For the past 10 years, IDFA has shared space with the American Meat Institute at the biennial Worldwide Food Expo in Chicago. But from next year IDFA will be going ahead on its own with an annual trade show focused exclusively on innovation and trends in the dairy industry.
IDFA made the announcement this week on the first day of the World Wide Expo in Chicago on Wednesday.
“The launch of a new annual International Dairy Show in 2010 gives the dairy industry a great opportunity to focus on industry trends and to keep up with a rapidly changing marketplace,” said Gary Vanic, president and CEO of Great Lakes Cheese Company and chairman of the IDFA Board.
Positive feedback
IDFA took the decision to add the dairy trade show to the annual calendar on the back of feedback from participants at the Worldwide Food Expo.
Exhibitors and attendees told IDFA that a yearly event would create more opportunities to showcase product and packaging innovations, and provide more frequent interaction between suppliers and processors.
“With the new show, we will be able to focus on the topics, issues and products dairy professionals care about most,” said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO. “It will provide the learning, networking and trade show experience the dairy industry depends on to stay on top of the latest trends and issues.”
Show dates
The first new International Dairy Show has already been penciled in to the calendar for 2010. The three-day event will be held on September 13-15, in Dallas, Texas. The location of future shows will be determined according to cost and access for exhibitors and attendees.