Annual Convention - Spirit of '76!
Make plans to join industry friends and colleagues at the upcoming Vermont Food Industry Convention & Expo. This year's event will be held at the Sheraton Burlington and the Miller Centre South at the Champlain Valley Exposition in nearby Essex Jct. September 24-26.
Highlights:
Friday Golf Outing at the Kwiniaska Country Club
Friday evening welcome reception at UVM's Fleming Museum
A variety of period entertainment within the Expo Hall
Seminars will include "Using Social Media to Promote your Store," "New Lighting Information to Prepare for the Phase out of T-12's," "New Payment Card Security Requirements" and "DLC Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Training."
Vermont "Best Bagger" Competition
Saturday's Chairman's Banquet at the Sheraton Burlington will feature Rusty DeWees as The Logger.
Closing Sunday Brunch
For exhibit reservations, please contact Donna at the association office, 1-800-842-8503 or donna@vtgrocers.org.
Download...
Exhibit Diagram (PDF)
Exhibit Brochure (PDF)
Exhibitor Show Kit (PDF)
Sponsorship Opportunties (PDF)
Convention Weekend Program (PDF)
Registration Form (PDF)
Sheraton Burlington Hotel Reservations
2009 Highlights
September 11-13 marked the Vermont Grocers' Association 75th anniversary convention & expo at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction and Sheraton Burlington. The Vermont Food Industry Convention & Expo is the state's most comprehensive trade show featuring the latest in products, services, and equipment. This year's show occupied over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Miller Expo Centre South. The Sheraton Burlington Conference Center is the host hotel.
The Expo was sold out with 150 exhibit booths. Vendors, including about 20 new ones, offered a wide variety of products and services for all food and beverage retailers and restaurants.
The convention featured a host of workshops, seminars, events, and entertainment for participants and attendees. For the "links enthusiasts," all had a good time at the opening day Farrell Golf Outing. The Williston Golf Course hosted two flights of golfers for this popular outing. Later that day members and guests enjoyed an evening dinner cruise aboard the Northern Lights Boat in celebration of the Quadracentennial of Samuel de Champlain's voyage to the lake named after him.
Seminars and workshops included Riding the Waves of Change with noted industry leader, Harold Lloyd; Alcohol and Tobacco Certification Training; Cutting & Merchandising Beef for Optimal Performance and Beverage & Cheese Pairings. A lineup of fine entertainment was lined up throughout Saturday's show.
The annual Silent Auction was held at the Sheraton, with proceeds benefiting the Vermont Grocers' Scholarship Fund. The association annually awards $20,000 in scholarships to Vermont students. Other events at the Sheraton included a Saturday evening reception and dinner with entertainment by the Phil Abair Band and the closing brunch at the VGA annual meeting on Sunday morning.
Several of the state's food retailers had their best baggers on hand to compete for the state title and opportunity to represent Vermont at the national competition in Las Vegas this coming winter. The competition featured reusable bags this year. This year's winner was Dawn Tye of Hannaford, Dorset St, South Burlington.
This year's convention co-chairs were Marcel Marquis of Shaw's and MaryAnn Travers of Garelick Farms.
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