This year, United Fresh is co-located with The Food Marketing Institute event, FMI Connect. Don’t view the dividing line between the two exhibit floors as an uncrossable barrier. Instead, consider it a welcome mat to countless opportunities just waiting to be discovered. Below are just a few ideas that we encourage you to explore!

1. Peruse the FMI Connect exhibitor directory in advance of the event and identify complementary brands/products/ services with great partnership potential. Schedule introductory meetings with them and be prepared to wow them with your vision of what could be!
2. Packaging innovations across the FMI showfloor can provide inspiration for your own products…simply walk the floor with an open mind and see where it takes you.
3. A different perspective is valuable in many instances and FMI Connect provides an entire tradeshow of various viewpoints just waiting to be discovered! Ask FMI exhibitors and attendees for their take on a dilemma or opportunity. For example, what is their customer service protocol? Or, how did they achieve such great results on “new product rollout x”?
4. Different perspectives are a two-way street. Co-locating with FMI Connect allows our industry members and salad bar proponents to share all the good that the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative has achieved. You can inspire other companies, or even an industry as a whole, to support their own charitable causes. Or, even better, sell them on the benefits of supporting ours!
5. The Supermarket Chef Showdown will demonstrate how anyone can create a delicious, healthy dish from the products in supermarkets – and we know that accomplishment requires many FRESH ingredients. Watch culinary experts from around the world showcase their talents in an exciting competition on Wednesday, June 11, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.

We’re certainly looking forward to capitalizing on this very convenient co-location of two great events. For more insights about and tips to enhance your United Fresh 2014 experience, download the Passport to Chicago today!