Hot Products & Fourth Quarter Seasonal Trends On Full Display At KeHE's 2018 Holiday Show
CHICAGO, June 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 4,500 industry leaders convened at Chicago's McCormick Place on June 13-14 for KeHE Distributors' 2018 Holiday Show. Products featured by nearly 700 exhibitors across all categories allowed retailers to experience first-hand new and on-trend products for the upcoming winter season.
"Industry leaders convene to ignite their senses and experience great food. Our retail partners are able to purchase products on the spot with great discounts from our valued supplier community," said Brandon Barnholt, President and CEO, KeHE. "We are proud to continue to connect our community of retailers, suppliers and brokers with the dynamic products, educational presentations and deals showcased at KeHE's annual Holiday Show."
Barnholt's President's Address opened the show, providing insight on the evolving marketplace. During the Keynote Address, Carey Lohrenz - the U.S. Navy's first female F-14 Tomcat pilot, discussed her definition of fearless leadership and how taking big risks can create big rewards.
New for the 2018 Holiday Show:
- Themed Holiday Showcase featuring holiday cooking and demo seminars to spark inspiration
- At the Fresh Marketplace, retailers learned about new products and trends driving the industry
More than 190 brands were featured in the New Products Showcase, highlighting items from Certified B Corp vendors and KeHE's CAREtrade™ partners. Attendees voted using the KeHE Events Mobile App for the winners of the Best of New Products Awards:
- Best of Show – Prommus
- Best of Beverages – Vitacup
- Best of Breakfast- Coffee Booster
- Best of Condiments & Sauces – Primal Kitchen
- Best of Confections & Baking- Pamela's Products
- Best of Fresh & Frozen- Caulipower
- Best of Health & Wellness – EO Products
- Best of Mission-Based Brands- Berri Fit
- Best of Snack Foods - Hen of the Woods
- Best of Staple Goods & Grains – Maya Kaimal
"At our show, we do more than connect, we are able to satisfy our mission of SERVING to make lives betterTM. Showcasing our values is an important pillar in our trade shows," said Ari Goldsmith, KeHE Executive Director of Marketing.
New for this show, a portion of the Exhibit Hall was dedicated to the Compassion Experience, an immersive walk through the life of a child with poverty. Afterward, attendees could opt to sponsor a child through Compassion International, a KeHE Cares™ partner.
Show attendees received a wooden KeHE Cares™ token to drop into a bucket representing one of four partner organizations around the world – The Ark (Chicago), KHK Foundation (Cambodia), A Kid's Place (Florida), and Restoring Hope (Nepal). For each token placed in its bucket, the organization received a $5 donation from KeHE Cares™.
Following the show, the KeHE community donated 33,818 pounds of food products to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The next Holiday Show will be held June 10-11, 2019 in Chicago. For more information, visit KeHE.com.
About KeHE
KeHE Distributors, LLC (KeHE) provides Natural & Organic, Specialty and Fresh products to natural food stores, chain grocery stores, independent grocery stores and other specialty product retailers throughout North America. KeHE is the trusted B Corp Certified and employee-owned company with more than 4,500 CareholdersTM in the U.S. and Canada. For more about KeHE, visit KeHE.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ari Goldsmith
KeHE, Executive Director of Marketing
[email protected]
SOURCE KeHE Distributors, LLC
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