Despite Rumors, No Confirmation of FMI Sale

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 5/23/2005

Food-industry press and exhibitors at the Supermarket Industry Convention & Educational Exposition May 1–3 at Chicago's McCormick Place were abuzz with rumors about a possible sale of the Food Marketing Institute's trade-show, but there wasn't so much as a flutter from FMI officials.

FMI Senior Vice President Brian Tully would not confirm reports that the association recently issued a request for inquiries to show management companies seeking either a buy-out or co-management deal for the FMI Show.

Industry trends like supermarket consolidation and the rise of new buying channels have ravaged the show, once a top-20 player in the Tradeshow Week 200. In 2001, it spanned 517,100 net square feet and drew 29,000 professional attendees by itself. This year, according to FMI — collocating for the second time with the Intl. Fancy Food & Confection Show, U.S. Food Export Showcase, United Produce Expo & Conference and All Things Organic Conference & Trade Show — the combined shows filled 445,000 net sq. ft. and drew 30,000 attendees. The FMI Show alone featured 700 exhibitors spanning 250,000 net sq. ft.

Chris Nemchek, vice president of exhibition management for the Natl. Assn. for the Specialty Food Trade, which owns and operates Fancy Food, said he was proceeding as if the situation were unchanged. "We hope whoever is in charge of FMI will see the value of collocating and will want to continue working in the same format."

Thomas Stenzel, president and CEO of Produce Expo producer United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Assn., said all the partners would like to know what's going on, but if it involves working with a new show management company, "That's not necessarily a bad thing. If a partner comes in with the resources and know-how, it can be good for a show." He pointed to Diversified Business Communications' collaboration with the Organic Trade Assn. on All Things Organic as evidence.