Three trade show leaders joined forces to announce the launch of ProFood Tech, a new event that will focus on processing technologies serving the food and beverage industry. ProFood Tech will make its debut April 4-6, 2017, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The event is powered by three of the world’s trade show leaders — PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies; Koelnmesse; and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). PMMI is the owner and producer of the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows and represents North American manufacturers of equipment, components and materials for processing and packaging. Koelnmesse organizes world leading trade shows for the food and beverage industries as well as for the food and beverage processing industries, such as Anuga and Anuga Food Tec in Cologne, Germany. IDFA is North America’s largest dairy association, representing more than 85 percent of all North American manufacturing of dairy products. 

“In assessing the current trade show landscape, we saw there was a need for a dedicated event that brings buyers together with leading world-wide manufacturers in the food and beverage industry,” said Charles D. Yuska, president and chief executive officer for PMMI, in a statement. “ProFood Tech provides a venue to share the latest innovations and crossover technologies from multiple vertical markets within the food and beverage industry and will be that one-stop-shop featuring exhibits from both large companies that serve several customer segments and smaller niche companies with focus on more specific needs.” 

ProFood Tech will provide a wide perspective on the food and beverage processing industry as a whole and feature cutting edge solutions to the challenges the industry is facing every day on the plant floor, the associations note. 

More than a trade show, ProFood Tech provides both large and small suppliers the opportunity to build their businesses by breaking into new food and beverage markets, solidifying their status as industry leaders and reaching a large group of customers at one event, the associations add. 

“In a close dialogue with leading technology suppliers from around the globe, we aim to create a market platform in the United States that is tailored to the requirements of domestic and foreign exhibitors and visitors,” explained Gerald Böse, president and chief executive officer of Koelnmesse, in a statement. “Over a period of decades, Koelnmesse has established an excellent reputation world-wide as a trade show organizer, especially in the field of food products and food technology. Examples include the leading international trade fair Anuga, the world’s biggest and most important trade show for the food industry, as well as related spin-offs around the world.

“ProFood Tech marks a further logical step in Koelnmesse’s strategy aimed at offering expert support to our customers in various target markets in our role as a global service provider,” Böse continues.

With an expansive show floor and enhanced educational programming led by IDFA, ProFood Tech will attract high-level buyers from every food and beverage sector. 

“The opportunities for new ideas and break-through solutions are amazing when executives from related businesses come together to discuss, review and experience the innovations, products and services available today,” said Connie Tipton, president and chief executive officer of IDFA, in a statement. “IDFA is proud to partner with these trade show leaders and to continue our tradition of bringing industry suppliers, processors and manufacturers together so they can find profitable business solutions, discover new technologies and see the innovations that are abundant in our industry.” 

Industry leaders, including Delkor Systems Inc., and Tetra Pak, are excited about the opportunities that ProFood Tech will offer. 

“As a longtime member of both IDFA and PMMI, Delkor is very pleased to see the attention and focus that ProFood Tech will bring to the North American food and beverage industry,” said Dale Andersen, president and chief executive of Delkor Systems Inc., in a statement. ”Koelnmesse’s outstanding reputation as a trade show organizer only strengthens this collaboration.” 

Carla Fantoni, vice president of communications for Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada, added: ”As a world leader in processing and packaging technologies, Tetra Pak is excited about the potential ProFood Tech holds. The joint efforts of PACK EXPO, Anuga and IDFA clearly demonstrate a commitment from these three leading organizations to establish a trusted brand serving all food and beverage categories. We think this consolidated approach will help suppliers and customers alike make the most of the show.” 

ProFood Tech will combine the experience and recognition of PACK EXPO, Anuga and IDFA to create an event that will be unprecedented in its ability to address all of the issues facing food and beverage processing operations in the North American marketplace like sustainability, improved operations and food safety, the associations state.