The 87th annual trade show and convention organised last week by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) turned out to be its second-largest exhibition to date.
With 416 (10ft x 10ft) exhibition spaces, the meeting at the Stampede BMO Centre and Hyatt Regency in Calgary, Canada, was almost 57 per cent larger than the last edition of the trade fair in Calgary during 2008, CPMA said in a press release.
The boutique style event on 11-13 April attracted an international audience and more than 230 exhibiting companies who are active in the fresh fruit and vegetable market in Canada.
Major retailers including Costco, Loblaw, Metro, Safeway, Sobeys, Sysco, Walmart, as well as local and regional retailers attended the show to cultivate business opportunities and generate new leads.
CPMA said this year’s show also provided “outstanding keynote speakers”, including: Joel Cohen (a Calgary native and executive producer and writer of The Simpsons) and Anthony D. Williams (co-author of Macrowikinomics and Wikinomics).
In addition, topical business sessions were joined by social media expert Krista Neher, as well as experts on consumer trends from Kraft Canada, StrategyOne and the University of Alberta.
At the close of this year’s event, CPMA revealed its new visual brand identity, designed to support the organisation’s continued evolution and commitment as a trusted source and leader in the produce industry.
CPMA’s annual show is produced in a cyclical fashion, visiting the same four Canadian cities (Montréal, Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver) every four years.
Plans are already underway for the 88th edition, which will take place in Toronto, Ontario, on 17-19 April 2013.
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