New initiatives designed to showcase best-in-class retailing practice and fresh convenience ideas will feature at Palmer and Harvey’s (P&H) Pro-retail 2011 show.

The future of retail, new food-to-go concepts and the ever-popular category zones, will all feature at the show alongside appearances from Mary Portas, the straight-talking star of makeover TV and champion of independent retail.

Pro-retail 2011 looks to provide insight into what’s coming up for independent retailers beyond the downturn, as well as looking at how retailers will respond to the ever-changing needs of their customers and how innovation is changing the ways shops are managed.

Pro-retail takes place on 10-11 May at the International Centre in Telford, Shropshire.

P&H marketing director Richard Hayhoe said: “Pro-retail is a great chance to meet suppliers and network with other retailers, and our initiatives have been planned to complement this by delivering insight and learning on product and consumer trends that visitors can take back and implement in their businesses.”

Pro-retail is the year’s biggest event for independent and multiple convenience retailers attracting more than 6,500 visitor and 220 suppliers and manufacturers every year.