Meatup show gathers pace as seminars are announced

The new look Meatup exhibition which takes place at ArenaMK in Milton Keynes on 24th and 25th May 2017, has announced four of its seven free seminar sessions, along with news of more key exhibitors who are booking stands at the biennial event.Organiser Emma Cash commented: “Great content is absolutely essential to any modern exhibition and we are now able to announce four of our topics with three more to be confirmed very soon. "Of course a big draw will be the range of exhibitors as well as the national competitions we are facilitating over the two days, but I am sure that our free seminar programme will add significantly to a very attractive two days next year in the meat industry calendar.”Seminar subjects and speakers confirmed so far for the May 2017 event are:Technical challenges for export- getting and keeping approval: Dr Phil Hadley, head of global supply chain development, AHDB Beef & Lamb, discusses food safety challenges affecting market opportunities and the technical challenges for exports.Dealing with the latest legal issues facing the meat industry: Legal eagle, popular prolific tweeter and Meat Management columnist Jamie Foster gives his direct and often challenging view on legal matters and various concerns facing the industry, with some fascinating examples of what can be achieved and what to look out for.The National Food Crime Unit – Taking the lead on tackling food crime: Gavan Wafer, head of crime operations at the NFCU, is keen to work closely with the meat industry and will explain how collaboration between the NFCU and industry can work in combatting food crime. He will address matters around whistleblowing, information exchange and data protection in order to make the food industry a more hostile environment for criminals.Brexit - latest implications for the meat trade and industry relations with FSA: AIMS head of policy, Norman Bagley, will look at how things stand with Brexit affecting the industry and its future, and what he hopes will be a new improved direction for the Food Standards Agency (FSA).Graham Yandell, the show director, added his thoughts regarding Meatup 2017: “We are really looking forward to our new look Meatup show next year. In addition to putting an excellent seminar programme together the event will also host the popular Premier Young Butcher Competition and the annual Premier Meat Products Competition over the two days, both of these competitions are organised via the good offices of the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders (NFMFT) and I am sure will demonstrate fantastic craft skills and brilliant products.”Chief executive of the NFMFT Roger Kelsey commented: “The move to Milton Keynes at a brilliant new venue is very exciting. We are delighted to be staging our competitions at Meatup in 2017 and I am sure we will see many Federation members participating and visiting.”Other news includes the confirmation that leading trade body AHDB will have a presence at the show. Mike Whittemore, head of trade marketing at AHDB Beef and Lamb, said: “We are very pleased to be participating at Meatup in 2017 and having visited the ArenaMK venue I believe the new location and excellent facilities is a very positive move for the show.“At Meatup we plan to facilitate important communication with trade visitors and give these visitors an opportunity to update on Quality Standard beef and lamb activities, and to be on-hand to keep all parties fully up to speed with our plans and promotions across the board. We plan to work together with a range of trade partners who will be joining us at Meatup in a similar way to our other stand activity at various events. In particular we at AHDB believe that the meat industry continues to merit its own dedicated event and I am sure it will be a great success in 2017.”Bizerba is another exhibitor to recently confirm stand space at the Meatup show in 2017.Liesl Marchand, marketing communications manager at Bizerba, commented: “We are very pleased to be participating in 2017 and we believe the exhibition provides a good opportunity to meet both existing and potential customers from right across the meat industry at all levels. Meatup will provide a modern forum to discuss the very latest equipment available and how we can help with the production of excellent products with reliable cost effective processes.” Meatup 2017 will take place at ArenaMK in Milton Keynes on 24th and 25th May. Visitor registration is now live at www.meatup.co.uk/register and any companies or organisations interested in exhibiting or sponsoring should call Julie Bircher direct on 01928 240334 or email julie.b@yandellmedia.com.