MEDIA CONTACT:
Peggy Armstrong
(202) 220-3508
parmstrong@idfa.org
Minneapolis to Host 2013 Show
(Washington, D.C. – September 21, 2011) The International Dairy Show kicked off in Atlanta this week, giving dairy professionals an unparalleled opportunity to focus specifically on dairy industry trends and keep up with the rapidly changing marketplace. The show, which ran Monday through Wednesday, featured nearly 300 exhibitors offering the latest packaging, processing and technology solutions in the global dairy market.
With more than 3,400 total attendees and more than 1,200 qualified buyers, the International Dairy Show drew strong participation from the key audiences that IDFA and the exhibitors were seeking to attract: food and beverage processors, food distributors and retail manufacturers.
"Targeting and attracting the right buyers continues to be a top priority for us, and we're pleased to say that the attendance figures show a 30 percent increase in qualified buyers over last year," said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO.
In addition to discussing technology innovations with exhibitors on the show floor, attendees enjoyed the Signature Sessions and more than 40 educational sessions. They also sampled innovative food and beverage products, including Southern-style cheesy ice cream blended with grits and reformulated chocolate milks. They also found abundant opportunities for networking and social events.
One of the best-attended events at the show was the opening Signature Session on Monday featuring Karl Rove, political strategist and former senior advisor to President George W. Bush. Rove shared highlights of his years as deputy chief of staff to the former president and outlined the political issues that he says will frame the 2012 presidential election. He encouraged attendees to "stay in the game" and "serve in any capacity" to help shape the country's future, saying he is confident that the future in 10 years will be "really, really bright."
High-resolution photos from the International Dairy Show are available for download at http://www.oscareinzig.com/idspressroom2011/. Presentations from selected educational sessions will be posted at www.dairyshow.com by September 26.
IDFA would like to thank the show sponsors for their support. They are Amelia Bay, Inc.; Anuga FoodTec; Burns & McDonnell; Chr. Hansen, Inc.; Dairy Foods Magazine; Ecolab, Inc.; Food Safety Magazine; Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy; Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP); Rabobank; Sidel; and Templar.
2013 Show Moves to Minneapolis
Sales for the 2013 International Dairy Show also opened this week, and the response from exhibitors was immediate.
"We've heard from many exhibitors who were impressed with the quality of buyers this week in Atlanta. In fact, over 50 percent of current exhibitors have already booked their booth space for the 2013 show," Tipton said. "Minneapolis is a great city with wonderful restaurants and attractions, and it's centrally located for many of our processor members, so we're sure that the momentum and enthusiasm for exhibit sales will continue."
The show will be held September 16-18, 2013, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. For details, visit www.dairyshow.com or contact Robin Cornelison, IDFA trade show director, at rcornelison@idfa.org or 202-220-3542.
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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% of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States.