By: Margaret Core, Vice President, Industry Events, Food Marketing Institute 

Before you get to FMI Connect, we thought you might like to see the numerical breakdown of what to expect. The event starts June 8-11 at the McCormick Center, South Hall in Chicago and it will be the biggest industry event FMI has hosted in years. Each day we see our numbers climbing. Here are the current numbers:

13,000+ Attendees and 5 football fields with co-location partners – United Fresh, International Floriculture Expo, Interbev 2015, Sabor Latino and U.S. Food Showcase.  The FMI Attendee list is posted here.

1,229 First-time attendees 

1,600+ Confirmed one-on-one business meetings as part of the Connect Business Exchange (CBX) 

420 Exhibitors

114 Sessions, research, networking and food occasions. Peruse the schedule of events here.

55 Countries worldwide including France, Spain, Lebanon, Egypt, India and Brazil

1 Host Country: Italy

FMI Connect’s program and Expo focuses on the imperatives of keeping ahead of the accelerating pace of change in food retail, specifically focusing on the catalysts and marketplace dynamics, which include intense competition from new formats, drive for operational excellence, and consumer transparency and customization – all of which are enabled by technology. FMI Connect will also showcase the marketing potential around an industry-wide initiative that underscores the health and societal benefits of shared meals at home.

There’s still time to make it to FMI Connect in Chicago. Visit www.FMIConnect.net for details. If you’re on your way to the event, I look forward to seeing you!