NRA Show Sees Surge In Dealer Attendance

Show-floor activity is always a harbinger of the year to come in foodservice, and last month’s National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is no exception. The May 17-20 show at Chicago’s McCormick Place posted positive growth in both attendee and exhibitor numbers for the third year in a row.

Show registration hit 63,876 for total growth of 10.5% since 2011. Dealer/distributor registration soared 9%, second only to the nearly 13% growth in registrants from the lodging category.

On the exhibitor side, total square footage grew by 5.7% to 612,170 sq. ft., and the number of exhibiting companies grew by 4.3% to 2,168. With the growth totals in both categories in double-digits over the past three years, the NRA Show will expand into the Lakeside Center in 2015, joining the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event in the East Building of McCormick Place.