Process Expo Wraps Up in Chicago With International and Overall Attendance Upticks

November 15, 2011

The Food Processing Suppliers Association’s 2011 Process Expo closed its show, which ran Nov. 1-4 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, with not only a 14-percent attendance uptick in international attendance, compared with the 2010 show, but also a record-breaker.

The largest overseas delegations came from Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Germany.

It wasn’t just international attendance that saw a spike though, the overall number of attendees and exhibit floor also grew, according to FPSA officials.

"We're very happy with the strong turnout at this year's show," said Scott Scriven, chairman of FPSA and president of Weber.

He added, "Not only did we double the size of the showfloor over last year's, we delivered more than twice as many attendees to the show at the same time. When you take the economy into account and what is going on at other industry trade shows, these results are absolutely remarkable and demonstrate the industry's enthusiastic support of a horizontal tradeshow dedicated entirely to the food and beverage industry."

The 2011 educational program featured three main areas of interest, including the Manufacturing Solutions: Practical Responses to Food Industry Challenges , which included  sessions focus on key issues of concern in the food and beverage industry; the Seminario de Innovaciones, which was dedicated entirely to Process Expo’s attendees from Latin America; and the Siemens Exhibitor Spotlight Theater, which delivered a series of short technical workshops throughout the day on the show floor, covering a wide variety of topics of interest to food processors.

"This year, special attention was placed on the attendee experience at PROCESS EXPO," said FPSA President and CEO David Seckman.

He added, "This year's show featured a greatly expanded educational program built with input from the food processor community.  Culinary and industry council pavilions highlighted finished products for the consumer, and mobile resources such as the Process Expo mobile app and eDaily provided attendees with more information at their fingertips."

Last year, FPSA announced Process Expo would become a biennial event. The next show will be held Oct. 14-17, 2013, at McCormick Place.

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