The Royal Agricultural Society of England has announced that its flagship event, the British Pig & Poultry Fair, will be moving from Stoneleigh Park to the NEC in Birmingham for 2024 and beyond.
The next Fair will take place at the new venue on May 15-16, 2024. “We know the Fair is highly valued by the sectors and the importance of bringing the industry together has been proven over many years,” said fair organiser Alice Bell. “Feedback from the 2022 Fair demonstrated that despite the challenging market conditions, it was highly beneficial to get producers and suppliers together to share ideas and see what is new.”
The 2022 Fair hosted 338 exhibitors, occupied over 18,000m2 of event space and welcomed more than 7,500 visitors across the two days.
“However, the Fair has been struggling to secure the amount of quality event space required in recent years,” she added. “With a third of the space from 2022 no longer available for 2024 and beyond, we were left with the choice of significantly compromising the event or moving venue.”
To continue to deliver the event in the format that works and with the content the industry requires, the RASE has secured the NEC, which it said was the only centrally located venue which can facilitate its future needs. This move will secure the future of the event the industry wants and needs, with the NEC offering visitors and exhibitors excellent indoor exhibition facilities and transport links, located in the centre of the country, Ms Bell added.
“It is very exciting for the Fair to be moving to the NEC. I have been working with the industry to deliver the Fair for over 20 years and this change is long overdue.”
Lewis Business Media continued as media partners
RASE also confirmed the continued support of media partners Pig World and Poultry Business.
Simon Lewis, managing director of Lewis Business Media, publisher of Pig World and Poultry Business, welcoming the move to better facilities at the NEC.
“We can’t wait to welcome pig and poultry readers to the Fair at the NEC in 2024, which will continue to be a free to attend event for visitors,” he said. “The NEC is just the high-quality venue we need to showcase our sector, share ideas and see the latest innovations.”
Nutrition company ABN will continue as a event partner. “We are excited to support the Pig & Poultry Fair in its move to the NEC from 2024,” said Danny Johnson, general manager at ABN.
“ABN has partnered the Fair since 2008 and it is such an important event. This move will allow the pig and poultry sectors to gain valuable insight, share ideas and see new technologies all under one roof. It is vital that the opportunity for our whole industry to come together is maintained and we are proud to continue our long-term support.”