The NRA Show is a broad and horizontal show that tries to meet the needs and wants of all 63,000-plus attendees. The new and exciting things the NRA is introducing this year are designed to dig deeper and focus on specific segments to address attendee industry challenges. Here are five new items to check out:
Bellavita Italian Pavillion
“Italian cuisine was one of the top three consumer flavors in the NRA 2016 Global Palates survey,” says Leana Salamah, senior director, convention marketing, communications & programming, NRA. “It only made sense that the NRA partner with the largest Italian food and wine expo in London to make its debut at this year’s Show.”
The pavillion is located at Lakeside Center between aisles 10300 and 10800 and is included with your Show badge. Attendees can taste undiscovered treasures from Italian artisan producers, as well as the brands that made Italian food known all over the world. Attendees also can participate in master classes hosted by the finest top chefs and sommeliers from Italy.
Internet of Things (IoT)
What is the “Internet of Things” and how does it impact your operation? Go to the North Hall booth #5562 to find the answer. NRA has teamed up with Microsoft to bring you a fully immersive experience that shows you how to make the IoT work for your operation.
Foodservice at Retail Conference
Retail sales are on pace to grow 2.8 percent to $43 billion in 2016, outpacing all other segments, according to NRA 2016 Restaurant Industry Forecast. To tap into this potential and launch your own successful foodservice program, the Foodservice at Retail Conference is an immersive conference aimed at addressing challenges, opportunities, and best practices for your growing segment. The event takes place on Monday, May 23, 8:30 a.m., Room S105.
Non-Commercial Conference
Non-commercial sales are on track to top $59 million this year, which is a 2.6 percent rise over 2015. How are non-commercial operators keeping up? Learn how to do it right at this conference on Monday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m., Room S106. NRA will tackle issues ranging from food sourcing, concept development and adapting to ever shifting palates.
Signature ’16
A new approach to the annual keynote, Signature ’16, presented by American Express, will take place on Sunday at 2:00 pm in the Grand Ballroom (#S100). It’ll feature an interactive dialogue between industry game changers who are turning the tables on business as usual. They’ll share their passions as well as key learnings on how to work through challenges, such as balancing inconsistent supply and leveraging consumer demand to uphold a local, sustainable model; how to identify and leverage key differentiators to keep up with shifting consumer lifestyles; and why you need to re-think the traditional restaurant model.
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