We were delighted to have the opportunity to connect with others in the food and beverage processing and packaging industry at Process Expo in Chicago. If you missed it, here are some highlights of the event: 

It was wonderful to gather in person again with like-minded individuals. Process Expo ran smoothly and the trade show organizers did a fantastic job creating an informative, inspiring event.

There was so much to see and learn about the different types of food processing equipment, what they are used for, and the materials they process. 

We enjoyed meeting people and having conversations with food and beverage processing and packaging experts and hearing about all the innovation happening in the space. 

It became apparent that this is an industry that can greatly benefit from both trade shows and digital marketing. The two actually complement one another very nicely. 

That said, we would implore manufacturers to make sure that they are seeing a return from trade shows they attend. With companies paying up to $1 million to exhibit at trade shows, it is imperative to see a positive ROI from such a hefty investment. 

Our favorite part of Process Expo was taking part in the Defeat Hunger campaign. The generous contributions from those in attendance raised $75,000 for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This money will be used to purchase nutritious food for families across Chicago and Cook County, making an incredible impact on the community.

What is in the Future for Trade Shows?

We spoke with several people at Process Expo who said that they plan to continue attending trade shows but not as many as they used to. It seems that those who formerly attended tradeshows regularly are considering just attending the few largest ones. Perhaps this means the smaller trade shows will be phased out over time?

Do you have more trade shows on your calendar? If so, make sure to read How Digital Marketing and Trade Shows Can Go Hand in Hand to make sure that you are getting the most out of upcoming events from a digital perspective.