2017 Premier Event for the Foodservice Industry 

This was it: the highly successful PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo, where fresh produce takes center plate. Held back in its home location in downtown Monterey, the event attracted more than 1,800 attendees. Suppliers made note of the number and variety of buyers in attendance, including foodservice distributors, retailers, wholesalers, brokers, and more than 150 end-use operators.

From cruise lines, hotel supply management, and airline catering operators, to leaders in the meal-kit, online grocery and grocerant categories, the event appealed to a wide variety of purchasers.

From receptions and hands-on fruit and vegetable training, to chef demos and buyer roundtables, this year’s conference was a feast for attendees, who took every advantage to learn, grow and network.

What was on hand?

• Trends were a hot-button as Joseph M. Pawlak led an esteemed panel in an exploration of what college diners crave, if meal kits are worth the hype, if clean eating has finally become affordable and more. Dining, retail, fresh, prepared—participants left with the insights necessary to shape decision-making for the next year and beyond.

• Collaboration may be a proven strategy to increase success but it’s often a skill made, not born. With David Nour at the helm, attendees boosted their ability to use co-creation as a means to remain relevant, sustain viability and (of course!) have more fun. Harness the power of produce to fulfill consumer needs and prepare for a changing landscape of menus, concepts and business strategies? Yes, please!

• Disruption ruled when Jill Overdorf and a team of expert panelists took the stage. From waste to wanted, vending machines to social responsibility, they divulged how food industry disruptors are cultivating the next generation of produce consumers in some unlikely ways.

• We ran! We golfed! We bocce(d)! CGTbyPMA turned up the heat at this year’s networking events: the 5K Race for Talent, Joe Nucci Memorial Golf Tournament and Bocce for Talent, all of which support the growth of future leaders in foodservice. And we can’t fail to mention the always-anticipated Women’s Fresh Perspectives Reception!

Our heartfelt appreciation to our Foodservice Conference Committee Chairs, Colista James, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Brent Scattini, Mission Produce, Inc., as well as the volunteers, sponsors, speakers, and attendees for their participation in making this event possible.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2018 event being held in the newly renovated Monterey Convention Center from July 27-29!

Thank you to our 2017 Foodservice Conference Committee for all their hard work!

Restaurant industry sales are forecasted to reach US $799 billion in 2017, a 1.7 percent gain (adjusted for inflation) over the industry’s estimated 2016 sale, according to the National Restaurant Association’s “Restaurant Industry Outlook 2017”. Significant variance among geographic regions and industry segments will affect restaurant sales performance, with quick service and fast-casual sales expected to total US $233.7 billion in 2017, a 5.3 percent gain over 2016 sales volume.
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