Reed Sells Beverage Show
By Rachelle Crum -- Tradeshow Week, 1/9/2006
Reed Exhibitions in December sold InterBev back to its previous owner, the American Beverage Assn.
Reed purchased the biennial show in 1999 from the association (then called the Natl. Soft Drink Assn.) and, after producing three shows with ABA as a sponsor, the groups agreed to return InterBev to ABA.
"This is part of Reed's strategic plan to continually focus resources on growth in key sectors," said Reed spokeswoman Beth Blake.
Reed last month announced that it is shedding its North American industrial and manufacturing portfolio. Several events are for sale: AM Expo — Advanced Manufacturing Exposition & Conference; Assembly Technology Expo; Natl. Manufacturing Week; the various versions of Powder & Bulk Solids Conference/Exhibition, NEPCON and Quality Expo; and all of Reed's industrial shows in Canada.
ABA board Chairman Ralph Crowley said the InterBev proposal "just made sense."
Reed Industry Vice President Eileen Baird, former InterBev vice president and show manager, thanked the industry for its support during its ownership of the show.
Reed has "been grateful for the relationships developed with customers and their ongoing feedback and industry insight in the years we've run the shows, especially from our sponsors, the American Beverage Assn.," Baird said.
ABA President and CEO Susan Neely said the group is "excited to have the opportunity to produce an event that will have strong appeal to both exhibitors and attendees."
She added, "We look forward to providing industry stakeholders a gathering place to meet, discuss timely issues and see the latest products and equipment that generate opportunities in today's beverage marketplace."
ABA is planning to hold the next InterBev in Las Vegas this fall. Before the sale, the show was scheduled to take place at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center in September, according to the 2006 Tradeshow Week Data Book.
The 2004 show at the OCCC spanned 150,000 net square feet with 525 exhibiting companies and 7,000 attendees. Its 2006 show at the Orlando center, as noted in the Data Book, was expected to span 130,000 net square feet and attract 3,300 attendees.
