Over the past few weeks, Gills has been pleased to attend all three Castell Howell trade shows across Wales. The events gave us a valuable opportunity to showcase our products, meet customers face to face and strengthen our presence in an important market for the business.
The 2026 Castell Howell events took place at three major Welsh venues: ICC Wales in Newport on 20–21 January, Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on 10–11 February, and Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay on 24–25 February. Castell Howell described this year’s shows as the highest-attended food shows in its 38-year history, highlighting the growing scale and importance of the events.
Showcasing the Gills Range Across Wales
Trade shows are an excellent way to connect directly with people across the foodservice sector. They create opportunities for meaningful conversations about products, service and what customers are really looking for.
For Gills, attending all three Castell Howell events allowed us to present the quality and breadth of our range to both existing contacts and potential new customers. The shows attracted a wide range of foodservice, hospitality and leisure businesses, giving us the chance to introduce Gills to buyers and decision-makers from across Wales.
The Parc y Scarlets event was particularly well attended, with more than 200 exhibitors taking part and over 3,500 visitors from an estimated 1,250 hospitality and leisure businesses coming through the doors across the two days. The event showcased the best of Welsh food and drink, with guests able to explore new product launches, menu ideas, live demonstrations and face-to-face supplier conversations.
Spending time at each event also helped us raise awareness of the Gills brand across Wales and reinforce our commitment to supplying quality products backed by strong service. Meeting people in person remains one of the best ways to build confidence and start new conversations.
A Strong Focus on North Wales
A key part of attending these events has been our focus on extending our reach within North Wales. We see real opportunity in the region and are keen to build new relationships with businesses looking for quality products and a dependable supplier. The trade shows provided an ideal platform to introduce Gills to new audiences and better understand the needs of the market in that part of the country.
As we continue to grow our presence across Wales, North Wales is an area we are particularly excited about. Taking part in all three Castell Howell trade shows has been an important step in that journey, and we look forward to building on the connections made over the past few weeks.
