Pro-retail, the largest independent retail exhibition in the UK, will take place from 27 -28 April 2010 at the International Centre in Telford, Shropshire.

Hosted by Palmer and Harvey, the UK’s no.1 wholesaler, Pro–retail is now in its 28th year. With more than 6,500 retailers and suppliers expected to attend the exhibition, Pro-retail continues to provide the ideal platform for retailers to interact directly with the UK’s leading suppliers and manufacturers, to experience the latest trends in product innovation, to benefit from exciting product launches, exclusive show deals and remain abreast of latest thinking in promoting retail excellence.

Commenting on the 2010 show, Richard Hayhoe, Director of Marketing at Palmer and Harvey said:

“The aim of this years’ show is to give retailers all the information and help they need to make their business more efficient and more profitable. This is the only show which provides the exciting opportunity to meet and learn from industry experts and receive first-hand advice in driving excellence and maximising store potential. In an industry which is renowned for its competition and innovation, this show creates an ideal platform upon which both retailers and suppliers can benefit”.

SEE MORE…

Following the same winning formula as in 2009, Pro-retail 2010 will be better still. Displaying the biggest Mace store ever, Palmer and Harvey will be showcasing all the latest products, store design and marketing material available to our valued Symbol members. Additionally, for the first time, there will be a flagship forecourt store, that sets out market leading expertise and shows why 75% of UK forecourts trust P&H with supplying their stock.

LEARN MORE, £ARN MORE…

All retailers will receive tangible business advice from Palmer and Harvey experts on how to best lay out their store and identify new sales opportunities, realising their own stores’ full potential and driving profit.

To complement this expert advice, new interactive ‘real life’ category zones will show what the perfect store looks like; allowing retailers to experience the very best in product range, store layout and merchandising through the eyes of the customer. There will also be a ‘Retail Fitness Zone’ on the Palmer and Harvey stand, which will provide retailers with a free store ‘health check’, offering inspiration, new ideas and ways of enhancing their business and profits.

After the success of the gala dinner in 2009, Palmer and Harvey is pleased to announce that the biggest industry event of the year will be taking place once again, on the evening of Tuesday 27th April. The 2010 gala dinner will be attended by more than 1,600 suppliers and buyers and thus presents excellent networking opportunities. The evening will also include the presentation of the Supplier and Retailer Excellence Awards, which recognises those who adopt best practice and epitomise excellence in independent retailing.

Palmer and Harvey will provide free nationwide coach services for potential visitors. Entry, parking and lunch at the conference will be complimentary.

Visitors can pre-register for the event online at www.pro-retail.co.uk or call 01562 821 723.

For further information please contact:

Cardew Group
Nadja Vetter / Emma Consett / Daniela Cormano
T: 020 7930 0777

Palmer and Harvey
Andrea Ward
T: 01273 222252

Notes to Editors:

• Palmer and Harvey is the UK’s no.1 wholesaler and the fifth largest privately owned company in the UK, with an annual turnover of £4 billion .
• Palmer and Harvey held the first Pro-retail conference in 1983 at Penns Hall, Midlands. Following its increasing success with more than 180 of the UK’s leading suppliers and manufacturers present each year, the conference moved to the International Centre in Telford, Shropshire in 1998 .
• In 2009, Pro-retail attracted more than 6,500 visitors - owners, managers and buyers of over 20,000 businesses across the UK .
• Palmer and Harvey was founded in 1925 as a delivered wholesaler specialising in tobacco and confectionery. Since then Palmer and Harvey has broadened its wholesale offering and customer base considerably. Customers range from key grocery multiples to forecourts and corner shops. The Company offers customers up to 11,000 lines spanning ambient (including alcohol), chilled and frozen products .
• Palmer and Harvey has three symbol fascias – Mace, Supershop and Your Store (NI only) – with an estate in excess of 720 stores.The Company has grown over the last 85 years through a mixture of organic growth and targeted acquisitions gaining a widening expertise within the core product groups. It now owns fascia franchises Mace, Super Shop and Your Store, snacks van delivery service P&H Snacksdirect and Sweetdirect, EPoS specialist YP Electronics and BB Printing