Restaurant and foodservice operators around the country are arising from the proverbial ashes. With that many industry events, conventions, and other large gatherings are tentatively working towards ending their hiatuses.
With the changes in CDC guidelines, the trade show industry is set to return from a year of virtual events to in-person gatherings. With the prevalence of vaccines and new government guidelines, the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) has decided The NAFEM Show is returning to the classic, in-person trade show setting this August.
The biennial event has become synonymous with the introduction of ground-breaking appliances and equipment designed to make restaurants more efficient in labor, operations and training. Many industry pundits expect that this year’s focus will be on takeout and delivery innovation. “Many of our attendees are looking to maintain the volume they were able to build from takeout and delivery during the pandemic and at the same time welcome back guests to their dining rooms,” noted NAFEM’s executive director Deirdre Flynn.
“Smart phones have had so much impact on our industry,” Flynn explained. “Whether it’s a restaurant customer ordering or an operator maintaining safe temperatures in multiple kitchens, our show reflects the very latest innovation.”
“We’re trying to give attendees the lay of the land as comprehensively and efficiently as possible,” Flynn said. “We are doing a lot to make sure that exhibitors and attendees know we are committed to facilitating a safe experience. First off, Orlando is a certified global bio-risk certified convention center, so employees there are following all necessary protocols to ensure health and safety for everyone involved. We’ve also had a number of people on our show-planning team global bio-risk certified, so that they can also play a key role in keeping the event safe.”
Flynn and her team anticipate a fairly normal show experience for both attendees and exhibitors. “Luckily, we are also not anticipating any limitations on how many people can enter the booths of exhibitors at one time in meeting rooms however, we will still be maintaining the required social distancing rules,” Flynn noted.
“In regard to individual precautions, hand sanitization will be extremely prevalent. We will also have multiple forms of signage touching on every aspect of safety distributed throughout the event, and any booth that involves direct interaction or samples will receive a NAFEM hand-washing and sanitization station,” stated NAFEM’s long time executive director.
When asked if she had any advice for attendees, Flynn urged all potential buyers to write their shopping lists with the future in mind. “If restaurants have done anything over the past year, it’s adapt. If there’s anything positive that’s come out of this whole pandemic, it’s been the realization by many restaurants that they don’t want to go back to how things were. These businesses want to keep moving forward from where they are now. Many have realized that their adaptations and accommodations have actually been improvements to efficiency and productivity, so with that in mind, I’d recommend restaurateurs keep their eyes open for products that might further build on the successes they’ve created over the past year.”
“One of the most important parts of NAFEM hosting this in-person show is what it means for the industry as a whole,” stated Flynn. “We’ve had a tremendous response from both the exhibitor and the attendee community, and honestly this is probably the very first chance the industry will have to come together again in person since the beginning of the pandemic. We’ve all learned how to make do on our own or digitally, but there’s just something special about everybody coming together physically. It’s almost symbolic in that it’s indicative of the industry’s recovery.”
For more information about the NAFEM Show 2021, visit the website now for all things show-related. Attendees can register online. The NAFEM Show 2021 will take place August 26th-28th in Orlando, Florida.
To receive a complimentary badge and scholarship check, you must:
- Be a first-time attendee and have not attended The NAFEM Show with a current and/or previous employer
- Select “Yes, as a first-time attendee, I want to apply for a scholarship” on your online registration form
- Agree to the terms and conditions of the program and submit your application by the Aug. 2 deadline
- Keep an eye on your inbox while your application is being processed and expect a confirmation email within two weeks
- Show your photo ID and scan your badge at the NAFEM booth between 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28 to verify your attendance (verification is NOT AVAILABLE on Thursday, Aug. 26 or Friday, Aug. 27)
The NAFEM Show 2021 is brought to you by the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM), a trade association of more than 600+ foodservice equipment and supplies (E&S) manufacturers – a $13 billion industry – providing products for food preparation, cooking, storage and table service. Founded in 1948, NAFEM businesses, their employees and the products they manufacture, support the food away from home market – which includes more than one million locations in the U.S. and countless more around the world.
