Thames Coromandel District Council (TCDC) continues to promote the Coromandel as a food tourism destination, with $15,000 allocated to design and hire a stand at the 2017-18 Auckland Food Show, along with a reprint of the Coromandel Food Trail Guide.

The August 2016 Food Show bustles around the Bach. Photo: TCDC.

This marks the third time TCDC will showcase a collection of niche local food producers at the Food Show, in order to raise national awareness about the region's wide variety of produce.

Five artisan food businesses contributed to the ‘Coromandel Bach' stall at the August 2016 Food Show, and TCDC communications and marketing manager Laurna White says the benefits were recognisable.

'Our local businesses saw a lot of benefits from being involved. They realised business opportunities and product sales, and raised their business profile as well as the relationship and networking building that occurred.”

She says the stand was also a useful tool to promote the Coromandel as a visitor destination for events and accommodation.

'The overall consensus continues to be that the Food Show raised the profile of the Coromandel ‘brand' as a whole, rather than focusing on individual businesses – which was of benefit to all.

'There is significant interest from businesses wanting to be involved in the 2017/18 Food Show, including a major aquaculture business."

TCDC staff and exhibitors actively promoted the Scallop Festival, Whitianga Waterways summer concert, and Coromandel Town's Illume and Seafood Festivals.

The Coromandel Food Trail Guide is available at all regional I-Sites and information centres, and Destination Coromandel has included Guide content on its website.