Country Range Group (CRG) members and suppliers were in attendance at Doncaster Racecourse on January 28th and 29th for the buying group’s first Business Development Days (BDDs) of the year.
The BDDs are a crucial part of Group’s annual event calendar, providing invaluable opportunities for their members and suppliers to get off to a fast start and take advantage of the latest products, solutions and trends entering the foodservice market. The collaborative event allows suppliers to have face-to-face meetings, build relationships and engage in product sampling and live demonstrations with key decision makers from the Group’s member wholesalers.
Group suppliers showcased their latest product innovations
Prominent suppliers at the event ranged from global brands to exciting new partners for the Group, including Funnybones Foodservice, Lamb Weston, PepsiCo, Carlsberg Britvic, Coopers Gourmet Foods, Delifrance UK and TruffleHunter. With a strong focus on trend-led offerings, suppliers showcased their latest products and innovations, providing the Group’s member wholesalers with an early view of new ranges and product developments for the year ahead.
The Country Range Group also showcased a number of products from across its three-tiered own brand portfolio including a range of spring / summer desserts featuring the Signature by Country Range Sicilian Lemon Tiramisu Dessert, Country Range Mango and Passionfruit Torte as well as a nostalgic Raspberry and Coconut Tray Cake. The Group also shared with its members a range of marketing resources to support the launch of its new cleaning brand, Clean Range Pro.
Country Range Group’s new Buying Director Dean Pendlebury said: “It’s always great to kick off the new year with a visit to Doncaster for one of our BDDs as they continue to provide huge value to our members and suppliers. It’s the ideal time of the year to have everyone together for face-to-face meetings, showcasing vibrant NPD and building future relationships. It was incredible to see the excitement and innovation in the room and it’s filled me full of hope that 2026 will be an even bigger and better year for CRG. A huge thanks to all those in attendance for making it such a special event.”
Lucy Rios Robert of Delifrance added: “Attending Country Range Group’s BDD gave us an incredible opportunity to meet face-to-face with members, share our latest innovations, and have meaningful conversations. The event is always a highlight for us, helping to strengthen relationships and spark new collaborations that we’re excited to develop throughout the year.”
Martin Robinson, Customer Development Manager of Nestle Professional commented: “The event was a perfect platform to showcase our products and engage directly with CRG’s members. Being able to connect personally, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities makes these business development days invaluable for us.”
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.