Food industry experts gather in Ohio for expo

TOLEDO, Ohio — The Center for Innovative Food Technology will host representatives from food-related businesses Mar. 9 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Columbus for the Ohio Food Industry Expo — a full day where companies can discover new techniques, learn of innovative trends and identify resources that will strengthen one of Ohio’s already strong and vital industries.

Speakers

Speaker David Acheson, partner and managing director, Leavitt Partners (Salt Lake City, Utah), will discuss the Food Safety Modernization Act. Signed into law by President Obama in 2011, the FSMA — considered the most sweeping reform of food safety in decades — shifts the focus from responding to contamination in food, to preventing it.

With more than 30 years of medical and food safety research, Acheson oversees the company’s food and import safety practice. He also helps clients enter new markets, enhances the value of their products, navigates dynamic regulatory and reimbursement systems, and improves health conditions around the world.

A. Elizabeth Sloan, president, Sloan Trends, Inc. (San Diego, Calif.), the president of one of the nation’s leading food, beverage and supplement industry’s trend tracking and forecasting experts, will present “Trends for Tomorrow, Decisions of Today.”

Sloan is also the consumer and product trends columnist and a contributing editor to Food Technology magazine, the North American marketing columnist for Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals magazine, and a regular columnist for the culinary publication, Flavor & The Menu.

Several other high-caliber presenters will share their perspective and insight, including executives from NSF International, Grocery Manufacturers Association, SUPERVALU, The Wornick Company, WILD Flavors, Sandridge Food Corporation and more.

Topics

Attendees will learn from experts about advanced processing techniques, retailer sustainability, Global Food Safety Initiative, supply chain certification, advanced technologies and food industry trends.

Also, numerous products and services to the food industry will be presented by professionals through educational sessions as well as showcased directly through exhibit space.

The Hyatt Regency Columbus is at 350 North High St., Columbus, OH 43215. The registration fee is $75 per person (cash or check) for non-CIFT members, and $50 for CIFT members. Contact 419-535-6000, ext. 108 or rsvp@ciftinnovation.org to register or learn more, or visit www.ciftinnovation.org.