Array of events comprise this year?s NEPC expo, coming up in Boston
Array of events comprise this year?s NEPC expo, coming up in Boston
The New England Produce Council?s Produce & Floral Expo, set for April 6 in Boston, features "a number of different events, and the [trade show] is a very important part of it," said Robert McGowan, president of the council.
Mr. McGowan works for Advantage/ESM in Needham, MA, which represents "food and non-food manufacturers," he told The Produce News. "My area of expertise is produce," with clients such as "Dole? salads "Sun Maid? raisins. Advantage/ESM "is a broad-based sales and marketing company, offering different levels of retail service." The company employs 15,000 people across the country.
Mr. McGowan said that the expo was created "to try to develop a mini-PMA for people who did not have the opportunity to attend PMA," adding, "This is our fifth show. It continues to grow each year, with the support of our retailers. That makes it easier for us to get sponsors and [sell] exhibiting booths." This year there will be an opening night party at the Top of the Hub atop the Prudential Center; the opening party at the same venue last year was quite successful.
A program was developed to "try to make it exciting for all who attend," he said. "New products will be shown as we try to create a link from suppliers to produce managers. We learn a lot from them and the higher-level retail executives. We have great support from New England?s retailers. Some bus their managers to come? to the show.
This summer Mr. McGowan will end his second term as NEPC president. After four years, "This is the end of the line for me? in that role, he said. The council will celebrate its 10th anniversary Sept. 10, which is just after he steps down as president.
The council "was created to bring suppliers, wholesalers and retailers together in primarily a social atmosphere," he noted. "Our main events are dinner meetings held six or seven times a year at the Waltham Doubletree Hotel," with a different sponsor for each dinner. The council also holds a Valentine?s dinner-dance, which was attended by 350 people this past February.
The expo and a summer golf outing round out the council?s other major events.
The council has a scholarship program for college-age high school seniors, and it also contributes to charitable organizations, which recently included tsunami relief and donations to food banks throughout New England.
Mr. McGowan works for Advantage/ESM in Needham, MA, which represents "food and non-food manufacturers," he told The Produce News. "My area of expertise is produce," with clients such as "Dole? salads "Sun Maid? raisins. Advantage/ESM "is a broad-based sales and marketing company, offering different levels of retail service." The company employs 15,000 people across the country.
Mr. McGowan said that the expo was created "to try to develop a mini-PMA for people who did not have the opportunity to attend PMA," adding, "This is our fifth show. It continues to grow each year, with the support of our retailers. That makes it easier for us to get sponsors and [sell] exhibiting booths." This year there will be an opening night party at the Top of the Hub atop the Prudential Center; the opening party at the same venue last year was quite successful.
A program was developed to "try to make it exciting for all who attend," he said. "New products will be shown as we try to create a link from suppliers to produce managers. We learn a lot from them and the higher-level retail executives. We have great support from New England?s retailers. Some bus their managers to come? to the show.
This summer Mr. McGowan will end his second term as NEPC president. After four years, "This is the end of the line for me? in that role, he said. The council will celebrate its 10th anniversary Sept. 10, which is just after he steps down as president.
The council "was created to bring suppliers, wholesalers and retailers together in primarily a social atmosphere," he noted. "Our main events are dinner meetings held six or seven times a year at the Waltham Doubletree Hotel," with a different sponsor for each dinner. The council also holds a Valentine?s dinner-dance, which was attended by 350 people this past February.
The expo and a summer golf outing round out the council?s other major events.
The council has a scholarship program for college-age high school seniors, and it also contributes to charitable organizations, which recently included tsunami relief and donations to food banks throughout New England.
