United upbeat about its third year in Chicago
United upbeat about its third year in Chicago
CHICAGO -- The produce industry breezed its way back to The Windy City for the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association's Produce Expo & Conference, held May 6-9 here at McCormick Place.
Now in its third year in Chicago, the convention, which is co-located with four other trade shows and together are dubbed The Power of Five, has "been on a growing cycle," according to Amy Philpott, United's vice president of marketing and industry relations.
"We have seen growth over the last three years in part because of the dynamics between the groups," Ms. Philpott said. "We are very happy and have heard good things about the show from exhibitors and attendees."
Ms. Philpott told The Produce News May 9 that she heard that "quite a bit" of business had been done on the show floor, in part because the United show offers attendees and the approximately 200 companies that exhibited at the show longer hours than other trade shows in the industry.
"I had a retailer tell me the longer hours allowed them the time to sit down and talk with exhibitors," she said. "It is also the quality of the attendee that makes the difference."
While she could not specify the number of United show attendees, Ms. Philpott estimated the total attendance of the five shows at between 30,000 and 32,000, which would be about the same, or a bit greater, than last year.
"We had a strong show and are looking forward to another with our partnership" with the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, with which United had recently merged, she said. "We are committed to listen to our joint membership and will do whatever we have to do to best serve our attendees and exhibitors. I think [the merger] is going to work well and will be successful."
Ms. Philpott noted that the IFPA was committed to having a separate conference through 2008.
Maureen Marshall, United's new chairperson for 2006, was also looking forward to the merger and working on several "exciting projects," which she said would help to improve people's nutrition and the eating habits.
"I am excited to continue on with what [outgoing Chairman] Nick Tompkins has started," Ms. Marshall said. "I am looking forward to helping with the IFPA merger, continuing Project Fresh Start, working on the new farm bill and with WIC vouchers and the USDA, which could be a $600 million program for the industry."
The "power" that show attendees brought was evident in the importance of two of its keynote speakers: award-winning journalist Ted Koppel, who addressed attendees of all five shows on May 7, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, who addressed United attendees on May 8.
Reaction to the show was positive from many exhibitors and show-goers alike.
"We have had some good contacts with our key retailers and have met with key grower-shippers in developing and expanding our operation," said Jim Salomon, vice president of national development for the Tom Lange Co. Inc.
The Hass Avocado Board was a first-time exhibitor, and Jose Luis Obregon, its managing director of information technology, had nothing but good things to say about the show.
"It has been a really great experience," Mr. Obregon said. "We are showcasing our programs such as avoHQ, and we have had a lot of top produce retail executives at our booth. It has allowed us to have really good outreach, and we are looking forward to next year."
Paul Esposito, general manager for Railex LLC, another first-time exhibitor which will provide a unit train for produce from the Pacific Northwest to the northeastern United States, was pleased with the traffic that stopped by his booth.
"The people stopping by are really quality potential customers who are looking forward to our new service that will begin the fourth quarter of this year," Mr. Esposito said.
Sherise Jones, marketing director for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee, echoed Mr. Esposito's sentiments.
"The crowd has been more targeted. They seem to have specific things in mind and know what they are interested in or want to ask about," Ms. Jones said. "It doesn't matter about numbers - the leads have been great as has the quality of the traffic."
Well-Pict Inc.'s Jim Grabowski said that the company had been coming to the show for the past three years in part because the show helps to maintain business by allowing the company time to see its customers face to face.
Mike Witt, vice president of merchandising for Cub Foods, a Supervalu Co., said that the show "has been phenomenal," adding, "We have seen many new innovations this year and they are a positive for the industry and for the customer. We are really happy with what we have seen so far."
Judd Rosenberg, director of sales for Food Evolution, a Chicago-area marketer of fresh food solutions for retailers, attended his second United show to "learn how to take our business to the next level," he said. "I am learning the industry better and am having a good time doing it."
Mr. Rosenberg said that while he came alone to the show last year, this year he brought five other executives to the show.
"It's all about networking," said Corey Kaplan, Food Evolution's director of sales and meal solutions. While the majority of the produce companies at the shows exhibited at United, there were nearly 45 companies which decided to participate in the All Things Organic show, either by having a booth at both shows or by exhibiting exclusively at the organic show. The most noticeable of the latter was Dovex Marketing Co. LLC. The Wenatchee, WA-based company had reserved space at the United show, but instead of a booth, attendees simply found signs instructing them to see its booth at the organic show.
"Our decision was emblematic of the shift in the industry and the new central role organic plays in the produce departments across the U.S.," said Tracy King, Dovex's director of marketing. "Our line is one-third organic and growing. It's inevitable and it's a good thing, as organic tree fruit products have not kept up with the demand. The buzz at the United show is a faithful reflection of the reality out there, because as the retailers perceive benefits [in organics], they are sending more of their resources here."
