The Expo keynote speaker was Keith Knopf, president and CEO of Raleys. Knopf is pictured here (center) with CLFP Chair Nick Kastle (l) and CLFP President Rob Neenan (r). Following is an excerpt from an article by Ching Lee that appeared in the California Farm Bureau's Ag Alert publication about his remarks:Knopf spoke about customers' changing habits and preferences, and how these changes influence trends in the supermarket aisle.
Much of it is being driven by millennials, now the largest U.S. demographic group, he said, though he noted baby boomers still have considerable buying power. Americans are eating at home more, he said, but they're not necessarily cooking, so they're buying more prepared foods. People are also learning and caring more about nutrition and ingredients. In addition, they want premium brands, but they want them at affordable prices, he said.
"A decade ago, people were willing to pay up," Knopf said. "If a brand was a premium, they were willing to pay for it. Now they have the same expectations, but not at any price; there's too many options."
People's expectations for great-quality, nutritious and healthy foods at an affordable price put greater "pressure on all of us to improve the quality of our food offerings," at a time when the cost to produce that food continues to go up, he said.
The Expo also included a well-attended pre-Expo Labor and Employment Workshop, an expansive trade show floor, multiple industry workshops, a Northern California Institute of Food Technologists luncheon, a Tasting Pavilion, which included a cooking demonstration by the Farm Girl Chef, and the annual and always popular Supplier Host Council Silent Auction.
Click here to view a Expo photo gallery.
Due to long-term renovations resulting in the temporary closure of the Sacramento Convention Center, the 2020 Expo will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center, February 12-13. In post Expo surveys both attendees and exhibitors rank word-of-mouth as a leading reason for participating in the Expo. During the next 11 months, CLFP encourages its members to help spread the word about the 2020 Expo.
If you are interested in exhibiting at the 2020 Expo or being an Expo sponsor, contact Olivia Johnson. Information regarding early bird booth registration rates and deadlines will be distributed soon.