OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Following the successful launch of the Foodservice at Retail Expo (FARE) 2008, CSP Information Group announced that FARE '09 will be held at the Renaissance Hotel& Convention Center in Schaumburg, outside Chicago, August 17–19, 2009.
“We are extremely pleased with the quality of FARE '08, which offered 20 hours of education and an exhibit hall featuring 100 companies showcasing their foodservice products, programs and technology solutions,” said Paul Reuter, president, CEO and editorial director of CSP Information Group. “One of our primary [image-nocss] goals as we introduced FARE was to bring non-traditional foodservice retailers together with a unique offer focused exclusively on foodservice for the on-the-go consumer.”
Reuter added, “FARE attracted retailers from eight different channels who share common issues and opportunities. As non-traditional foodservice retailers, their concerns and challenges are similar—from marketing and advertising to consumer trends to hiring the right people. We heard very clearly from them that FARE tackled the challenges they face every day.”
FARE '08 attendees included foodservice executives from convenience stores, airport stores, QSR 's, colleges/universities, supermarkets, drug stores, travel centers and the military channels from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Additionally, FARE brought the distributor community together through CSP 's partnership with the American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA). Nearly 50 distributors attended the program that included specific educational sessions hosted by AWMA.
An advisory board representing the primary channels that offer foodservice for the on-the-go consumer will once again provide oversight to the educational sessions and product innovations that will be featured in the trade show at FARE '09.
According to Jane Berzan, CSP 's vice president of strategic initiatives, “Given the feedback we are receiving in our post-conference surveys, we expect FARE '09 to grow substantially in terms of both retailer and exhibitor participation. In fact, 98% of the retailers that attended FARE '08 plan to attend FARE '09. This is an extremely high percentage, not often seen in the conference and trade-show business and speaks to the quality of the event and retailers ' overall interest in growing foodservice in their companies.”
CSP also announced at FARE '08 the addition of a third print publication to its portfolio, FARE magazine. Launching this February, FARE will be a five-time-a-year publication focusing on the nontraditional foodservice retailer in multiple channels that offer food for the on-the-go consumer.
FARE, the first multi-channel conference and trade show for the foodservice at retail industry, brings industry executives together to share best practices, to hear from foodservice experts representing multiple channels and to see the latest foodservice products, programs, equipment and technology solutions at the trade show. For more information, contact Jane Berzan at jberzan@cspnet.com or go to www.cspfare.com.
Oak Brook, Ill.-based CSP Information Group, publisher of CSP, CSP Independent and FARE magazines, is a business-to-business communication company specializing in the convenience retailing, petroleum and foodservice industries. In addition to its print products, CSP Information Group 's other business units include the CSP Daily News newsletter, CSPNetwork CyberConferences, CSPTV, CSP Leadership Conferences and Events, 24-7 Connect Virtual Expo and CSP Consulting.
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