MEDIA CONTACT:
Peggy Armstrong
(202) 841-5827
parmstrong@idfa.org

Annual Format and Dairy Focus Will Better Serve Dairy Industry

(Chicago, Ill. -- October 28, 2009) The board of directors of the International Dairy Foods Association today accepted the recommendation of its executive committee for the association's dairy trade show to become an annual event focused on the dairy industry.

"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.

Research indicated that IDFA's trade show could provide greater value for the dairy community and IDFA members by becoming an annual event focused on dairy industry trends and innovations. Exhibitors and attendees who participate in Worldwide Food Expo indicated through interviews and surveys that an annual event would create more opportunity to showcase product and packaging innovation, as well as 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."

The new International Dairy Show will be held September 13-15, 2010, in Dallas, Texas, and will become a three-day event. The location of future shows will be based on competitive pricing and access for exhibitors and attendees.

For the past 10 years, IDFA has co-located its biennial trade show with the American Meat Institute in Chicago.

Taking advantage of the move to an annual show, IDFA will begin selling exhibit space for the 2010 International Dairy Show during Worldwide Food Expo, now taking place through October 31at the McCormick Place in Chicago.

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The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $110-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI), and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States.