Worldwide Food Expo, the biennial food and beverage technology trade show sponsored by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS) and the American Meat Institute (AMI),  is gearing up for its 2005 event at Chicago’s McCormick Place, Oct. 26-29. Show organizers call the show the food and beverage industry’s premier showcase of processing, packaging, equipment, ingredients and services.

Industry professionals will find solutions for the manufacturing process, from receiving and blending, processing and packaging, material handling and distribution. Attendees include executives, plant managers, purchasing agents, engineers, researchers and operations managers — decision-makers at all levels of the food and beverage industry.

Worldwide Food Expo is expected to attract 30,000 attendees from 100 countries, more than 1,200 exhibitors covering 1.2 million square feet of floor space. The exhibit floor is comprised of two areas, the Food, Dairy & Beverage Exposition and the International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Exposition.

The show also features more than 45 educational workshops that address issues, trends and processing technologies. This year’s show will include an enhanced educational program, highlighted by six new Super Sessions, including:

 Leadership in Turbulent Times: Unlocking Potential — Author Robert Cooper explores how exceptional leaders and teams can liberate untapped potential and excel under pressure. Cooper is the author of the Wall Street Journal business bestseller “The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for Leadership and Life.” He is recognized for pioneering work with the concept of emotional intelligence and the neuroscience of trust, ingenuity and leadership and how these factors help star performers reach beyond good to achieve greatness in the workplace.

 Micro Trends Matter: Understanding Retail Food and Consumer Trends — What will be the next major trends in the way consumers live, shop and eat? Tom Rubel, president and chief executive officer of Retail Forward Inc., helps identify these emerging opportunities and challenges for retailers and food manufacturers and encourages businesses to focus on customer expectations in developing integrated strategies to achieve long-range goals. Rubel specializes in helping clients transform themselves in anticipation of market change.

 Connecting Brands to Evolving Consumers — Learn how to keep a brand relationship alive and fresh while still leveraging brand equity. Kevin Lane Keller, one of the nation’s leading branding experts, is a professor at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business, and has worked with top brands like Intel, Nike, Starbucks, Pillsbury and Kraft.  Keller shares case studies from his popular book, “Best Practice Cases in Branding,” and reveals how effective branding can be an invaluable tool.

 The Antidote for Anti-Corporate Activism — Gain a better understanding of anti-corporate activism trends and strategies from communications expert Jim Lukaszewski, chairman of The Lukaszewski Group Inc., as he shares insight gained from coaching organizations on tough corporate communication issues. Learn how to improve your company’s response when faced with activist counteraction, community relations, grassroots campaigns and reputation threats.

 Forecasting the Impact of Macro Trends and Demographics — Author, forecaster and design strategist Andrew Zolli helps multinational corporations, governments and other organizations see, understand and respond to complex and emerging change by connecting trends in demographics, technology, geopolitics and business. In addition to heading his firm, Z + Partners, Zolli is a contributor to Popular Science and American Demographics magazines, and the author of the “Catalog of Tomorrow,” which explores 100 trends and technologies for the next 25 years.

 Business Ethics in a Changing World — How can responsible businesses be ethically proactive to avoid public problems that harm their reputation and undermine customer confidence? Business ethics expert Marianne Jennings, professor of legal and ethical studies at Arizona State University, provides clear tips on how corporations can establish values up front and create an ethical climate within an organization. She also shares case studies of companies affected by financial improprieties.

Worldwide Food Expo ‘05 also has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Commerce for its International Buyer Program, marking the fifth time it has been chosen for the program. According to show organizers, being a part of the International Buyer Program raises Expo’s international profile and enhances its ability to serve food and beverage companies from around the world.

Part of the U.S. Commercial Service, the International Buyer Program has been promoting Worldwide Food Expo and its exhibitors through U.S. embassies, consulates and trade missions around the world.  The program facilitates meetings with qualified foreign buyers, representatives and distributors, and will assemble delegations to attend the show. It also offers show visitors access to international trade leads and export counseling, and provides onsite assistance in the show’s international business center.

International visitors will have access to translation services, private conference rooms, international telephone lines and export-import support from the Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service. The service also provides the latest statistics on food processing equipment imports by country; advice on shipping methods; trade experts to assist with export strategies, including targeting new markets; advice on compliance with trade regulations; and assistance from agencies including the Export-Import Bank and the Small Business Administration.

10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Manufacturing Solutions Session in Spanish - Strategic Program Requisites for Marketing to U.S. customers (part 1)