CHICAGO (NCDS) —The National Chocolate & Dessert Show (NCDS) returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier on Sunday, October 20 to Tuesday, October, 22 as the nation’s only trade show dedicated to the chocolate and dessert industry. Foodservice operators, retail buyers, chefs, and chocolatiers attendees will leave with the key learnings and solutions to run a successful chocolate or dessert operation or retail program.
With over 27 years’ experience organizing events and trade shows, President Mario Pi explains the need for the National Chocolate & Dessert Show. “Dessert, in particular chocolate, is a multi-billion dollar industry, but there wasn’t a platform for buyers and operators to get a comprehensive snapshot of the market. Last year’s inaugural show justified the previous 18 months of research that chocolate and dessert requires a focused trade show experience.”
While there are several trade shows where chocolate and dessert can be found, typically lost in sea of other products therefore there is the need for a focused show. “From mass production to artisan chocolatiers, chocolate and dessert producers have an artisan craftsmanship that requires specialty equipment, a concentrated focus on ingredients, and constant upkeep of the latest industry trends. We wanted to make it easy for both foodservice operators and retail buyers to have all the broader elements needed to build a chocolate or dessert program in one place with the focused objectives needed to address the niche industry,” says Pi.
Depended on an attendee’s buying needs, The National Chocolate & Dessert Show plays matchmaker with exhibitors that range from chocolate leaders such as Callebaut and Valrhona to smaller artisan wholesalers such as vegan confections from Desiderio Chocolates and the “Gremlins” from Betty Jane Candies.
This year’s NCDS also has a strong international presence such as cocoa supplier Cacao San Jose as well as the Indonesian and Ecuadorian Trade Councils. Exhibitors cover every aspect needed to develop marketable chocolate and dessert program such as specialty equipment from Savage Bros. Co., iPad ShopKeep POS systems, as well as access to the portfolio of leading chocolate products from KeHe Distributors.
NCDS sponsors of the National Confectioners Association’s Chocolate Council and the Fine Chocolate Industry Association as well as exhibitors’ top leaders will address attendee needs during educational conference programming on topics such as sourcing (fair trade vs. organic), consumer trends, business advice, and more.
The National Chocolate & Dessert Show overlaps with the consumer Chicago Fine Chocolate & Dessert Show which takes place Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20. Sunday attendees will have access to the consumer show to gain perspective from small artisan chocolatiers and pastry chefs as well as monitor consumer interests and tastes. Attendee registration opens May 15, 2013 for the National Chocolate & Dessert Show, and registration will launch free of charge to attendees. Exhibitor registration is open, and space is selling out quickly. To learn more about The National Chocolate & Dessert Show, please visit www.thenationalchocolateshow.com, Facebook or Twitter.