Nov 19, 2010
Industry’s Premier Educational Event Features Impressive Slate of Speakers and Workshops

Washington, D.C., November 19, 2010 — Registration is now open for the industry’s premier retail meat merchandising educational event, the Annual Meat Conference, slated for February 20-22, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas. This event is co-sponsored by the American Meat Institute (AMI) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

The conference each year attracts 800 members of the retail food and meat industries. It is considered the leading educational event focusing on meat and poultry marketing innovations, merchandising issues and consumer purchasing trends.

Associate sponsors include the American Lamb Board, Beef Checkoff, National Chicken Council, National Pork Board and National Turkey Federation.

Speakers to be featured during the three-day conference include:


  • Temple Grandin, Ph.D., one of the world’s most accomplished and well-known autistic adults, author and leading animal welfare expert. Grandin will talk about her life and her work to improve animal welfare. Her life was the focus of an HBO film which won seven Emmy Awards this year.

  • Brian Billick, former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens who led the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2000. He is now an analyst for FOX TV Sports and a contributor to the NFL Network. Billick will share his methods for bringing teams together to focus on achieving common goals and a “we” environment.

  • Jim Donald, president and CEO of Haggen, Inc., who began his career as a trainee with Publix Super Markets, Inc., and worked his way through the ranks of Albertsons, Walmart, and Safeway. He will discuss his experience at the helm of Starbucks, one of the most successful companies and business models in history, to provide ideas and tips on how to get your employees to act as if they were owners of their — and your — business.


     
Scheduled workshop topics include the economy and its industry impact; ensuring food safety; translating trends into sales; the power of social media; busting myths about modern meat production; meat case dynamics; developing a strategic vision; health and wellness in the meat department; and sustainability.

An in-depth look at the meat case through the shoppers’ eyes will be presented during the annual Power of Meat session.

The 2011 conference will feature the popular Product Tasting Reception on February 21. Nearly 50 meat and poultry companies are expected to showcase new products and brand line extensions to retail buyers.

AMC 2011 also will feature the annual Technology Fair on February 21 beginning at 11 a.m. At this expanded networking session, suppliers to the meat, poultry and retail supermarket industries will display new technology ranging from irradiation systems to labeling machinery to in-store processing and packaging equipment. Following the exhibit will be a luncheon.

If you register for the conference before January 7, the cost is $595 per person, or $545 for three or more members of the sponsoring associations. After January 7, registration is $695 per person, or $645 for three or more members registering together. Or take advantage of a special offer for FMI retailer and wholesaler members — purchase two registrations and get one free. The nonmember registration rate is $1,290 per person.

Visit www.MeatConference.com to view the complete conference program and register online.

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AMI represents the interests of packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey products and their suppliers throughout North America. Together, AMI’s members produce 95 percent of the beef, pork, lamb and veal products and 70 percent of the turkey products in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Institute provides legislative, regulatory, public relations, technical, scientific and educational services to the industry. Its affiliate, the AMI Foundation, is a separate 501(c)3 organization that conducts research, education and information projects for the industry.

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its 1,500 member companies — food retailers and wholesalers — in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate approximately 26,000 retail food stores and 14,000 pharmacies. Their combined annual sales volume of $680 billion represents three-quarters of all retail food store sales in the United States. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent supermarkets. Its international membership includes 200 companies from more than 50 countries. FMI’s associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.