THE FOOD SHOW CHRISTCHURCH
2011 CANCELLATION:
SOMETIMES THE SHOW JUST
CAN'T GO ON
The Food Show Christchurch 2011 has been cancelled. Concerns for
staff safety have led a number of key exhibitors to withdraw their
stands, which has rendered the show commercially unviable.
The show was postponed from the original dates of 8 - 10 April
2011 due to the tragic events of the 22 February earthquake, then
shifted to 9 - 11 September 2011, and has now been cancelled
altogether.
Organiser Dona White, CEO of North Port Events, says the
decision to cancel has been taken extremely reluctantly but she
fully understands the safety concerns that have prompted exhibitors
to pull out of the show, particularly as serious aftershocks
continue to shake the city.
"We really wanted to bring The Food Show to Christchurch this
year and believed it would be not only a business generating
experience for exhibitors and sponsors, but also a much needed
pick-me-up for the people of Christchurch," says Ms White.
"Having said that, safety is paramount and we really don't know
when these earthquakes and aftershocks will stop. That, combined
with a seriously diminished exhibitor pool makes the Christchurch
show not viable this year."
On an optimistic note, however, new dates have been set for The
Food Show Christchurch 2012: 14 - 16 September at the CBS
Canterbury Arena.
"Our thoughts are very much with the people of Christchurch
during this ongoing crisis and we promise to pull out all the stops
in 2012 to make the next Food Show Christchurch absolutely
outstanding," says Ms White.