the PRIVATE BANK of CALIFORNIA

Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo

08.21.12

The Bank attended the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center last week.  The three day tradeshow and conference consisted of exhibits, experiences, educational programs, panels and forums all relating to the food industry.  The annual event is attended by restaurateurs, representatives and staff of restaurants, bakeries, catering companies, hospitals, universities, bars/nightclubs, and others involved in the hospitality industry who are looking to gain a fresh perspective on their business.   Local distribution companies, manufacturing businesses and other prospective Bank clients were also in attendance.

“Prospecting opens dialogue with a company,” said Joseph P. Mauriello, Senior VP Relationship Manager at the Orange County branch. “It allows a window of opportunity to convey common interest and profile the company by listening to the business owner and/or company representative.  Once the profile looks like a fit for the Bank, then the work has just begun.” 

The expo featured the Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum which featured experts handpicked by Ferdinand Metz, Master Chef and head of the Culinary Institute of America for more than 20 years, who provided practical, relevant, real-life business lessons, along with trends, best practices and the keys to success in the foodservice industry.  A new event to this year’s show was the Food Trends Experience housed in its own theater.  The space provided an educational, interactive and entertaining area where restaurant and foodservice industry trends were highlighted by industry professionals.  They provided direct access to product, flavors and ingredients driving the most recent trends in the market.  Co-located with the show was the Expo Comida Latina which presented 300 booths of food, ingredients and services, new and traditional, authentic Hispanic flavors and products, and focused educational sessions on Hispanic market trends, economy and US distribution.

For more information on the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo, visit www.westernfoodexpo.com.