2008 Global Food & Style Expo Shines for Exhibitors and Buyers in Chicago
The 2008 Global Food & Style Expo, held April 27-29 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, was a resounding success with more than 12,000 attendees, especially domestic and international buyers, visiting over 800 exhibitors representing more than 56,000 of the world’s most innovative, trend-setting food and lifestyle products.
The 2008 Global Food & Style Expo was comprised of three distinct events: the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)’s U.S. Food Export Showcase, the Organic Trade Association’s All Things Organic™ Conference & Trade Show, and the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) Spring Fancy Food Show.
During the April 28 keynote panel discussion titled, “Retail Relevance in Uncertain Times,” Lynn Dornblaser of Mintel International offered positive news for the specialty products industry. “The last time there was a recession, the gourmet food industry did quite well. Taste is still everything. That puts gourmet and organic products all in a very good spot.”
Many exhibitors were small to mid-sized entrepreneurial businesses passionate about their high-quality products ranging from food to personal care, green packaging, clothing and home textiles, as well as a variety of services that support the specialty foods and organic products industries. Exhibitors from larger companies represented those tapping into key trends that are shaping consumer product choices in the marketplace.
Attendees, primarily large and small retail and food service buyers as well as buyers from around the world, appreciated the diversity and innovation of the Expo’s offerings.
"The All Things Organic™ Conference &Trade Show is a great place to present our fair trade and organic sweeteners to very well targeted retailers and other members of the organic industry who are concerned about environmental issues and social responsibility,” said Pauline McKee, Marketing Director of Wholesome Sweeteners, based in Texas.
Rebecca Erde, National Sales and Marketing Director for Café Jarabacoa, an NASFT exhibitor based in Englewood, CO, termed the Expo a success for her company, an importer of specialty coffee from the Dominican Republic. “It is a fun and friendly atmosphere,” she says. “You can spend a lot of time with people and give them samples and have coffee talk. I can touch all their senses, which I can’t do over the phone.”
US Food Export Showcase exhibitor Mike Solomon, owner of the Yohay Baking Company, said, “The quality of attendees is up. The real customers are here. The people who are here are buying.”
“We use the show as a meeting place for key customers, and we’ve been successful in making deals here,” said US Food Expo Showcase exhibitor Kyle O’Brien, Vice President of Sales, Chobani Greek Yogurt, New Berlin, NY.
In addition to the trade show, the 2008 Global Food & Style Expo featured nearly 50 workshops, seminars, product tastings, culinary demonstrations, tours and networking events. The program included keynote speeches by culinary luminary Bobby Flay, and branding expert John Moore. It is America’s largest display of export-ready, specialty, ethnic and organic products, with exhibitors, buyers and delegates representing more than 100 countries who are ready to expand their role in the global market.