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700+ Exhibits and 12,000+ Attendees
The 75th Annual Southwest Foodservice Expo, the second largest foodservice trade show in the nation, celebrated its anniversary in a big way. Expo, produced by the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) on June 24-25 in Dallas, Texas was a tremendous success with more than 700 exhibits and 12,495 attendees coming together to network, learn about the latest industry trends and see the best products and services on the market.
Daily attendance jumped by six-percent when compared to last year, thanks in large part to the great deals offered by exhibitors, inspiring culinary demonstrations and valuable education sessions. Demonstrations included shows by Bravo’s Top Chef Paul Qui and the nationally-renowned Chef David Bull of Second Bar + Kitchen and Congress. Chef Stephan Pyles of Stephan Pyles Restaurant and Samar and Cowboy Cook Tom Perini of Perini Ranch Steakhouse teamed up again this year to showcase their different styles of Southwestern cuisine to entertain and educate the Expo. For cocktail aficionados more than 30 mixologists from across the state competed at the Texas Spirit Bird Challenge ending with $2,200 in prizes for the winners.
“We celebrated Expo’s seventy-fifth anniversary with not only a vibrant exhibit hall, but high-profile keynote speakers, celebrity chefs and an informative education series which helped to draw the decision makers in this industry to the show,” said Mel Forehand, Vice President, Expositions, TRA. “Expo is the one show for foodservice professionals in this region that provides two days of networking, education, selling and buying.”
Expo exhibitors generously donated surplus food to the North Texas Food Bank generating 3,459 pounds of food this year enough to provide 2,883 meals for people in need.
Photos are now on our website and avaliable to purchase. Click here to order pictures from the show, enter password: tra.
A big thank you goes out to all of our 2012 Expo Partners and exhibitors. Plans are already being set for next year's Expo. The 2013 Southwest Foodservice Expo will be June 23 through 25 in Dallas, Texas.
