CATEX 2017 IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

-Ireland’s largest foodservice & hospitality event returns next February-
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​Ireland’s biggest foodservice trade event– CATEX - rolls into town next February, and for companies in the foodservice and hospitality sectors, it’s the essential expo for generating new business and meeting customers.

CATEX, once again be supported by Bunzl and Calor, attracts nearly 11,000 visitors from the food and hospitality sectors over three days, and it provides suppliers with an essential platform to promote their products and services directly to industry buyers.

Taking place from the 21st to 23rd February at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin 4, stand sales are already ahead of target and it’s no surprise, as in 2015, 99% of exhibitors reported that the event was either ‘very worthwhile or worthwhile’* attending!  

Nurtured by its owners, the Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA) – CATEX 2015 was amongst one of the most successful shows in CATEX’s long-history and there’s high hopes for CATEX 2017.  
 
Committed to serving up a great event is IFSA Chairman and Industrial and Commercial Sales Executive with Calor Gas, Mr Larry Smith, who comments: “Over three days in February, CATEX is set to be a melting pot for all of those within the food, drink, foodservice and hospitality industries in Ireland. It’s a phenomenal event that’s amongst the longest-running trade expos in Europe, and following the huge success of the 2015 event, we’ve set the bar high for an even greater CATEX 2017!” 
 
Taking place every two years, space at CATEX is of huge importance to many of Ireland’s largest companies and international suppliers. Three days at the show can lead to many new contacts and significant new business for the years ahead.
 
Mr Smith continues: “For our exhibitors, one of the most important stats is how long visitors stay at the event as this is often representative of the quality of the show and its features. We’re pleased to report that in 2015, the majority of visitors (87%) stayed three hours of more, and most importantly, 96% of visitors commented that visiting CATEX was ‘very worthwhile’ or ‘worthwhile’.” 
 
CATEX  2017 will continue the event’s rich history of celebrating excellence within the industry. Home to world-class competitions, culinary food demonstrations and industry expert speakers, the 2017 event is once again supported by its industry partners –  the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (Irish chapter); Euro-Toques Ireland; Restaurants Association of Ireland; the Panel of Chefs, CMAI; Irish Hospitality Institute; Bartenders Association of Ireland; Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland.
 
Commenting on his hopes for CATEX 2017, Alan Andrews, National Coordinator for SCAE (Irish Chapter) adds: “With the World Barista Championships taking place in Dublin this June, we’re confident that its legacy will have a hugely positive impact on the 2017 Irish Barista Championships at CATEX and beyond.” 
 
Mixing it up over the three days at CATEX 2017 will be the Bartenders Association of Ireland. Micheál O’Shea, President of the Bartenders Association of Ireland commented: “CATEX offers our competitors a national platform to showcase their skills, and being right in centre of Ireland’s largest foodservice and hospitality event, creates a real buzz for both competitors and visitors to the event.”
 
Supported by Bunzl and Calor, CATEX 2017 is already attracting a lot of interest, with confirmed exhibitors including Bunzl, Bewleys Ltd, Marco Beverage Systems Ltd, Lynas, Hugh Jordan, Lyreco/Nespresso, BD Foods, Steelite, Nisbets, Italicatessen, the Catering Innovation Agency (CIA) and Velox amongst others. 
 
To secure your space at Ireland’s definitive foodservice event, please contact EventHaus on (00353) 1 846 0020 or see www.CATEXexhibition.com
 
An IFSA event, CATEX 2017 is taking place on the 21st – 23rd February 2017 at the RDS, Simmonscourt, and is supported by Bunzl and Calor.
 
- ENDS – 

*Business Information Group CATEX exit survey, February 2015 

​Editor’s Notes:

• CATEX is an Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance Event
• For more information on IFSA, please see www.ifsa.eu.com
• CATEX is supported by: Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (Irish chapter); Euro-Toques Ireland; Restaurants Association of Ireland; CMAI; Irish Hospitality Institute; Bartenders Association of Ireland; Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland. 
• CATEX celebrated 50 years in 2015

 
For further information, please contact:
Riki Neill / Jill McLernon
RNN Communications
riki@rnncommunications.com / jill@rnncommunications.com
NI: 048 (028) 9521 3621
@RNNComms