After a year of planning and tough negotiations CaribDirect Multi-Media managed to secure an area of the world renowned IMBIBE Drinks Trade Show, Olympia London, Monday 2nd to Tuesday 3rd July 2018.
Under the company’s food and drinks brand Jus’ Caribbean, the new Jus’ Caribbean Drinks Pavilion was created to provide unique access to Imbibe Live’s unrivalled audience of decision makers with specific responsibility for buying from export ready Caribbean businesses. Buyers from nightclubs, hotels, white tablecloth restaurants, gastropubs, bars, cruise ships, airlines, sports clubs and small independent operators all come down to check out the latest drinks on offer from around the world. Their main focus is to expand their drinks collection.
Guyana Office for Investment UK representative Carl Abrams-Brown presents raffle winner Eloise with her bottle of 7 Year Old XM Rum. Photo courtesy CaribDirect
Over two days Jus’ Caribbean Drinks Pavilion hosted brand from St Lucia (Chairman’s Reserve, Antilia Rum, The Naked Fisherman beer); Guyana (El Dorado Rum, and XM 7, 10 & 12 Year Old Rum) and Dalgety Herbal Teas; St Vincent and the Grenadines (Sunset Rum and SLR Rum); and Trinidad and Tobago Carib Lager.
Kimona and Dean from JN Money Transfer took time out to visit the stands. Photo courtesy CaribDirect
These Caribbean brands were exposed to over 10,000 on-trade visitors and facilitated FREE raffles to increase visits to the stands. There were tremendous opportunities to discuss long-term business opportunities with buyers and many follow-up meetings were scheduled and business cards exchanged.
St Lucia’s Trade Export and Promotions Agency CEO Sunita Daniel embraced by a very happy prize winner Asley who won a bottle of The Naked Fisherman beer. Photo courtesy CaribDirect
Though not intended for Caribbean Diaspora visitors, several curious Caribbean drinks lovers attended to provide moral support to their island nations’ producers which was very touching and in some cases enabled Caribbean visitors to exhibit a sense of pride.
Jus’ Caribbean Drinks Marketing Executive, Misie Goode signing up raffle participants. Photo courtesy CaribDirect
The several participants in the raffle that numbered over 450 were very keen to win a bottle of premium rum from the Caribbean to show off to their friends some dormant love for what the Caribbean represents. A few of the winners have pledged to follow Jus’ Caribbean Drinks Pavilion where ever we go and spread the word far and wide. Many visitors asked about opportunities to visit the Caribbean to see rum distilleries in operation and other historic sites.
Andrew wins 6-Pack of Carib Lager at Jus’ Caribbean Drinks Pavilion. Photo courtesy CaribDirect
Encouraged by the comments entered in the event evaluation forms by the exhibitors this year, planning will commence in two weeks for Jus’ Caribbean Drinks Pavilion 2019. All participating exhibitors have confirmed their willingness to recommend the event and have expressed an interest to participate again in 2019. For CaribDirect Multi-Media this is excellent feedback that will motivate the team to push for many more Caribbean drinks brands to participate next year. We are committed to making the event bigger and better than 2018.
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