CRG membership and supplier community.
Maxine Arms of Délifrance, said: “We had a fantastic day and it was great to highlight our products and see strong interest. One of the key products we showcased was our Heat to Eat range and the feedback from attendees was brilliant so it’s been hugely successful all round.”
Gala & Evening Entertainment
After a long and successful day the celebrations continued long into the night with a 90s nostalgia-themed evening featuring a delicious global menu with a retro twist, live entertainment from the definitive Oasis tribute band Noasis and 90s fancy dress.
Want to Attend The Next Country Range Group Event?
Producers and suppliers interested in attending any of the upcoming Country Range Group events including the next Business Development Day, scheduled for 23rd and 24th of September 2026, are invited to contact their regular Country Range Group trading representative if they are already a current supplier to the Group. Alternatively find out more about the Groups upcoming events.