New York City — In what promises to be a deep dive into “The Magic of Menu Marketing,” celebrated chefs from across the nation will gather this December in New York City at the Sixth Annual “Ideation Fresh” Foodservice Forum to explore ways to expand produce sales at restaurants and other foodservice establishments.
Co-located with The New York Produce Show & Conference (presented by Boca Raton, FL-based PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine and Short Hills, NJ-based Eastern Produce Council), the Forum will host foodservice executives from such iconic brands as Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Windstar Cruises, Wendy’s and Starbucks. On Thursday, December 8, at the New York Hilton Midtown, chefs will slice and dice their way through all aspects of marketing fresh produce to the public at large, as produce marketers and suppliers in the audience and on stage interact.
Hear from Darryl Mickler, senior director of research and development at Hard Rock International; Robin Fisher, produce category manager at P.F. Chang’s; Paul Pszybylski, senior director of culinary development for California Pizza Kitchen; and this year’s IFMA Gold Plate recipient, Rafi Taherian, executive director of Yale Dining, as they illuminate what chefs face daily in their quest to boost produce consumption.
Trends analysts, such as Maeve Webster, president of Menu Matters; Gerry Ludwig, corporate consulting chef at Gordon Food Service; and Sharon Olson, executive director of Culinary Visions Panel, will also participate in what is sure to be a lively series of panel discussions.
Slated for the final day of the conference, Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum will address several key issues produce marketers, foodservice professionals, analysts and distributors grapple with to ensure their businesses remain relevant and robust. Learn how chefs utilize consumer trends and nutritional information to create tantalizing produce dishes with optimum bottom-line results.
What are some of the marketing strategies for introducing new produce-centric menu items? How do produce shippers who want to promote their brand at the restaurant level partner with operators? Those questions and more will be dissected by a stellar group of professionals who have made upping produce consumption a priority.
“The momentum for our Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum has been building each and every year since its inception,” says Ken Whitacre, publisher of PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine. “The response has been terrific, and we’ve assembled another all-star lineup for 2016. Anyone who has a vested interest in moving more produce through a foodservice operation can’t afford to miss it.”
The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. To inquire about attending the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum and/or The New York Produce Show and Conference, please contact Ken Whitacre at (561) 362-2050 or email at KWhitacre@NYProduceShow.com.
About The New York Produce Show and Conference
The four-day event, presented by PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine and the Eastern Produce Council, includes networking opportunities, a trade show of over 400 companies, retail “Thought-Leader” breakfast panel hosted by Perishable Pundit Jim Prevor, educational micro-sessions, ag and culinary student outreach and tours of the region's vibrant industry, including the local retailers, wholesalers, foodservice distributors, urban farms and unique eateries. www.nyproduceshow.com
About PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine
PRODUCE BUSINESS is where industry leaders turn for information, insight and understanding. With today's worldwide web of instant news, PRODUCE BUSINESS helps you put the big issues into perspective. ProduceBusiness.com
About Eastern Produce Council
The organization aims to provide members with multiple networking opportunities in the produce industry, advance the sales and awareness of fresh fruits and vegetables, and to provide its members with the most relevant, up-to-date information available. EasternProduceCouncil.com
Source: The New York Produce Show and Conference
