The National Merchant Buying Society has announced its Gala Dinner will be on 9 April, with its Exhibition taking place the following day.

Both events are exclusive to NMBS members and suppliers, with the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, once again set to play host to representatives from across all sectors of the industry.

The Gala Dinner is an excellent networking event for independent merchants, which saw more than 600 people attending in 2018.

This year’s event will see attendees enjoying entertainment from a well-known after-dinner speaker, with recent years bringing Kevin Keegan, Frank Bruno and Howard Webb to the stage.

The morning after the Gala Dinner, Ericsson Hall at the Ricoh Arena will open its doors to the number one buying and selling event in the independent merchant calendar. Now in its 51st year, the NMBS Exhibition brings more than 280 suppliers together under one roof, covering every product category and type.

All exhibitors are offering special promotions and deals to merchants who place orders at the show, with exhibition rebates and other trading initiatives including spot buy deals and the NMBS voucher book, all of which are designed to enable merchants to make significant savings on their orders.

Chris Hayward, Managing Director at NMBS, said: “We are thrilled to once again be welcoming our merchants and suppliers to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

“Every year, the NMBS Exhibition and Gala Dinner goes from strength to strength, with more attendees, more stands, and more orders placed on the day.

“We are working hard to make sure the 2019 Exhibition again surpasses all expectations, retaining its place as the biggest and best trading event for independent merchants.”