A collaborative group of top food industry leaders in Central California’s San Joaquin Valley came together to celebrate the formal launch and open registration for the 2016 Fresno Food Expo that will take place July 27-28, 2016. Now in its sixth year of operation, the Expo has evolved into a standalone 501c6 nonprofit organization under the newly announced oversight of a 13-member Board of Directors, with current daily management services provided by David Nalchajian, Inc.
Originally developed as an economic development initiative by the City of Fresno in 2011, the Expo has since emerged as the nation’s only exclusively regional food show bringing together growers, processors, manufacturers and industry service providers with buyers from around the world. Since its debut, the Expo has heightened the awareness of the region’s food production industry and watched new, innovative businesses emerge and new industry collaborations form as a direct result of the show. It has introduced 226 different food and beverage companies to new customers and hosted 1,825 different qualified buyers, including over 100 strategically recruited international buyers. With this impressive track record, the 2016 Expo already has nearly 50% of the show floor filled with returning exhibitors.
“Through the insight of these top food industry leaders over the past five years, the Fresno Food Expo has brought the region together in incredible ways not just as an agricultural community, but as a food community,” said David Nalchajian, General Manager of the Fresno Food Expo. “We are excited to build upon our success as a show and we look forward to further capitalizing on industry successes in every category to increase awareness of our food production industry and celebrate its quality, its diversity, its uniqueness, and its value on both a national and international scale.”
Unlike any other trade show, the Fresno Food Expo offers the opportunity for local, regional, national and international buyers to connect with the actual Presidents and CEOs behind some of the nation’s largest food industry companies with the invitation to explore products in every category and learn from budding food entrepreneurs who migrate to the region.
“A third-generation, family-owned and operated business, we are the oldest manufacturer of Bulgur wheat in the world and pride ourselves in purchasing 90% of our raw materials from right here in the Valley,” said Steve Orlando, President of Sunnyland Mills. “For our company, the Fresno Food Expo provides an invaluable opportunity for networking, to share ideas and to be a part of something bigger than ourselves as we see businesses come together with one common goal of not just growing their own company or sector, but the entire food production industry throughout the region.”
The 2016 Fresno Food Expo will take place July 27-28, 2016 with site tours and an opening reception for pre-registered buyers, followed by a trade show. To commemorate the evolution of the Fresno Food Expo, a new logo and website have also been introduced. Registration is currently open for buyers and exhibitors. More than 150 exhibitors and 950 key prequalified international and domestic buyers are expected to participate. Noted buyers already registered for the 2016 Fresno Food Expo include Whole Foods, Vallarta Supermarkets, Save Mart Supermarkets, Food 4 Less, Tony’s Fine Foods, JD Food, Saladino’s Foodservice and more. Registration forms and additional information is available at www.FresnoFoodExpo.com. Exhibitors can take advantage of early bird discounts, a 40% savings available until March 18, with public ticket sales to the “Epicurean Evening” event filled with sampling and discovery launching in May.
For more information:
Ashlee Wolf
Cohen Communications
+1 559 222 1322