Feb 27, 2015

2015 Conference Breaks Attendance Record

 

Washington, DC, February 27, 2015 – Exhibitors at the Annual Meat Conference (AMC), hosted by the North American Meat Institute Foundation (NAMIF) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) this week in Nashville, Tennessee, donated 5,100 pounds of meat and poultry products to The Nashville Food Project , a nonprofit that seeks to increase access to healthy foods in homeless and working poor communities across Davidson County, Tennessee.  The packages of beef, pork, chicken and other meat cuts were highlighted during the conference’s Product Tasting Reception, which featured more than 60 exhibiting companies. 

"Meat Institute member companies have a long history of donating high-quality, nutritious meat and poultry products to help support hunger relief throughout our nation,” said NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter.  “We are pleased to continue this tradition with a large donation of healthy, nutrient-dense protein to the Nashville community.”  

AMC exhibitors have donated thousands of pounds of meat and poultry to host communities over the years, including more than 5,000 pounds in Atlanta in 2014 and more than 6,000 pounds in Nashville in 2013. 

FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin commented, “Our coordination with the Nashville Food Project reflects broadly what food retailers and their supplier partners do every day within their own communities by feeding families and ensuring access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.” 

The 2015 AMC also broke previous attendance records, attracting more than 1,030 members of the retail grocery and meat industries.  This year’s conference featured nine concurrent education sessions that examined marketing developments, merchandising issues and consumer purchasing trends facing the industry.  NAMI and FMI also released the results of the 10th annual Power of Meat study, which explores consumer perceptions, attitudes and behaviors regarding fresh and processed meat and poultry.    

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ABOUT NAMI

 

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) is the leading voice for the meat and poultry industry.  Formed from the 2015 merger of the American Meat Institute (AMI) and North American Meat Association (NAMA), the Institute has a rich, century-long history and provides essential member services including legislative, regulatory, scientific, international and public affairs representation. NAMI's mission is to shape a public policy environment in which the meat and poultry industry can produce wholesome products safely, efficiently and profitably. Together, the Institute's members produce the vast majority of U.S. beef, pork, lamb and poultry and the equipment, ingredients and services needed for the highest quality products. 

  

ABOUT FMI

 Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.