Three Super Sessions Offer Timely Insights at Worldwide Food Expo 2007

Washington, D.C. – Leading experts on the global economy, generational differences and their impact on the meat and dairy industries and broad consumer trends will provide timely insights during three Worldwide Food Expo Super Sessions at the 2007 Worldwide Food Expo, Oct. 24-27 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill.

The three sessions are:
Competing and Succeeding in a Global Economy, Oct. 24, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Never before have businesses felt such excruciating pressure to compete. While riding a roller coaster stock market, firms have struggled to raise prices, even when their costs go up. Loyal customers seem ready to jump to a competitor. China poses a threat, but also an opportunity for new sales. How can your company survive and thrive? What will Congress do to help or hurt your company in the coming year? Former White House Economic Policy Director, Trend Forecaster, Investor and Author Todd Buchholz will answer these questions and discuss how to anticipate the new trends that open up fresh opportunities for manufacturing, service and technology.

Generations, Lifestyles, and the Future of the Food Industry, Oct. 25, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Neil Howe, best-selling author and national speaker, is a renowned authority on generations in America, offers powerful insights into who today’s generation are, what motivates them as consumers and workers, and how they will shape our national future. Howe’s broadly cyclical perspective – oriented around familiar generational life stories – will put “the long term” into a stunning, yet personal focus that you won’t forget.

Consumer Trends: What America Eats and Drinks, Oct. 26, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Harry Balzer, vice president of NPD Group, will roll out the latest research on changing consumer habits and tastes. He will delve into a variety of food and beverage categories for nearly every major manufacturer from the unique perspective of what people do, rather than what they say they do. Find out which trends are just fads, and which ones should make you rethink your current business strategies and product development plans.

Special AMI General Session ‘The Seven Revolutions” and Annual Awards Program, October 26, 2007, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

AMI will offer a special General Session on The Seven Futures -- a close, micro look at critical trends – Population, Economics and Security – that will affect the following regions: Latin America, Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Russia, India/ South Asia, China/ East Asia.

Erik Peterson, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), will lead the session. As director of the Global Strategy Institute at CSIS, Peterson oversees the development and implementation of the Institute’s research agenda and publications program. Peterson holds a master’s in international finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a master’s in international law and economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. AMI also will present its Annual Awards during this special session.

Worldwide Food Expo 2007 features the Food, Dairy & Beverage Exposition and the AMI International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Industry Convention and Exposition and is sponsored by the American Meat Institute (AMI) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). Show registration is available now at http://www.worldwidefood.com, along with updated agendas, hotel and housing information, and a new feature “MyExpo” – an interactive guide to helping attendees get the most out of their visit to the Expo.

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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. The Institute provides legislative, regulatory, public relations, technical, scientific and educational services to the meat and poultry packing and processing industry.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 530 companies representing a $90-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85% of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. IDFA can be found online at www.idfa.org.