Power-Up Your Business: NRA Show 2012 Is All About Your Success

Industry optimism is increasing. The question now is...how do you attract and retain more guests and profitably improve your operation in this changing environment?

The NRA Show has everything you need, all in one place, to power-up your business.

• Industry professionals from all 50 states and 100+ countries come every year to meet the people shaping the international foodservice business and to see the entire supply chain in one place.  
• Innovative features in culinary concepts, food and beverage products, kitchen equipment and supplies and operational resources from 1,800+ - more than any other industry event.

Attend and Power-Up Your Operation With New Ideas, Opportunities and Solutions

Test products from over 1,800 exhibitors in 900+ product categories, all under one roof:

• Food  
• Beverage  
• Equipment  
• Training  
• Linens  
• Lodging  
• Furnishings & Decorations  
• Paper, Plastics & Supplies  
• Services  
• Tableware  
• Technology & Entertainment 
• Discover new flavor and menu concepts to drive traffic 
• Put Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and other social media channels to work building your business  
• Learn about food trucks and the new mobile food trends  
• Watch top chefs demonstrate culinary magic while discussing the latest trends in menu development and ingredient utilization  
• See new technology products and services to increase efficiency and reduce costs  
• Save money with "green" industry best practices, sustainability initiatives and how to implement them in your operation  
• Acquire word of mouth marketing skills to attract and retain more guests

*** Please Note the date is MONDAY MAY 7, 2012 ***
IFMA Announces Gold and Silver Plate Awards Date Change

Mark your calendars! IFMA’s 58th Annual Gold & Silver Plate Awards will be held Monday, May 7th, 2012 in Chicago. This date change follows the NRA Show date change published recently to the industry.

The 2011 year celebration was sold out. Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of foodservice history as we once again honor the star Foodservice Operators in our industry.

Mark your calendars!

The 2012 SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO^®, sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, is the largest confectionery, cookie and snack show in the Americas. The EXPO features more than 550 companies showcasing thousands of confectionery and snack products in one place, making it the most valuable, time-effective event in the industry. The new 2012 show dates are May 8 - 10 still happening at Chicago's McCormick Place. 

The 2011 EXPO was the largest in the show's 15 year history and the number of exhibitors increased 13%!   In fact, in 2011, more than 170 new companies exhibited and more buyers than ever attended the event. The EXPO attracts all of the major U.S. distribution channels and features top-notch experts in the keynote sessions, making it easier than ever to discover the latest trends, and discover what's new in your category.

More than 14,000 qualified confectionery and snack professionals attend each year including nearly 1,000 international visitors traveling from nearly 70 countries.