The board of directors of theInternational Dairy Foods Association(IDFA) said it voted Wednesday to switch the association's dairy trade show to "an annual event focused on the dairy industry."
The move effectively ends 10 years of IDFA co-locating with theAmerican Meat Institute(AMI) in a biennial event, theWorldwide Food Expo, in Chicago.
"The launch of a new annual International Dairy Show in 2010 gives the dairy industry a great opportunity to focus on industry trends and to keep up with a rapidly changing marketplace," said Gary Vanic, president and CEO of Great Lakes Cheese Company and chairman of the IDFA Board.
IDFA said its own show -- focused only on dairy industry trends and innovations -- will provide great value for the dairy community and IDFA members. Exhibitors and attendees who participate in Worldwide Food Expo indicated through interviews and surveys that an annual event would create more opportunity to showcase product and packaging innovation, as well as provide more frequent interaction between suppliers and processors.
"With the new show, we will be able to focus on the topics, issues and products dairy professionals care about most," said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO. "It will provide the learning, networking and trade show experience the dairy industry depends on to stay on top of the latest trends and issues."
The newInternational Dairy Showwill be held September 13-15, 2010, in Dallas, Texas, and will become a three-day event. The location of future shows will be based on competitive pricing and access for exhibitors and attendees.
IDFA, Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $110-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: theMilk Industry Foundation(MIF), theNational Cheese Institute(NCI), and theInternational Ice Cream Association(IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States.