THE 27th annual Caterex exhibition looks set to attract national appeal when it opens in Skegness next week.

The event will take place next Wednesday and Thursday (January 3 and 4) at the Richmond Holiday Centre when exhibitors from the accommodation and catering industry will be demonstrating their products and ideas for the forthcoming season.

The event is sponsored by SECWHA (Skegness, East Coast and Wolds Hospitality Association and will be officially opened at 12 noon on Wednesday when presentations will made to winners and runners up in the best food and best non-food stand categories.

SECWHA secretary and Caterex organiser Colin Foran said its looks like another promising year for the event despite the current economic climate.

Mr Foran said: "It is virtually a sell out. It's shaping up to be even better than last year which in light of the recession is brilliant.

"We have exhibitors coming from far and wide and we have an awful lot of new companies coming as well so its going to be a different show for people to come to and see different stands. We also have quite a few local colleges taking stands too."

Displaying everything from coffee to potatoes, environmental services to stationery supplied, some businesses have attended the event every year since it began in 1983.

Local businesses exhibiting at the show will include Batemans Brewery, Pilgrim Foodservice and Kirks Butchers.

Last year's winners in the non-food category were Eden Florists from Skegness who had only been open a for a short while at the time and in the food category, Pilgrim Foodservice were awarded the top prize.

Admission to Caterex 2010 is free and is open from 10am to 6pm on the Wednesday and 9.30am to 4.30pm on the Thursday,

For more information call 07502 254745 or visit www.caterexskegness.co.uk