In a move to find its proper space among the sea of competing shows in the food industry, the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) decided to move to a biennial show in Chicago starting November 2011 to allow exhibitors to improve their exhibition return on investment and focus on a single show that features suppliers of food equipment and technology.

The decision to move to the new fall schedule makes this year’s collaboration with Institute of Food Technologies’ Food Expo a one-and-done deal. This year’s Process Expo and IFT Food Expo take place July 17-20 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The IFT show runs from July 17-20 while Process Expo is scheduled for July 18-20.

During the council sessions, representatives from the world’s major food equipment suppliers and show attendees expressed a strong preference to move from an annual show to a two-year cycle that’s hosted in a major show city during mid to late fall.

“The decision was based on extensive market feedback received from FPSA industry councils and then unanimously approved by the FPSA board of directors at our recent annual conference,” says Scott Scriven, chairman of FPSA.

According to an FPSA release, the common sentiment during its council sessions was that “there were too many shows and a diminishing ROI for each show.”

This year’s IFT and Process Expo shows are home to specialty pavilions that will offer educational forums and presentations that focus on trends, tastings and the global marketplace.

The IFT Food Expo, for instance, brings together food science and business experts from around the world to learn about the latest in trends, new products and scientific innovations.
   
For example, the Sustainability Pavilion will showcase trends and best practices surrounding sustainability while the Healthy Food Ingredients Pavilion highlights the latest and greatest in nutraceutical, functional and organic products. The Organic Food Ingredients Pavilion allows attendees to meet buyers and purchase certified-organic items from around the world. Meanwhile, the Food Safety & Quality Pavilion will shine a spotlight on instrumentation, services, processing and packaging technologies and will allow visitors to discover innovative solutions in protecting and ensuring food safety.
   
Attendees also can swing by Mintel’s new product showcase. Experts from the Chicago-based research firm will present the latest trends in consumer packaged food and drink flavors, ingredients and claims and will host various tasting sessions. Additionally, Innova Market Insights’ Taste the Trend pavilion will feature a number of presentations focusing on key product development trends, packaging and technology, flavors and consumer trends.

On the other hand, Process Expo offers on-site knowledge about automation, food safety, energy efficiencies and sustainable packaging and teachings on new regulations and technologies.

There will be hundreds of education seminars available throughout the show designed to address several hot topics such as changeover reduction, increasing production, lowering costs, going green and more.

Previously, Process Expo had been co-located with Pack Expo, which is sponsored by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute and is being held this year from Oct. 31-No. 3 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. This year, PMMI is opening its doors to exhibitors who manufacture processing equipment as well as its traditional packaging equipment focus. The event also will feature an educational program on manufacturing that’s sponsored by the Grocery Manufacturers of America.

For this year’s IFT and Process Expo shows, register online and check for more information at www.am-fe.ift.org or http://myprocessexpo.com. For information on Pack Expo, go http://my.packexpo.com.