Are you excited as we are about all the amazing trade shows happening in the next year? Next week, at ProFood Tech in Chicago, you can expect to see hundreds of exhibitors in the baking, snack, beverage, frozen and prepared foods, dairy, and meats and seafood industries.
You’ll also have the chance to attend some of the 30 educational sessions on today’s hottest topics, such as food safety and consumer trends. Food Industry Executive is dedicated to looking at the future of food, and so we compiled a list of sessions that will give you new knowledge and insight to take your understanding of the industry to the next level.
Here are our picks for the top 10 future-focused presentations:
1. Food Safety Modernization Act Implementation: Preventive Controls Enforcement – Late Breaking News
April 4, 10:15 – 11 AM
Have questions about how to implement and comply with the Preventive Controls for Human Foods rule? In this session, a panel of experts will discuss the rule, how it’s going so far, current concerns, and where more industry attention should be focused.
2. Breakout Innovations in Packaging & Technology
April 4, 10:15 – 11 AM
What’s the key to making your products stand out from the competition? Amazing packaging! In this session, you’ll get a sneak peak of the latest packaging innovations that will help you wow your customers, whether you’re launching new products or refreshing existing ones.
3. Using Data to Harness the Power of Superconsumers
April 4, 11:15 AM – 12 PM
In this session, Eddie Yoon, the author of Superconsumers: A Simple, Speedy, and Sustainable Path to Superior Growth
4. Top Ten Food and Ingredient Trends for 2017
April 5, 8 – 8:45 AM
Step right up and hear Innova Market Insights reveal the hottest new trends in the food and beverage sector, particularly consumer behavior, market analysis, packaging, and new product development.
5. Food Plant of the Future: Running on The Internet of Things
April 5, 10:45 – 11:30 AM
The Internet of Things is taking over! Find out how IoT can improve your company in food safety, managing inventory, and more. In preparation for this session, check out a few articles on how the food industry is already using the IoT:
- The Internet of Things and the Future of Food
- Food Industry Using Internet of Things to Make Processing Smarter
6. Filling Your Labor Shortage with Robotic Automation
April 5, 11:30 – 12 PM
Are you struggling with efficiency and a shortage of labor in your plant? Learn about Quest Industrial’s latest automation equipment that improves production by doing the difficult and repetitive jobs that are hard to fill. Here are a few primer articles on robots in the food industry:
- How Robots are Changing the Food Industry
- How the Food Industry Employs Robots Across the Supply Chain
7. Explore the Frontier of the Digital Food Industry
April 5, 3:45 – 4:15 PM
The future is coming! In this session, Tetra Pak will share its vision for automated plants and how to transform the food industry with digital integration, automation, and digital consumer interaction.
8. The Generation Game: Playing to Win the Most Customers
April 6, 9:45 – 10:30 AM
The millennials have taken over — in terms of population size among the generations. Here, Marketing Professor Aron Levin will discuss GenerationWhy, a new consumer research study, that reveals the four consumer categories of millennials and how Gen Z is already beginning to affect the market.
Here’s a preview of some of the issues that might come up:
- Report: Millennials’ Food Choices Reflect Their Values and Lifestyle
- Millennials’ Eating Habits Are Changing the Food Landscape
- Millennials Want Simplicity and Consistency, Watershed Data Reports
9. Flexible Design: Building for Tomorrow
April 6, 10:45 – 11:30 AM
Are your company decisions going to work in the long-term or do they just satisfy the here and now? This session will teach you how to plan for future success by investing beyond immediate company needs.
10. The Efficiency Sweet Spot: Reaping Financial Savings From Improved Environmental Performance
April 6, 12:30 – 1 PM
In this session, you’ll learn about the underused method of saving money in your processing plant: energy efficiency. Bonus: it’s better for the environment too.
If you attend any of these sessions, we’d love to hear your thoughts about them!
