Industry center stage at NEPC expo
Industry center stage at NEPC expo
BOSTON -- The theme of "Hollywood Days/Hollywood Nights" was quite appropriate for this year's New England Produce Council Produce & Floral Expo, April 25 here at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, as it was the produce industry that took center stage at the annual event.
"This has become the premier event in New England for produce," Bob McGowan, NEPC president and the vice president of Eastern Sales & Marketing, told The Produce News. "I am very pleased, particularly because of the support we are getting from retailers and the great support from the trade. I am proud of our accomplishments."
Mr. McGowan said that for the first time in the show's seven-year history, retailers from both upstate New York and the New York City metropolitan area attended the show.
"Every year it gets better and better," said Paul Kneeland, the council's first vice president and the director of produce and floral for Roche Bros. Supermarkets Inc. "I think this is a great event for New England and the region. It's just outstanding."
The day began with a keynote breakfast highlighted by guest speaker Rosevelt Colvin, an outside linebacker for the New England Patriots football team. Mr. Colvin told the audience that after breaking his hip in 2004, he got a "new perspective on life" and that "nothing is really promised." He urged audience members to appreciate and be thankful for what they have.
Before the trade show began, Mr. McGowan announced the winners of the expo's best booth contest, Coosemans Boston Inc. and the T. Marzetti Co., and included honorable mentions for Bozzuto's Inc. and Tourtelott & Co. Inc. Laura Sullivan, NEPC executive director, was also very pleased with this year's event, which drew exhibitors and attendees from across the United States and Canada.
"We have close to 1,000 attendees and about the same number of exhibitors as last year," Ms. Sullivan said. "This has been an exceptional year, starting with our cocktail reception last night that drew over 300 people. That set the tone for today's event."
Ms. Sullivan was quite proud of the expo's theme, which she said "made the event a lot of fun for exhibitors."
After all was said and done, she said that the expo's "biggest success" was its attendees, which included a large number of retailers from such well-known chains as Market Basket, Shaws Supermarkets and Stop & Shop Supermarket Co.
"I am very happy with the support we've received from the retailers," she said, offering her thanks once again to all the attendees and exhibitors for making the event the success it has become.
"This has become the premier event in New England for produce," Bob McGowan, NEPC president and the vice president of Eastern Sales & Marketing, told The Produce News. "I am very pleased, particularly because of the support we are getting from retailers and the great support from the trade. I am proud of our accomplishments."
Mr. McGowan said that for the first time in the show's seven-year history, retailers from both upstate New York and the New York City metropolitan area attended the show.
"Every year it gets better and better," said Paul Kneeland, the council's first vice president and the director of produce and floral for Roche Bros. Supermarkets Inc. "I think this is a great event for New England and the region. It's just outstanding."
The day began with a keynote breakfast highlighted by guest speaker Rosevelt Colvin, an outside linebacker for the New England Patriots football team. Mr. Colvin told the audience that after breaking his hip in 2004, he got a "new perspective on life" and that "nothing is really promised." He urged audience members to appreciate and be thankful for what they have.
Before the trade show began, Mr. McGowan announced the winners of the expo's best booth contest, Coosemans Boston Inc. and the T. Marzetti Co., and included honorable mentions for Bozzuto's Inc. and Tourtelott & Co. Inc. Laura Sullivan, NEPC executive director, was also very pleased with this year's event, which drew exhibitors and attendees from across the United States and Canada.
"We have close to 1,000 attendees and about the same number of exhibitors as last year," Ms. Sullivan said. "This has been an exceptional year, starting with our cocktail reception last night that drew over 300 people. That set the tone for today's event."
Ms. Sullivan was quite proud of the expo's theme, which she said "made the event a lot of fun for exhibitors."
After all was said and done, she said that the expo's "biggest success" was its attendees, which included a large number of retailers from such well-known chains as Market Basket, Shaws Supermarkets and Stop & Shop Supermarket Co.
"I am very happy with the support we've received from the retailers," she said, offering her thanks once again to all the attendees and exhibitors for making the event the success it has become.
