MARKETING SERVICES

2012 Virginia Specialty Food and Beverage Educational Conference
Monday, March 26-Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Jefferson Hotel
101 West Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Hotel Phone:  804.649.4750; 888.918.1895

A special educational and networking event for Virginia’s Specialty Food and Beverage Industry.

Virginia’s Specialty Food Advisory Committee (SFAC), in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), is pleased to host the 2012 Virginia Specialty Food and Beverage Educational Conference.   The annual conference unites members of Virginia’s specialty food and beverage industry, including owners and representatives of new and veteran specialty food and beverage manufacturing firms, food distribution companies and retailers.   The annual two-day educational program provides Virginia food and beverage producers with specific tools to help grow their companies and expand their customer base.    Nationally recognized industry experts host seminars and workshops focused on specialty food retailing trends, food safety, understanding product pricing and business financial essentials, moving products to the marketplace and proven marketing strategies, among other key topics.  Attendees leave the conference with several practical ideas and techniques to take back and implement immediately.

Key Topics for the 2012 Educational Conference
*Selling to Today’s Specialty Food Consumer
*The Boomer Consumer - Why you shouldn’t ignore the $3.5 trillion spent annually by Boomers and beyond on goods and services.
*Retail Roundtable ~ Meet and greet with some of the region’s key retailers
*What is Your Food Safety Plan?  Does it Meet the New Requirements?
*Trade Show Do’s and Don’ts – Key Tips for the Virginia Food and Beverage Expo

Virginia's Specialty Food and Beverage Educational Conference unites members of Virginia’s specialty food and beverage industry, including owners and representatives of new and veteran specialty food and beverage manufacturing firms, food distribution companies, retailers and suppliers.

Monday, March 26, 2012
8:00-8:45 a.m. – Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:50-9:00 a.m.– Opening Remarks
9:00–10:00 a.m. – Today’s Specialty Food Consumer 2012, Ron Tanner, NASFT Vice President, Communications, Education, Government and Industry Relations
10:15–10:30 a.m. – BREAK
10:30–11:20 a.m. – Keynote Presentation:  Ageless Marketing, Matt Thornhill, Founder and President of the Boomer Project
11:20 a.m.–12:00 noon – Group Activity:  Hot Topics
12:00–1:00 p.m. – Group Lunch/Networking
1:30–2:20 p.m. – Food Safety Pt. 1:  The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Anne Barker-Smith
2:20-2:40 p.m. – BREAK
2:40-3:40 p.m.-Building Your Brand: From the Shelf to the Consumer, Cal Hiscock
3:40-4:00 p.m. – BREAK
4:00-5:00 p.m. – Food Safety Pt. 2: The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Anne Barker-Smith
6:00 p.m. – Group Dinner & The History of The Jefferson Hotel
8:00 p.m. – Business Networking

Tuesday, March 27, 2012
7:00-8:00 a.m. – Networking Breakfast
8:00-8:15 a.m. – Opening Remarks
8:15-9:00 a.m. – The Credit Landscape – Your Business Finances
9:15-10:15 a.m. – How to Succeed at Almost Anything Almost all the Time, Dr. W. Terry Whisnant, Horizon Seminars
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. – BREAK
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Retail Roundtable
11:30 – 12:00 noon – How to Sell at Tomorrow’s Trade Show
12:00 p.m. - Conference Concludes
1:00–6:00 p.m. – Expo Exhibit Set-Up at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, Exhibit Hall C

Virginia's Specialty Food and Beverage Educational Conference unites members of Virginia’s specialty food and beverage industry, including owners and representatives of new and veteran specialty food and beverage manufacturing firms, food distribution companies, retailers and suppliers.

We are pleased that you will be attending the 2012 Virginia Specialty Food and Beverage Educational Conference at The Jefferson Hotel. 

The conference package includes all presentations, programs, workshops, as well as Monday breakfast, Monday lunch, Monday dinner and Tuesday breakfast.
Conference fee = $199
Conference fee for each additional company representative = $175

To attend, please contact Olivia Wilson, 804.786.2112 or e-mail, Olivia.Wilson@vdacs.virginia.gov

Make checks payable to: 
Virginia Food and Beverage Association (VFaBA)
And send to:
Educational Conference
Olivia Wilson
VA Dept. of Agriculture-Office of Promotions
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219

* Your hotel room is an additional fee that you will pay directly to The Jefferson Hotel.
To make your hotel reservations click here.

Your conference program fee of $199 includes all workshops, presentations, Monday breakfast, Monday lunch, Monday dinner and Tuesday breakfast.  Your hotel room is an additional fee that you will pay directly to The Jefferson Hotel.

Conference planners have reserved a block of hotel rooms at a special group discounted rate for conference guests.  All hotel room reservations must be received on or before February 24, 2012. Reservations received after this date will be accepted on a space available basis only.  Group rate may not be available and rack rate may apply. 


Special Room Rate:  $114.00 per night
All rates are subject to state and local taxes.

The Jefferson Hotel
101 West Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Hotel Phone:  804.649.4750; 888.918.1895
To make your reservation, click here.

Overnight Valet Parking = $16.00
Overnight Self-Parking = $12.00

Check-In Time:  3:00 p.m.
Check-Out Time:  12:00 p.m.
Luggage storage is available for early arrivals.

 Virginia's Specialty Food and Beverage Educational Conference unites members of Virginia’s specialty food and beverage industry, including owners and representatives of new and veteran specialty food and beverage manufacturing firms, food distribution companies, retailers and suppliers.

Virginia Food and Beverage Expo
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Greater Richmond Convention Center • Exhibit Hall C • 403 North Third St., Richmond, VA 23219