Registration and hotel reservations are now open for IFPA's Foodservice Conference, which will be held July 27-28 in Monterey, California.
The conference, which attracts more than 1,800 members of the full foodservice supply chain, had a 1:1 buyer-supplier ratio in 2022, said IFPA's Joe Watson, vice president of retail, foodservice, and wholesale membership. "The energy at this event is off the charts. When we get buyers and sellers together, business happens."
Buyers at the event include foodservice operators, distributors, K-12 reps, and retail foodservice buyers. Conference attendees will hear expert speakers participate in field tours, have the opportunity to participate in a buyer-sourcing event, and enjoy the expo all in the inviting location of Monterey.
"What makes this conference unique is that it is designed exclusively for produce in foodservice," Watson said. "It's the place for connections, insights, and innovations that grow our members' businesses.
"I'm especially excited about the Buyer Sourcing Meetings, where interested suppliers can get eight to 10 one-on-one meetings with buyers for an additional fee," he said. Foodservice operator and distributor buyers include Compass/Foodbuy/National Produce FB, Denny's, Dominos, FreshEdge, Markon, PRO*ACT, Produce Alliance, Restaurant Services, Restaurant Supply Chain Services, Simply Good Jars, Sysco, Texas Roadhouse and U.S. Foods. "Anyone interested in participating in these one-on-one buyer-supplier meetings simply needs to contact me at jwatson@freshproduce.com or my colleague Andrew Marshall at amarshall@freshproduce.com."
Past attendees echo Watson's praise for the event. "We will once again bring 50 associates to the IFPA Foodservice Conference," said Jim Richter, president of U.S. Foods. "The event focuses on innovation and important trends. The ability to connect with our partners is second to none. Monterey is the perfect venue for the conference, and we receive tremendous value from attending every year."
"The conference in Monterey is the premier produce networking event of the year focused 100 percent on foodservice," said Mathew Tate, director of strategic sourcing and CSL for Aramark. "No other show features so many buyers, distributors, and growers, all in the heart of the produce industry."
"The IFPA Foodservice Conference is such a wonderful yearly conference," said Melissa Melshenker Ackerman, president of Produce Alliance. "Not only does it provide educational and exhibiting opportunities, but it is like a 'class reunion' of all your favorite friends and colleagues. The energy is palpable, and everyone is so open to meeting and supporting the fresh produce Industry. It is for sure a don't-miss event, and including your colleagues in this conference will only help them feel more connected to the industry."
Industry members interested in attending the conference can get more information, including registration and hotel details, here.
For more information:
Siobhan May
IFPA
Tel.: +1 (302) 781-5855
SMay@freshproduce.com
www.freshproduce.com