From Our Print Edition

Alyssa Brown and Lorenzo Neri of Valsoia SpA, at the Taste of Excellence.

Manufacturers held an estimated 3,600 meetings with retailers. Here’s a look at the strong numbers.

More than 1,400 industry executives — a new record — attended the convention of the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association Oct. 15-18 in Orlando, Fla. Some 100 retailers held an estimated 3,600 business appointments with manufacturers at the event.  

Olivia Foods’ Andrew Wright and Marcelle Smalley chill with FRBuyer’s Paul Chapa.

That included 600 speed meetings, with 25 retailers and nearly 100 manufacturers participating. These meetings — up by 20% from 2019 — accommodated new members and smaller manufacturers who may have difficulty getting regular appointments. 

The opening Taste of Excellence Reception on Sunday, Oct. 16, featured 52 manufacturers, including 13 new NFRA member companies, showcasing 120 frozen and refrigerated food products.

An awards luncheon recognized the 2022 Golden Penguin winners for the March Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month and June/July Ice Cream & Novelties promotions. Award winners with the highest scoring entries were revealed as Top Marketers. There were four Top Marketer winners for March Frozen Food Month: North Florida Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, Jacksonville; B&G Foods, Parsippany, N.J.; Chris’ Food Center, Sandstone, Minn.;  and Schraad Sales & Marketing, Oklahoma City, Okla. The two winners for June Dairy Month were: Land O’Lakes, Arden Hills, Minn.; and Brookshire Grocery Company, Tyler, Texas. Top Marketers for the Ice Cream & Novelties promotion were: Bubbies Ice Cream, Phoenix; and Babbs Supermarket, Spencer, Ind. (Not all winners are pictured.) 

Next year’s convention will be Oct. 7-10 at the Marriott Marquis, San Diego. For info: NFRAConvention.org.

Thumbs up from the NFRA team, with an assist from newly inducted Frozen Food Hall of Famer Ray Tarnowski.

Bubbies Ice Cream, Top Marketer, Ice Cream & Novelties.

Weis Markets, Golden Penguins, Frozen Food Month and June Dairy Month.

25 retailers held 600 ‘speed meetings’ for newer/smaller manufacturers.

Land O’Lakes, Top Marketer, June Dairy Month.

Schraad Sales & Marketing, Top Marketer, Frozen Food Month.

North Florida Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, Top Marketer, Frozen Food Month in partnership with Southeastern Grocers.

Babbs Supermarket, Top Marketer, Ice Cream & Novelties.