Food Tech Shows to Collocate

The Institute of Food Technologists and the Food Processing Suppliers Assn. will collocate their two events – IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo and FPSA Process Expo – July 18-20, 2010, at Chicago's McCormick Place.

According to FPSA officials, each year its three-day event draws approximately 10,000 food-processing and packaging professionals, while IFT's event, ranked No. 127 on the 2009 TSW 200, attracted 951 exhibitors and 8,625 attendees to a 196,000 net square feet showfloor last year.

“We are extremely pleased that we can generate new opportunities for our exhibitors and show attendees,” said IFT Executive Vice President Barbara Byrd Keenan. “Food industry professionals interested in attending Process Expo will have an additional compelling reason to attend (IFT) Expo, especially if their work is in ... food engineering, processing, product development, packaging, quality assurance or food service.”

This year, Process Expo will be held Oct. 5-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center at the same time as Pack Expo Las Vegas. IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo took place June 7-9 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

In 2010, the two events will be held on separate floors in McCormick Place, but in close proximity, according to show officials.

In addition to more opportunities for buyers, the collocation will provide more education for attendees of both shows.

“This partnership unites the world's leading suppliers with their customers in the food and beverage industry,” said FPSA President George Melnykovich. “The resulting dialogue between the two will produce a greater experience for all food professionals at every level of the food-value chain.”