says Caitlin Rodgers, marketing director of exhibitions at Informa Connect, which owns and operates the show. There will still be programming on the exhibition floor, but the elevated experience was developed in response to attendee requests for “more topics that they can deep-dive into and that will help them with their businesses,” Rodgers explains.


Expo+Education will feature five


different tracks and more than 40 different educational sessions. Dealers, operators and exhibitors can participate for an additional fee. All sessions will be recorded and available for playback after the show — a first for the National Restaurant Association Show. The event’s on-floor programming will include some of the food industry’s best chefs and mixologists strutting their stuff and demonstrating some of the latest food and beverage trends. Some of the educational


opportunities attendees will find at this year’s show include culinary insights (e.g., culinary and menu innovations and emerging flavor trends); marketing matters (new consumer trends, insights and engagement strategies to successfully market a brand and connect with today’s evolving consumer); technology (artificial intelligence, location-based marketing and how to assess and prioritize technology needs). This is just a sampling of the many different educational opportunities that will be presented at the show.


Emerging Companies & Ideas Last year, the National Restaurant


Association Show drew an impressive crowd of industry professionals from all 50 states and boasted a diverse international presence from 107 different countries. The four-day event hosted nearly 55,000 foodservice professionals and experienced an 8 percent growth in total registrants


compared to 2022. This year, the show is expected to welcome more than 250 new exhibitors and was already pacing ahead of 2023’s Early Bird Registration numbers as of early December. “We’re very pleased with the


registrations so far and excited to have a lot of individuals and exhibitors signing up to join us in Chicago in May,” Rodgers says. Many of those attendees will converge on McCormick Place to hear insights shared by the likes of José Andrés, a world- renowned chef and humanitarian who is headlining this year’s show. Andrés’ keynote discussion will focus on the transformative impact of his culinary innovation and philanthropic endeavors, inspiring positive change within communities around the world. The show’s global reach and its ability to attract the leaders driving the industry forward are testaments to how effective it has been at showcasing innovations and emerging companies. In 2024, the National Restaurant Association Show will take another step forward on that front with a reimagining of the Startup Alley section. Initially dedicated to technology, Startup Alley is now open to any new exhibitor or business that’s been operating for two years or less. “For new entrepreneurial companies


that are coming into the food service marketplace, this is a great opportunity for them to shine, excel and get brand awareness and immediate feedback from operators,” Rodgers says, noting that some Startup Alley participants have also applied for the Kitchen Innovation Awards, which celebrate forward-thinking, cutting-edge equipment that’s making a significant impact on the food industry. At press time, Informa Connect had


already signed up 160 new exhibitors and was on track to reach more than 250 new companies for the 2024 show. Attendees should anticipate a


“For new entrepreneurial companies that are coming into the food service marketplace, this is a great


opportunity for them to shine, excel and get brand awareness and immediate feedback from operators.”


— Caitlin Rodgers Marketing Director of Exhibitions Informa Connect


continued emphasis on tech topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics on the exhibition floor and are encouraged to check out the industry-altering products shaping the future of foodservice. In addition to the Kitchen Innovation Awards, the Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards will recognize food and beverage products that are breaking new ground in taste, creativity and profit potential.


Trend-Tracking in the Food Industry


Some of the food trends that will be featured at the National Restaurant Association Show include a continued focus on making plant-based foods healthier and tastier and an overall focus on creating more sustainable products. From the equipment standpoint, Rodgers says some of the coolest innovations attendees can expect to see at the show are the consumer-oriented touchscreens that support more self-service across an array of different foods and beverages.


Winter 2023 17


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