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PUBLISHER'S VIEWPOINT
October 2007
Watching NAFEM Evolve
By the time you read this, we'll all be close to getting on planes—and in the case of "The Road To Atlanta" charity riders, including our own Brian Ward, motorcycles—heading toward Atlanta for The NAFEM Show. NAFEM, running Oct. 11-13 at the Georgia World Congress Center, is a bit later than usual this biennial cycle. But this is only the beginning of big changes for the show and for the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers as they move forward over the next decade.
At the same time, Foodservice Equipment Reports is formally starting its 12th year with this October issue. Our inaugural issue was mailed October 1996. To commemorate our past NAFEM Show issues, last month we produced the September edition with six covers, the current one plus one for each of the past five NAFEM Shows we've covered since our launch. Will we change as we move forward? Yes, to refine and improve. But we'll stay faithful to the equipment and supplies industry's heritage, too.
Similarly, The NAFEM Show is changing to maintain its position as the leading trade show for foodservice equipment, supplies, furnishings, technology and related products in the world. The shift that will affect all of us the most will be a move to an early February time slot beginning in 2009. NAFEM has also contracted with the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., for the next five shows—in other words, every NAFEM through '17. The next NAFEM is thus only 16 months away, scheduled Feb. 5-7, 2009.
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" NAFEM is moving more than show dates going forward."
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Another significant change that will affect future NAFEM shows is a just-approved modification of NAFEM membership criteria. The members, currently limited to North American manufacturers, have okayed a change that adds a third category of membership, affiliate. The new member class offers limited rights to those not qualifying for active membership, most typically non-North American manufacturers, so long as they meet other key criteria such as being an original manufacturer of "Approved Products." This will, over time, open the show to qualifying non-North American manufacturers, expanding its breadth and relevance. As stated in the latest edition of NAFEM in Print, "Members felt this was an important step in NAFEM's growth to accommodate a more global foodservice industry."
As a media company that serves specifiers, buyers and suppliers worldwide, we agree this expansion of member criteria is a good one. We laud the NAFEM board and leadership for its vision and courage. And we plan to be at all those NAFEM shows for the next decade.
In the meantime, let's all have a productive show this month. Oh, and have a good time too. See you in Atlanta.
Cheers,
Robin Ashton
Publisher
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