Trade Show

Spar Scotland unveils details of trade show

CJ Lang’s first face-to-event in more than two years will take place in Aviemore on 22 September.

CJ Lang & Son is to hold first face-to-face event in more than two years on 22 September 2022.

The company has been moving the dates of its annual tradeshow since March 2020 as it hoped the pandemic would end, and now it will hold the event at the MacDonald Hotel and Resort, in the heart of Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park.

“It’s a stunning venue,” said Paula Middleton, CJ Lang Marketing Manager. “It’s got three hotels on site, a massive conference complex, and an auditorium that will be used for presentations during the day and evening. It’s a great venue – everything under one roof.”

The company is hoping to have around 200 suppliers exhibiting and more than 700 delegates.

Middleton added: “I think everybody is a bit weary of virtual events so the overall reaction from suppliers, independent retailers, our staff, and other industry bodies has been fantastic.”

Before the trade show opens, Chief Executive Colin McClean will give presentations to suppliers, retailers, and CJ Lang staff and delegates from Spar International and Spar UK. The presentations will give an update on the business, where it is to date, and will look to the future.

In the evening there will be a get-together, where the winners of the Spar Scotland awards will be announced. A three-room food safari, with every room having a theme – Taste of Scotland, the Americas, and Taste of the Med – will be followed by a big dance in a marquee outside, with a band playing until 1am.

Invitations to independent retailers will go out in February and invitations to all other delegates will go out in March.

“Our hopes are that everyone comes away feeling they’ve had a great networking event,” added Middleton.