Now in its third year in Chicago, the convention, which is co-located with four other trade shows and together are dubbed The Power of Five, has "been on a growing cycle," according to Amy Philpott, United's vice president of marketing and industry relations.
"We have seen growth over the last three years in part because of the dynamics between the groups," Ms. Philpott said. "We are very happy and have heard good things about the show from exhibitors and attendees."
Ms. Philpott told The Produce News May 9 that she heard that "quite a bit" of business had been done on the show floor, in part because the United show offers attendees and the approximately 200 companies that exhibited at the show longer hours than other trade shows in the industry.
"I had a retailer tell me the longer hours allowed them the time to sit down and talk with exhibitors," she said. "It is also the quality of the attendee that makes the difference."
While she could not specify the number of United show attendees, Ms. Philpott estimated the total attendance of the five shows at between 30,000 and 32,000, which would be about the same, or a bit greater, than last year.
"We had a strong show and are looking forward to another with our partnership" with the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, with which United had recently merged, she said. "We are committed to listen to our joint membership and will do whatever we have to do to best serve our attendees and exhibitors. I think [the merger] is going to work well and will be successful."
Ms. Philpott noted that the IFPA was committed to having a separate conference through 2008.
Maureen Marshall, United's new chairperson for 2006, was also looking forward to the merger and working on several "exciting projects," which she said would help to improve people's nutrition and the eating habits.
"I am excited to continue on with what [outgoing Chairman] Nick Tompkins has started," Ms. Marshall said. "I am looking forward to helping with the IFPA merger, continuing Project Fresh Start, working on the new farm bill and with WIC vouchers and the USDA, which could be a $600 million program for the industry."
The "power" that show attendees brought was evident in the importance of two of its keynote speakers: award-winning journalist Ted Koppel, who addressed attendees of all five shows on May 7, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, who addressed United attendees on May 8.
Reaction to the show was positive from many exhibitors and show-goers alike.
"We have had some good contacts with our key retailers and have met with key grower-shippers in developing and expanding our operation," said Jim Salomon, vice president of national development for the Tom Lange Co. Inc.
The Hass Avocado Board was a first-time exhibitor, and Jose Luis Obregon, its managing director of information technology, had nothing but good things to say about the show.
"It has been a really great experience," Mr. Obregon said. "We are showcasing our programs such as avoHQ, and we have had a lot of top produce retail executives at our booth. It has allowed us to have really good outreach, and we are looking forward to next year."
Paul Esposito, general manager for Railex LLC, another first-time exhibitor which will provide a unit train for produce from the Pacific Northwest to the northeastern United States, was pleased with the traffic that stopped by his booth.
"The people stopping by are really quality potential customers who are looking forward to our new service that will begin the fourth quarter of this year," Mr. Esposito said.
Sherise Jones, marketing director for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee, echoed Mr. Esposito's sentiments.
"The crowd has been more targeted. They seem to have specific things in mind and know what they are interested in or want to ask about," Ms. Jones said. "It doesn't matter about numbers - the leads have been great as has the quality of the traffic."
Well-Pict Inc.'s Jim Grabowski said that the company had been coming to the show for the past three years in part because the show helps to maintain business by allowing the company time to see its customers face to face.
Mike Witt, vice president of merchandising for Cub Foods, a Supervalu Co., said that the show "has been phenomenal," adding, "We have seen many new innovations this year and they are a positive for the industry and for the customer. We are really happy with what we have seen so far."
Judd Rosenberg, director of sales for Food Evolution, a Chicago-area marketer of fresh food solutions for retailers, attended his second United show to "learn how to take our business to the next level," he said. "I am learning the industry better and am having a good time doing it."
Mr. Rosenberg said that while he came alone to the show last year, this year he brought five other executives to the show.
"It's all about networking," said Corey Kaplan, Food Evolution's director of sales and meal solutions. While the majority of the produce companies at the shows exhibited at United, there were nearly 45 companies which decided to participate in the All Things Organic show, either by having a booth at both shows or by exhibiting exclusively at the organic show. The most noticeable of the latter was Dovex Marketing Co. LLC. The Wenatchee, WA-based company had reserved space at the United show, but instead of a booth, attendees simply found signs instructing them to see its booth at the organic show.
"Our decision was emblematic of the shift in the industry and the new central role organic plays in the produce departments across the U.S.," said Tracy King, Dovex's director of marketing. "Our line is one-third organic and growing. It's inevitable and it's a good thing, as organic tree fruit products have not kept up with the demand. The buzz at the United show is a faithful reflection of the reality out there, because as the retailers perceive benefits [in organics], they are sending more of their resources here."
