World of Latino Unveils September Dates To Maximize NJ Show’s Accessibility

World of Latino Cuisine 2018
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World of Latino Cuisine: El Mundo de la Cocina Latina is set to return for its fifth annual edition next month. From Wednesday, Sept. 19th through Thursday, Sept. 20th at the Meadowlands Expo Center the show will feature aisles and aisles of products from Latin America and the Caribbean.   

World Of Latino Cuisine 2017 2018The trade show provides a dynamic venue where Latino food producers, both domestic and international, exhibit their offerings for the ever-growing Hispanic marketplace. The World of Latino show features exhibits, educational workshops, culinary demonstrations by International celebrity chefs, and much more.

The show is projecting to double its attendance this year with a move of its dates from August to September. “We listened to both our exhibitors and attendees and they were thrilled with the value we were delivering in the Summer but felt we could attract more quality attendees in September as restaurants and foodservice professionals return from their vacations,” noted the show’s General Manager Bill Colon.

The annual food and beverage trade event includes the participation of domestic food manufacturers, producers, and distributors. Importers from the Caribbean and many Latin American countries also participate as exhibitors, with almost 200 in attendance.

Buyers and merchandisers, distributors, small- and medium-sized specialty food stores, regional chains, caterers, restaurants, independents, and bodegas are all expected to attend. Exhibit categories include frozen foods, groceries, organic products, dairy, beverages, and, in addition, non-food products.  With more than 2,500 foodservice industry operators expected to attend, sponsors expect the show to be even bigger than last year.

  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • Atosa USA
  • Texas Pete
  • Day & Nite
  • Imperial Dade
  • McKee Foodservice
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • RAK Porcelain
  • RATIONAL USA

Americans spend 4 percent of their disposable incomes eating out in restaurants, and 70% eating at home.  “If we just extrapolate that for the 4 percent and applied it to the $1.5 trillion, the Latino market just for food and beverage is between $180 and $200 billion,” Colon pointed out. “Even more enticing, the market continues to grow four or 5 percent a year.”

“Everybody talks about the challenge of reaching the millennial and what we have uncovered is we have discovered that 25 percent of millennials are Hispanic,” Colon explained. “We have also found that the Hispanic target is very attuned to purchasing products on-line through e-commerce. So our goal is to assist our exhibitors and attendees in making that connection.”

World of Latino Cuisine 2018“There are more than 5,000 Latino restaurants in the New York metro area and as the community grows and changes, there’s a tremendous amount of opportunity,” Colon added.  “Foodservice operators can come in, take a look at what’s happening in the Latino marketplace and see what they need to purchase to stay up with – or get into – this fabulous world of flavors.”

In the United States, the Hispanic market has a purchasing power of $1.3 trillion, according to Colon. “Many industry experts are surprised to hear that tortillas now outsell many traditional American hot dog and hamburger buns.”

Among the annual event’s goal is to create comfort for company’s new to the marketplace.  “People have to understand that Latinos consume far more than just rice and beans, we eat everything and we want our show to help you get your share of that marketplace,” Colon continued.  “Also there is no expensive barrier to entry that requires the expense of bilingual advertising and marketing or labeling.”

Highlighting this year’s education line up are a pair of much anticipated seminars.  Evelyn Brito is currently the writer and executive producer of Bodega Makeover.  On Wed, Sept 19th, she will host Bodega Makeover: A New Opportunity for Bodegueros.  On Thursday. Sept 20th, the Professors at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center will present Food Safety Certificate Class for Food Handlers. The interactive session will allow time for instructors to answer questions from the audience, and encourage audience participation for exchange of “best practices” advice on successful implementation of these programs in a food-processing environment.

Once again, the show will bring some of the biggest culinary stars to Metro New York. Award winning and best selling author Amalai Moreno-Damgaard, will take center stage with a series of culinary demos at the show.  The Guatemala native is a legendary figure in creating understanding and appreciation of Latin cuisine. Noted chef Ricardo Cardona is also once again slated to bring his visionary insight to this year’s World of Latino.

World Of Latino Cuisine 2017Last year’s World of Latino show also focused on Cuban cuisine.  “We sense an on-going fascination the potential of Cuba,” Colon noted. So this year we’re bringing one of them back Luis Battle who was very popular with our guests.

Colon and his team have focused on defining the opportunity in the marketplace for major companies including Goya. “The Specialty Food Association completed an interesting study earlier this year. They found their primary specialty food market to be generating some $120 billion per year. To give you perspective, the Latino market for food & beverages expenditures is now projected at $180 to $200 billion,” Colon explained.

“There’s huge opportunity here,” concluded Colon. “It’s a huge celebration that focuses on both fun and education.”


For more information on The World of Latino Cuisine Food Show, please visit their website.

  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • McKee Foodservice
  • Texas Pete
  • Atosa USA
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • Imperial Dade
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • RAK Porcelain
  • RATIONAL USA
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Day & Nite
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado