Join frozen food industry leaders—from production, foodservice and retail to 3PL providers— for the 2013 Food Logistics Forum.

The Food Logistics Forum, co-hosted by the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), McLean, Va., and the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), Alexandria, Va., will provide the solutions and connections needed to navigate today’s increasingly complex cold chain. Logistics professionals serving every link in the food chain—from transportation managers at frozen food manufacturing facilities to public refrigerated warehouse operators—will benefit from the educational resources, regulatory information and business development opportunities offered by this joint venture.

The conference will kick off with an opening session presented by Greg Gilmer, logistics coordinator at NORPAC Foods, and Marty Steinmetz, president of national accounts for U.S. Cold Storage.

Then, Troy Beeler, client development manager for RetailNet Group, will discuss what the future brings to the food retail industry.

Bob Costello, chief economist from the American Trucking Association, will shed some light on the state of the trucking industry, while Marcus Wilcox, chief executive officer of Cascade Energy, and Richard Druce, director of facility maintenance supply chain distribution for SUPERVALU, will uncover the state of the energy union.

Next, Belinda Hess, director of marketing and food consumer for CSX Transportation; Dwight Price, director of sales and marketing for Cryo-Trans; and Mark Sampson, director of logistics for ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, will talk about how to maximize rail car fleet through collaboration.

Ron MacCulloch, warehouse director for J.R. Simplot, will discuss food pathogens and how they’re on the move, and Randy Jennings, director of food and beverage sales at Swisslog, will provide a short course on automation and how it’s revolutionized food distribution centers.

Additionally, Ryan Silberman, director of global business development from RefrigiWear, will talk about end-to-end supply chain management.

Attendees will also hear a panel discussion on refrigerated intermodal as a domestic transportation option, as well as a Washington update, presented by Kraig Naasz, president and CEO of AFFI. Mike Haining, senior vice president of logistics for The Schwan Food Co., will unveil processor best practices. Conference goers can also take a tour of a sustainable facility.

 And join in for a networking luncheon as Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ editor-in-chief Marina Mayer presents Hormel Foods Corp. with the 2013 Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year award (see page 30). 

To learn more about this event or to register to attend, go to www.affi.org