Contact: Marti Pupillo
mpupillo@idfa.org
(202) 220-3535

(Washington, D.C. – August 27, 2013) The International Dairy Foods Association and the Food Processing Suppliers Association have partnered to bring the Defeat Hunger (SM) initiative, an onsite food drive, to the International Dairy Show and PROCESS EXPO 2013, November 3-6 at McCormick Place in Chicago. All donations and proceeds will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to help fight hunger in the Chicago area.

The Food Depository supports more than 650 local food pantries in Cook County, Ill., making it one of the largest organizations of its kind in the nation. It distributed 64 million pounds of food last fiscal year, serving more than 142,000 people each week.

“We know that the dairy companies and suppliers that are members of IDFA are extremely generous in their corporate giving within their own communities,” said Robin Cornelison, IDFA trade show director. “We want to extend this spirit of giving to the International Dairy Show and the greater Chicago area so we can make a difference in the lives of people who are food insecure. We are proud to partner with FPSA and the Food Depository and encourage all exhibitors and attendees to contribute.”

Exhibitors and attendees at the International Dairy Show will have several options for participating in the Defeat Hunger (SM) initiative.

  • Exhibitors can include donations with their booth shipments. Show officials will pick up the shipments from the booths and deliver them to the collection point.
  • Exhibitors may send their shipments directly to McCormick Place between October 29 and November 1. Global Experience Specialists, the show contractor, will deliver the shipped food to the collection point.
  • Exhibitors and attendees may submit a financial donation directly to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which will leverage its buying power to purchase food and deliver it to the show collection point.
  • Exhibitors and attendees may purchase food online and donate it through the virtual food drive established by IDFA.

IDFA and FPSA are planning a press event during the show and will invite exhibitors that participate in the Defeat Hunger (SM) initiative to attend. These exhibitors also will receive special booth signage to recognize their contributions.

For more information, contact Cornelison at rcornelison@idfa.org or visit Defeat Hunger (SM) FAQs.

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ABOUT IDFA
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 $125-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 nearly 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.

 

ABOUT FPSA
The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) is a global trade association serving suppliers in the food and beverage industries. The Association's programs and services support member’s success by providing assistance in marketing their products and services, overall improvement in key business practices and many opportunities to network among industry colleagues. Programs and services to achieve these objectives include PROCESS EXPO (industry leading trade show), electronic media marketing, education, market intelligence, research, and advocation of critical industry issues such as food safety, sanitary design of equipment, and global trade. FPSA members are organized in vertical industry councils which focus on specific needs and concerns that are unique to each industry sector. FPSA councils currently represent the Bakery, Beverage, Dairy, Prepared Foods and Meat sectors.