NEPC expo set for April 5 in new venue
NEPC expo set for April 5 in new venue
The one-day New England Produce Council Produce & Floral Expo 2006 will be held April 5 in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. It will be the first time the meeting has been held in this new center.
Laura Sullivan, executive director of the council, told The Produce News March 20, "We anticipate 200 booths with full retail support from New England retailers." The retail representation ranges from many of New England's retail store-level produce managers to the buying level.
"It's nice to have the produce managers," Ms. Sullivan said. "Exhibitors like to talk to them since they meet face to face with the customer."
She added, "I'm very excited to have the show at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. It's only a couple of years old. The exhibitors can move in and out a lot easier than at the Hynes Center last year. The [Boston] Convention Center is a beautiful facility, and our expo will all be in one building. It's easy to get to, and the exhibitors can move in and out very simply."
As of March 20, Ms. Sullivan said that the show had already expanded by 25 booths over the 2005 show, with 200 exhibitors enlisted and more time to sign up additional booths. "The exhibitors spread the word" after each successful convention, prompting others to become involved. She said that the expo's success is based on support and participation from New England retailers. "We have retailers on our board of directors and the expo committee. They are involved, and that's great."
The expo committee chairman is Paul Kneeland, who heads produce for Roche Bros. Supermarkets Inc. in Wellesley, MA. Ms. Sullivan said that in addition to a new venue, this year's show has some new features.
Adding fun to this year's show is a 1970s theme modeled after the television program "That '70s Show." The winning booth in the Best Booth Contest will win a 50-percent discount on booth space at the 2006 show; second prize will win a 25-percent discount. There will be two categories in the contest: single booth and multiple booths.
The floral design contest has changed its format from a team project, taking eight hours on the day before the expo, to a simpler one-hour event on the day of the show. Individual floral designers will be given identical boxes ("The Design Box") with materials to use to make a floral display. "This is less of a time commitment, and there may be some more interest" in participating, she said.
Ms. Sullivan said that the majority of the displays are produce oriented. "Each year we make more progress with floral, but [produce] is still a majority. [And] floral buyers come to the show as well." Exhibitors of floral- and produce-related items will be pleased with the level of retail support, she added.
Steven Shipley, director of culinary relations at Johnson & Wales University in Provi9dence, RI, will give culinary demonstrations at the expo. Sponsors of the show can have their products used in his demonstrations.
Making a celebrity appearance at the expo will be recently retired New England Patriot linebacker Ted Johnson. Mr. Johnson, who helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl Championships, will sign autographs and be available for pictures from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The keynote address to kick off the show will be given by the widely acclaimed motivational speaker Mark Sanborn.
Laura Sullivan, executive director of the council, told The Produce News March 20, "We anticipate 200 booths with full retail support from New England retailers." The retail representation ranges from many of New England's retail store-level produce managers to the buying level.
"It's nice to have the produce managers," Ms. Sullivan said. "Exhibitors like to talk to them since they meet face to face with the customer."
She added, "I'm very excited to have the show at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. It's only a couple of years old. The exhibitors can move in and out a lot easier than at the Hynes Center last year. The [Boston] Convention Center is a beautiful facility, and our expo will all be in one building. It's easy to get to, and the exhibitors can move in and out very simply."
As of March 20, Ms. Sullivan said that the show had already expanded by 25 booths over the 2005 show, with 200 exhibitors enlisted and more time to sign up additional booths. "The exhibitors spread the word" after each successful convention, prompting others to become involved. She said that the expo's success is based on support and participation from New England retailers. "We have retailers on our board of directors and the expo committee. They are involved, and that's great."
The expo committee chairman is Paul Kneeland, who heads produce for Roche Bros. Supermarkets Inc. in Wellesley, MA. Ms. Sullivan said that in addition to a new venue, this year's show has some new features.
Adding fun to this year's show is a 1970s theme modeled after the television program "That '70s Show." The winning booth in the Best Booth Contest will win a 50-percent discount on booth space at the 2006 show; second prize will win a 25-percent discount. There will be two categories in the contest: single booth and multiple booths.
The floral design contest has changed its format from a team project, taking eight hours on the day before the expo, to a simpler one-hour event on the day of the show. Individual floral designers will be given identical boxes ("The Design Box") with materials to use to make a floral display. "This is less of a time commitment, and there may be some more interest" in participating, she said.
Ms. Sullivan said that the majority of the displays are produce oriented. "Each year we make more progress with floral, but [produce] is still a majority. [And] floral buyers come to the show as well." Exhibitors of floral- and produce-related items will be pleased with the level of retail support, she added.
Steven Shipley, director of culinary relations at Johnson & Wales University in Provi9dence, RI, will give culinary demonstrations at the expo. Sponsors of the show can have their products used in his demonstrations.
Making a celebrity appearance at the expo will be recently retired New England Patriot linebacker Ted Johnson. Mr. Johnson, who helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl Championships, will sign autographs and be available for pictures from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The keynote address to kick off the show will be given by the widely acclaimed motivational speaker Mark Sanborn.
