The 2009 International Food Technologists Annual Meeting & Food Expo, June 6-9, at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center brings together buyers and sellers from the food science and technology world. The IFT Food Expo features the latest products, technologies, tools, techniques and services at one of the industry’s most highly regarded new product forums.

With more than 1,000 exhibitors and 500 ingredient companies from around the globe, the IFT Food Expo acts as a one-stop shop for information on beverage and food industry information, trends, ideas and professional connections.

Tours and specialty pavilions

New this year, IFT is offering Trend Tours on the expo floor. Trend Tours are self-guided tours to the booths of exhibiting companies that offer innovative products or services related to major issues and current trends facing the food industry. Trend Tour maps for interesting routes are available at the Food Expo’s entrances.

 

In addition, for the first time, attendees searching for information from exhibitors will have the opportunity to hear 45-minute presentations about products on the expo floor. These sessions from companies such as Gelita, Corn Products International, Pharmachem, Purac America, Novozymes and Multisorb Technologies will be held in Hall D. A full schedule of presentations times and companies is available at am-fe.ift.org.

 

Specialty and Trend pavilions also provide IFT exhibitors a forum to showcase similar products and services in one area. Attendees can go to one location to find the latest product information for a particular aspect of the beverage and food industry — or visit educational forums and presentations that focus on trends, tastings and the global marketplace.

 

This year, the Specialty and Trend pavilions feature a new Sustainability pavilion. The collection of contractors in the new space provide services to assist beverage and food industry organizations in meeting the growing demand for sustainability in their operations. Special pavilions also will include the International, Healthy Food Ingredients, Organic Food Ingredients, Food Safety & Quality, Global New Products (presented by Mintel) and Taste the Trend (presented by Innova Market Insights).

 

General sessions

The IFT Food Expo will open with a keynote address titled “What’s Next? The Current Economy and the Future of Food,” on Sunday, June 7, from leading economic experts, Todd Buchholz and Jeffrey Alan Rosensweig. Buchholz is an award-winning economist at Harvard University, author of the book “Market Shock: 9 Economic and Social Upheavals that Will Shake our Financial Future,” and former White House economic policy director. Rosensweig is director of the global perspectives program and professor of international business and finance at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. He is also author of the book “Winning the Global Game: A Strategy for Linking People and Profits.”

 

The session will take on questions regarding economic and policy issues affecting the food industry. Their discussion will address the direction in which the industry is headed, and outline what companies can do to maintain their positions and/or prepare for success in the changing economic and political environment.

 

“Responsive Strategies to Changing Consumer Demands and Business Climate” will be the topic of the Theme General Session on Monday, June 8. Prominent senior management from PepsiCo, Unilever, Costco and Cargill will share their insights from food manufacturing, food retailing and food ingredients. Panelists will discuss how companies are evolving their business platforms to respond to rapid change and current events including consumer demand for locally produced foods; growing concerns about the safety of internationally sourced foods and ingredients; sustainability and commodity pricing.

 

Moderated by Noel Anderson, vice president World Wide Technical Insights at PepsiCo Inc., the Theme General Session will feature panelists Stephan Habif, vice president R&D North America at Unilever; Christine Summers, director of food safety and quality assurance at Costco Wholesale; and Chris Mallett, corporate vice president R&D at Cargill Inc.

 

Scientific program

As a leading provider of food science research, IFT Food Expo offers more than 200 scientific programs. IFT’s 2009 thematic programming addresses the topic of “Food Science from Producer to Consumer.” The program will address foods and food ingredients that are being sourced domestically and internationally, while demand for minimally processed, locally grown, natural and/or organic foods continues to build. The sessions also will cover: how can food science and technology be leveraged to deliver safe, sustainable, affordable, innovative, healthful and appealing foods, both locally and globally? And is the amount of food needed to feed the world in conflict with this and other trends? Theme elements include:

Symposia, workshops, panel discussions and roundtables will be categorized into program tracks to help attendees choose from the scientific and educational offerings available. The tracks include: Science Fundamentals, Applied Science, Transformative Research, New Products & Technologies, Student Programming, and Professional and Business Development. BI

Fortitech Inc.
2105 Technology Drive

Schenectady, N.Y. 12308

Web site: fortitech.com

IFT Booth No. 2223

 

Fortitech Inc. is a world leader in the development of custom nutrient premixes for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. It is the only international company exclusively dedicated to the development and manufacture of nutrient premixes. Fortitech premixes integrate functional ingredients from a comprehensive selection of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, nucleotides and nutraceuticals that are used in a wide range of products, including baby formulas, dairy products, nutrition and sports drinks, juices, waters, and supplements. The company has a global network of manufacturing and distribution facilities throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Mexico and the United States (New York and California). Fortitech is ISO 9001:2000 certified, with a stringent Allergen Monitoring Program, and meets GMA-safe, cGMP, GMO-free, HACCP, organic, kosher and halal standards.

 

Virginia Dare

882 Third Ave.

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11232

Web site: virginiadare.com

IFT Booth No. 1135

 

Virginia Dare, one of the world’s largest producers of vanilla extract, leveraged its pre-eminent vanilla extraction technology, and developed and successfully expanded its product portfolio to include tea extracts and concentrates. Made from tea leaves sourced from around the world, the tea line includes black, green and oolong teas, in liquid and dry forms. At this year’s IFT Food Expo, Virginia Dare will offer various tea beverages, including flavored tea lattes, floral-flavored iced tea and tea-based smoothies. Also on the daily menu will be some traditional and delicious sweet goods to accompany the tea – assorted scones, muffins and cookies.

 

National Starch Food Innovation

10 Finderne Ave.

Bridgewater, N.J. 08807

Web site: foodinnovation.com

IFT Booth No. 1237

 

National Starch Food Innovation's Q-Naturale emulsifier now has greater functionality for sparkling beverages, new age beverages, fortified waters, juices and alcohol beverages. Extensive studies have demonstrated that the product delivers very high oil loading and also works effectively in alcohol beverages and cocktail mixes. Flavor companies can now load 15 to 30 percent flavor oils into emulsions containing Q-Naturale emulsifier. When compared to gum Arabic, Q-Naturale can be used at very low usage levels. In alcohol beverages, Q-Naturale produces a high-quality emulsion, which makes for more appealing beverages. In wine coolers, flavored malt beverages and bar mixes, Q-Naturale emulsifier improves end product quality due to its consistent particle size, elimination of sedimentation and enhanced opacity. It is FDA approved/GRAS, non-GMO and also organic certified.

 

Amelia Bay

11800 Wills Road, Suite 120

Alpharetta, Ga. 30004

Web site: ameliabay.com

 

Amelia Bay provides custom tea extraction and formulation for the retail beverage and foodservice industry. Tea has become one of the world’s most innovative and dynamic markets. Consumers want ready-to-drink products that are lighter, healthier and more natural. By linking consumer insight with product development, the company can help turn current or new product lines into custom functional beverages that appeal to customers’ tastes and lifestyles. Vertical integration is the key to Amelia Bay’s success with RTD beverages. All raw materials are custom extracted using a proprietary process in its state-of-the art facility. The company’s tea extracts provide substantial antioxidant capacity, and polyphenol levels can be adjusted to meet preferred specifications. Amelia Bay provides full in-house technical support, and customers are advised on raw material selection, formulation and packaging options, including bag-in-box.