After the success of the inaugural Cedabond Distributor Day in 2021, First Choice Group were asked to be the host for the buying consortium’s most recent event.

Taking place on Wednesday 20^th July 2022, the day brought together eight of the industry’s most prominent suppliers, using First Choice Group’s bespoke training and development facilities. Enabling dealers and distributors to share best practices, agree new business, network with industry counterparts, and meet suppliers, delegates also heard the latest from Cebabond.

Cedabond, the UK’s leading buying and marketing consortium for the catering equipment industry, boasts more than 140 leading equipment distributors as Members and has agreements with 80+ top Suppliers, including First Choice Group. With a respected reputation, the consortium has been able to go from strength to strength, benefiting Members, Suppliers and operators alike.

Following the popularity of last year’s event, the 2022 Distributor Day was unsurprisingly oversubscribed. As such, Cedabond executives randomly selected eight Suppliers to showcase their latest products and services. This year, the eight Suppliers were Halton, Inox Fabrications, Mechline, Metcalfe, Mitchell & Cooper, Smeg Foodservice, Unox and Welbilt.

With more than 30 Cedabond Members attending the Distributor Day, Mark Kendal, Commercial Director at Cedabond comments: 

“Our first Cedabond Distributor Day in 2021 was a fantastic success – bringing together suppliers, dealers and distributors from across the catering equipment sector. This year, the event was even bigger and better, as we welcomed eight of the industry’s leading suppliers to present the latest from their businesses.

Hosted by our partner, First Choice Group, at their state-of-the-art facilities in Cannock, the event was filled with engaging equipment demos, delicious culinary sessions and plenty of opportunities to network. Our thanks go to the team at First Choice once again, for their ongoing hospitality and expertise.”

Making use of the dedicated First Choice Group training, conference and event facilities, the Cedabond Distributor Day also included a lunch, cooked by the team from Welbilt in the development kitchen and concluded with a tour of the First Choice site.

On hosting Cedabond’s first Distributor Day, Julian Fisher, Head of Marketing at First Choice Group comments:

“Following the fantastic event in 2021, we were delighted to host the Cedabond Distributor Day in 2022. Bringing together dealers, distributors, manufacturers, and suppliers, the event was a great networking opportunity, with those attending exchanging ideas and driving innovation across the sector.

Cedabond took the decision to use the First Choice conference and event space to host their event due to the flexibility, central location and bespoke facilities on offer. Used by many manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and distributors throughout the year, we are delighted that First Choice Group is seen as a hub for industry events such as this.”

The dedicated onsite training facilities at First Choice Group include fully functioning professional kitchens, flexible meeting, event and conference rooms in a range of sizes and formats, a full-service restaurant offering hot and cold food, high-speed Wi-Fi with the latest AV technology and ample onsite parking for delegates and guests.