More than 30 acquire vendee from 24 troupe are scheduled to attend Produce Marketing Association ’s ( PMA ) Fresh Connections : Retail event April 10 - 11 in Philadelphia , including first timekeeper Coburn ’s Inc. , Gerrity ’s Supermarkets , Longo ’s Brothers Markets , Sprouts Farmers Market , The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. , and Whole Foods Market .
Registration is limited to 200 for the networking and didactics event that connects bring out suppliers and business result provider with U.S. retailers and middleman . PMA enjoin Fresh Connections : Retail typically sells out in feeler each year and prices increase after April 1 . However , PMA appendage receive registration discounts .
Additional buyer slat to attend let in : Acme Markets , Inc. , Allegiance Retail Services , Associated Wholesale Grocers , C & S Wholesale Grocers , Inc. , Giant Martins , HelloFresh , Wakefern Food Corporation , and Wegmans Food Markets , Inc.
In addition to growers , processors , retail merchant , wholesalers and distributors , the event participants typically let in business solution provider offer services such as packaging , labeling , transportation , machinery , funding , accounting and more .
The effect will include an evening receipt April 10 at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott , and two tonic , interactive educations sessions , a networking break and lunch on April 11 .
PMA CEO Cathy Burns is scheduled to give the conference with insight on retail and intellectual nourishment industry trends that are think to have the potential to increase consumer demand for fresh produce . Kevin Coupe ( pictured , correct ) , author , video manufacturer and Content Guy for MorningNewsBeat.com , will deliver an good afternoon keynote that synthesizes musical theme from the twenty-four hour period ’s education sessions .
" PMA ’s Fresh Connections : Retail event allow great networking . I have time to meet Modern people and learn about their product , as well as reconnect with exist supply partners , " said Chris Keetch , Director of Produce & Floral , Giant Food Stores , LLC . " This industry is full of dynamic multitude , and nothing beats group meeting face to brass . I ’m also search forward to hearing both keynote bestower and participate in the small-scale grouping discourse . "
For the third sequent class , PMA will crowdsource instruction session subject for Fresh Connections : Retail . The unconscious process , however , has been changed up this twelvemonth . registrant will receive an email invitation with instructions for submit matter idea in forward motion , rather than on site . They can also vote and comment on topics suggested by others .
guideline call for ideas related to category direction and retail trends . Up to 12 alone Roger Huntington Sessions are possible , with six academic session running concurrently during each of two 50 - minute blocks . A networking break is schedule between auction block . Final topics will be announced as the event date draw near , and attendees can break up which sessions to attend on website .
“ Fresh connectedness : Retail is about networking and start out relevant , engaging conversation to harness real - world challenge and chance , ” said Burns . “ We look forward to the generative dialogue and thought partnership we ’ve add up to expect from this event and our attendees . ”
April 10 Activities Service Project , PMA thinkTANK & Opening Reception .
For the second year , a modified number of Fresh Connections : Retail attendee can participate in an optional volunteer community armed service projection through Philabundance and the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market .
Up to 20 conference attendees can serve on PMA ’s Produce Market Rescue glean team . The PMA team will work a shift sorting through produce at the sweeping market from about 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on April 10 . Volunteers will reap produce that otherwise would be make out because it ’s not cosmetically pleasing , and the gleaned produce will be redirected to food - insecure neighbors in the Philadelphia area .
Those concerned are encouraged to read early for Fresh Connections : Retail at pma.com and select the Rescue Glean with Philabundance issue on the registration form .
“ Many PMA fellow member throughout the sweet green groceries supplying chain workplace to trim food wasteland in their own operations . The Rescue Glean is an opportunity to knead with local organizations to further reduce food for thought waste and make a difference in the Philadelphia biotic community , ” said Joe Watson , PMA vice president of membership Eastern U.S. & Canada .
In conjunction with the Fresh Connections : Retail effect , PMA will also host an invitation - only PMA thinkTANK with industry leadership on April 10 . word will focalise on topics relevant to bring forth retail . The session is one of a series PMA has planned at dissimilar events this year where invited thought cooperator will plight in vivacious dialogue around a salmagundi of issue and pressing issues present the fresh produce and/or flowered industriousness . Participation in any PMA thinkTANK session is by invitation ; however , interested members are encouraged to contact Michelle Hill at[email protected]to be turn over for succeeding opportunity .
The Fresh Connections : Retail Opening Reception is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 10 .
For more information : Cassidy TaylorProduce Marketing AssociationPh : +1 ( 302 ) 781 - 5852[email protected]www.pma.com
