Foodservice conference packs a punch
Foodservice conference packs a punch
MONTEREY, CA -- They came, they saw, they congregated.
The Produce Marketing Association rode into town and drew 1,500 members to its 26th annual Foodservice Conference & Exposition held here July 13-15. Once again, PMA delivered the goods to a record or near-record crowd, which included a small increase in the number of distributors.
The show squeezed in nine more booths than last year, bringing the total number of exhibitor booths to 150. The additional nine booths were in the hallway adjacent to the main showrooms.
PMA President Bryan Silbermann said that the show has maxed out its exhibitor space but that PMA has no plans to move the conference away from its longtime location at Monterey Conference Center. In the past, PMA had looked into other venues in the area but didn't find a better fit, he said. "We may even have to go down a couple of booths," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that next year PMA may use some of that outer hallway as its own space.
The foodservice show has gained momentum in recent years "with a stronger level of commitment of partnerships," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that food- safety issues have played a role in the partnering aspect.
"Foodservice is growing," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that its influence on consumer eating habits is strong.
Mr. Silbermann said that he received great feedback on the unlikely pairing of chefs Anthony Bourdain and Walter Scheib for a general session and cooking demonstrations.
"The chemistry between the two was fabulous," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that prior to the conference, PMA planners had been concerned that pairing the two chefs together might be a mistake.
"We hit a double home run [with Messrs. Bourdain and Scheib]," Mr. Silbermann said.
Conference exhibitor booths were bustling with activity.
"Every year [the foodservice conference] gets better," said Margaret D'Arrigo Martin of Salinas, CA-based D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of California.
"The traffic has been good," said Jill Lenz of Watsonville, CA-based Classic Salads.
Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms ramped up its involvement in the show this year, including featuring Chef Tony Baker of Montrio Bistro at its booth.
"Foodservice can have artichokes year-round," said Joe Feldman, Ocean Mist's vice president of sales and marketing.
Dennis Donohue, president of Salinas-based European Vegetable Specialties, said that the show "is a nice opportunity" and that "foot traffic has been good."
Early Sunday afternoon, Alan Tagami of Watsonville-based Beach Street Farms said that foot traffic by that firm's booth had been good and that the company already had four potential new accounts.
A number of exhibitors -- including Jim Scattini of Watsonville-based Sambrailo Packaging -- said that the foodservice conference is a good opportunity to solidify relationships with current customers.
Julie Southern, a culinary student at Johnson & Wales University, said that the conference gave her the ability "to see future career opportunities."
Doug Classen, sales manager for The Nunes Co., based in Salinas, said that foot traffic at the booth "has gotten bigger every year."
Greg Gattis of Salinas-based Misionero Vegetables said that he had seen "all major foodservice distributors."
Steve Church of Salinas, CA-based Church Brothers LLC said that the foodservice show works best by ending on a Sunday, as it does, and that the company had plenty of opportunity to entertain customers and prospective customers throughout the week.
Kacie Vieth of Monterey-based FoodSource said that there had been ample traffic for the conference, that the show had been "really positive" and that people were "excited about the show."
Steve Davis of Salinas-based Mills Family Farms said that the company uses the conference more for solidifying existing accounts than for soliciting new business. "It's a good show to have a presence," he said.
The Produce Marketing Association rode into town and drew 1,500 members to its 26th annual Foodservice Conference & Exposition held here July 13-15. Once again, PMA delivered the goods to a record or near-record crowd, which included a small increase in the number of distributors.
The show squeezed in nine more booths than last year, bringing the total number of exhibitor booths to 150. The additional nine booths were in the hallway adjacent to the main showrooms.
PMA President Bryan Silbermann said that the show has maxed out its exhibitor space but that PMA has no plans to move the conference away from its longtime location at Monterey Conference Center. In the past, PMA had looked into other venues in the area but didn't find a better fit, he said. "We may even have to go down a couple of booths," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that next year PMA may use some of that outer hallway as its own space.
The foodservice show has gained momentum in recent years "with a stronger level of commitment of partnerships," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that food- safety issues have played a role in the partnering aspect.
"Foodservice is growing," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that its influence on consumer eating habits is strong.
Mr. Silbermann said that he received great feedback on the unlikely pairing of chefs Anthony Bourdain and Walter Scheib for a general session and cooking demonstrations.
"The chemistry between the two was fabulous," Mr. Silbermann said, adding that prior to the conference, PMA planners had been concerned that pairing the two chefs together might be a mistake.
"We hit a double home run [with Messrs. Bourdain and Scheib]," Mr. Silbermann said.
Conference exhibitor booths were bustling with activity.
"Every year [the foodservice conference] gets better," said Margaret D'Arrigo Martin of Salinas, CA-based D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of California.
"The traffic has been good," said Jill Lenz of Watsonville, CA-based Classic Salads.
Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms ramped up its involvement in the show this year, including featuring Chef Tony Baker of Montrio Bistro at its booth.
"Foodservice can have artichokes year-round," said Joe Feldman, Ocean Mist's vice president of sales and marketing.
Dennis Donohue, president of Salinas-based European Vegetable Specialties, said that the show "is a nice opportunity" and that "foot traffic has been good."
Early Sunday afternoon, Alan Tagami of Watsonville-based Beach Street Farms said that foot traffic by that firm's booth had been good and that the company already had four potential new accounts.
A number of exhibitors -- including Jim Scattini of Watsonville-based Sambrailo Packaging -- said that the foodservice conference is a good opportunity to solidify relationships with current customers.
Julie Southern, a culinary student at Johnson & Wales University, said that the conference gave her the ability "to see future career opportunities."
Doug Classen, sales manager for The Nunes Co., based in Salinas, said that foot traffic at the booth "has gotten bigger every year."
Greg Gattis of Salinas-based Misionero Vegetables said that he had seen "all major foodservice distributors."
Steve Church of Salinas, CA-based Church Brothers LLC said that the foodservice show works best by ending on a Sunday, as it does, and that the company had plenty of opportunity to entertain customers and prospective customers throughout the week.
Kacie Vieth of Monterey-based FoodSource said that there had been ample traffic for the conference, that the show had been "really positive" and that people were "excited about the show."
Steve Davis of Salinas-based Mills Family Farms said that the company uses the conference more for solidifying existing accounts than for soliciting new business. "It's a good show to have a presence," he said.
