IFT and FPSA to Co-Locate Expositions in 2010
posted on June 9, 2009
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) (Booth 2359) and the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) announced a new agreement to co-locate the IFT Food Expo and FPSA Process Expo at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center beginning July 18–20, 2010. This brings together two premier events that will draw a range of food industry professionals interested in product development, processing, packaging, and the science of food.
Each year, the FPSA Process Expo draws 10,000–15,000 food processing and packaging professionals (e.g., R&D, engineers, and operations executives) during its three-day meeting while the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo® welcomes more than 18,000 professionals working in the food science and technology fields.
“Today we are formally announcing a new agreement between IFT and the Food Processing Suppliers Association to co-locate the IFT Food Expo and the FPSA Process Expo. This means that next year in Chicago, we will be bringing two premier events together under one roof at the McCormick Convention Center from July 18th to 20th,” said IFT Executive Vice President Barbara Byrd Keenan (see photo). “The two events will be held on separate exhibit floors but in very close proximity within McCormick Convention Center. The great news is that this will expand offerings for the thousands of attendees at both expos.
“This co-location agreement will be a catalyst for generating new opportunities not only for IFT and FPSA, but for all those participating as either show attendees or exhibitors. As an additional value, we will be targeting corporate teams, and employees from product development, processing and packaging, to experience these expos together.
“Both organizations share a common commitment to food safety. As a result, this offers a unique opportunity to expand educational offerings, especially in the area of food safety where there will be new opportunities for addressing issues throughout the supply chain. Ultimately, that’s going to benefit everyone, especially consumers,” said Keenan.
“The partnership with IFT brings Process Expo back to a relationship with our customers. Together we are an event that speaks to the whole of the food and beverage industry … from product formulation, testing, processing, to primary and secondary packaging,” said Barry W. Shoulders (at right in photo), FPSA Chairman and President of Packaging Technologies. “It will be the most important event in the United States for the food and beverage industry speaking to and providing solutions for the total manufacturing process. Our trade shows will be a significant complement to the exceptional educational programs offered by IFT to the thousands of visitors who participate in the conference program. We look forward to an expanded emphasis in those programs of processing and packaging seminars. But, most importantly, we look forward to greeting teams from our customer companies representing the full array of professionals from food scientists to packaging engineers.”