Criteria
Candidates must comply with the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
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Must be producing the product(s) in Northern Ireland (where available)
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Must showcase high quality Northern Ireland food or drink produce
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Must source, use and promote Northern Ireland ingredients
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Must have an annual turnover of maximum £500,000
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Must have a maximum of 10 employees
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All businesses must be registered with the Environmental Health team at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to ensure Council quality standards are upheld by those businesses intending to showcase as all credentials will be inspected at the event.
Desirable Criteria
- Preference will be given to food business operators who have not exhibited on the Council stand at Balmoral Show previously, although consideration may still be given to those who have taken part before.
The Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Stand
Council will be responsible for the design and construction of a 6m x 6m stand that will cater for up to 5 individual businesses and a dedicated Council zone at any one time.
Each business will be allocated an area for their own use, typically a 2m x 2m zone. The stand will be decorated in corporate Council branding, and there will be an opportunity for businesses to use their own branding too (at their own cost).
Council will cover all costs associated with the stand, including stand hire, graphics, electricity and plumbing. This will include business name banners identifying each individual zone within the stand.
Benefits to Businesses
Presence on the Council stand will provide each showcasing business with exposure to an unprecedented level of footfall and trade interest, without the expense of the stand. Each participating business will be offered a minimum of two days exhibition on the stand.
Costs to Businesses
A £100 deposit (returnable post-event) will be collected from the selected businesses. Individual businesses will be required to pay for all tickets and access permits, including car parking charges, and to ensure compliance with all Food NI re-stocking times and schedules.
Should businesses wish to individualise their dedicated area, it may be possible to do so by customising their own counters or backgrounds for an additional fee.
Individual businesses will be asked to provide concessions or product(s) to help support any Council ballot or promotional competitions.
Social Media obligations – In keeping with Council policies, businesses will be asked to link in and promote any Council messaging relating to the Balmoral Show 2024, where appropriate.
In addition to the event itself, businesses will be required to participate in and support any pre- and post-event promotions organised by Council, which may include individual case studies.
All participating businesses will be required to complete a short evaluation questionnaire and to register with the Council’s business database.
How to Apply?
If your business can commit to full attendance (2 days minimum) and to the terms and conditions set out above, please complete the form below and submit by 12 noon on Wednesday 28 February 2024.
We anticipate that this event will be oversubscribed; expressing your interest therefore does not guarantee your business a stand at the show. A panel of Council officers will consider those businesses deemed to have met all eligibility criteria and will make a preferred rank order. Reserve positions will be kept.
Enquiries regarding the application form or Showcase Expression of Interest should be directed to E. regeneration@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk
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