G.A.P. Convenience Distribution holds biggest trade show

More than 80 suppliers engaged with hundreds of forecourt operators and convenience store retailers at the business’s biggest ever trade show

The two-day event returned to the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester this year, with operators and retailers taking advantage of promotional deals on new product lines and popular favourites were laid on by big-name brands.

There was even more for them to explore with G.A.P. subsidiary businesses Marine Supplies Direct, Straight 2 You, and Car & Caravan exhibiting alongside a showcase of G.A.P. core brands Brookstone, Brookline and Unipart.

Brandon Howard, director of G.A.P. Convenience Distribution, said: “It was good to reconnect with our valued suppliers and the retailers we support. We have added impetus to the trade show in the last couple of years and the room layout at the stadium complements our ambitions perfectly.

“We are kicking on as a business and highlighting the breadth of the range that is offered by the company has been key to this. With the overall number of exhibitors present from a variety of sectors – the highest number we have ever had – it exemplifies this brilliantly.

“I was delighted with the promotional deals on offer and the uptake of these from attendees has made it a very successful two days.”

Andy Brown, director of Envis Snacks, said: “We are delighted with how things are working with G.A.P. and they have been integral to our growth in Northern England. We are the exclusive UK supplier for Lorenz products and began introducing Pomsticks into stores and it has snowballed from there with X-Cut now being our best sellers.

“The best thing about the team at G.A.P. is the openness to new ideas. We now have a broader range of around 20 lines with them and the FSDUs we have available are in some stores and add extra interest to what is an exceptional product for the convenience market.”

Based at Bowland View in Preston, G.A.P. Convenience Distribution Ltd is part of the James Hall & Co. Ltd Group of Companies and is one of the country’s leading providers of non-food items for the forecourt and convenience retail sector.