SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE USA — An exclusive and intimate gathering of U.S. foodservice seafood buyers— and the suppliers interested in doing business with them—is scheduled for October 16–18, 2012 at the Marriott Coral Springs/Fort Lauderdale. The new hosted-buyer event is the second in a series of highly efficient FirstSource networking events serving vertical seafood industry segments. FirstSource: Foodservice Seafood is limited exclusively to high-volume restaurant chain, foodservice management, GPO, hotel chain, cruise line, and college and university foodservice buyers.
Organizer Brian Perkins says “FirstSource: Foodservice Seafood will be limited to 25 qualified buyers and 40 suppliers of fresh, frozen and value-added seafood products. The event will combine buyer-scheduled 20-minute one-on-one meetings, speed-dating type introductory meetings, keynote speakers and formal product-tasting breaks. In addition, suppliers’ products will be featured at all of the event’s many meals, breaks and networking opportunities.”
The exclusive event will open with a reception Tuesday evening. On Wednesday and Thursday, participants take part in personal introductions, advanced plenary sessions, product-tastings, and private one-on-one meetings. The event includes a gala reception, dinner, luncheons, breakfasts and social activities.
“These events have earned a 100% satisfaction rating from participants,” Perkins explains. “The 600+ scheduled meetings are highly productive and allow buyers to efficiently identify and source innovative products. At the same time, the intimate nature of the event allows buyers and sellers to really get to know one-another over several days of networking. It’s all about building trust and relationships. Everyone is together for breaks, meals, and social events. In meaningful conversations, suppliers learn about buyers’ current sourcing challenges and their future supply needs. Attendees have also told us they value the buyer-to-buyer and supplier-to-supplier conversations that take place, where both can explore solutions to their common challenges.”
Hotel, airfare and meals for invited buyers are covered by the event organizers. A limited number of pre-screened suppliers pay a fee to take part.
FirstSource: Foodservice Seafood is the second in a series of FirstSource hosted-buyer events the company has on tap for vertical product specialties in the perishable food categories in the U.S. "Our ability to combine high-level meetings and precisely executed product tastings makes the FirstSource concept unique and in the vanguard of food product marketing," Perkins explained. The company’s inaugural event, FirstSource: Retail Seafood, debuted in 2011. The second edition is scheduled for June 5–7, 2012. Supplier packages have sold out; a limited number of buyer opportunities are still available.
For information on FirstSource: Foodservice Seafood, including a three-minute video featuring FirstSource participants, visit www.FirstSourceEvents.com; or contact Brian Perkins at +1 207-799-1356 or bperkins@highlinerevents.com.
Source: FirstSource: Foodservice Seafood
