The food and beverage industry is the second largest employer in the United States. Food and beverage events include local markets, national conventions and restaurant seminars for owners. Food and beverage companies make and ship products, stock stores and prepare meals 365 days a year to keep food on everyone’s table. Attending food and beverage conferences introduces retailers to new products and manufacturers to new technologies for creation and preparation.

Thousands of companies across the country work in or around the food and beverage industry. Keeping track of inventory, packaging and deliveries is just the start of the process and attending food and beverage events helps your business stay competitive with current industry conditions, technologies and consumer trends. Consider the following when selecting a food and beverage event to attend:

1. Stay ahead of the competition with keynote sessions from industry experts at a food beverage event.

2. Find new products at food industry events to keep your business stocked with profitable inventory.

3. Enhance customer loyalty by seeing the latest products offered from beverage industry events.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Food and beverage industry events give your business an edge with expert advice

Food and beverage events connect suppliers with retailers and restaurants. Finding new products and techniques for preparation expands inventories and menus. Industry insiders speak at events to inform attendees of trends and help define the industry focus. Keeping in touch with diverse offerings in the industry is easier when you attend food industry events.

I recommend: Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference features products from around the world with keynote sessions on food and beverage current events. The Beverage Information Group brings together restaurants and distributors from around the world.

Look to food industry conferences to expand your consumer offerings and profits

The exposition floor of food and beverage conferences holds suppliers of food, beverages and technologies used within the industry. Food industry conferences bring the world market to the retailer so they can sell it directly to the public.

I recommend: The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has national shows that are about more than just candy, with nutritional bars, meat snacks and innovative technologies on display. Promoting conferences across the country, American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) offers food and beverage events for everyone.

Find popular new drinks to offer customers at beverage industry conferences

A beverage industry conference includes bottled waters, carbonated drinks and alcohol. Vendors display new products and provide information useful to the retailer attending a beverage industry event. Keynote speakers and industry experts share their outlook on future growth and trends.

I recommend: The American Beverage Association (ABA) produces an annual beverage event to showcase new products and help retailers focus on growth with keynote presentations. Consider the Worldwide Food Expo to display or find new beverage products from around the world.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Food and beverage events offer early registration discounts. Plan your event schedule by the end of the year to save money on next season's events.