Understanding your industry: It’s crucial, it’s multi-faceted and it’s what will take your business and your career to that next step. For the knowledge to make wise purchasing decisions, the creativity you need to constantly innovate and the understanding required for fresh ideas to improve your brand’s shelf appeal — on-going education is critical. 

• Innovation Stage

Start with a look at Innovation Stage, in the Central Hall (Booths 141, 142 and 143). Check the schedule and plan to attend any of the more than 40 free, half-hour sessions on breakthrough trends and technologies for every industry. Experts from the Alliance for Innovation and Operational Excellence (AIOE), GE Intelligent Platforms and Mintel, among others, provide insights into operational, technological and engineering innovations, as well as the latest trends in consumer behavior.

• Center for Trends and Technologies

It’s new at PACK EXPO, and it just may change the way you think about increasing productivity, efficiency and sustainability. The Center for Trends and Technology (CTT) (Booth 1358) features educational displays and presentations exploring new and emerging technologies to achieve production goals such as increasing speed, improving asset utilization and managing risk. 

• Industry Specific Lounges

The Baking-Snack Break lounge, The Beverage Cooler lounge and The Candy Bar lounge — endorsed and staffed by the Snack Food Association (SFA), the International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT) and the National Confectionery Association (NCA), respectively, —are where attendees can go to connect with suppliers and peers for new insight into the solutions they need. 

• Small Business Administration

Registered SMB Fast Track participants will find educational opportunities tailored to the needs of their small and medium sized businesses. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) experts will be based in the SMB FastTrack Networking Center to speak with program participants about topics such as loan and grant opportunities, importing and exporting goods, the contracting of resources, and compliance with evolving regulations. 

• The Food Safety Summit Resource Center

The Food Safety Summit Resource Center, sponsored by BNP Media, brings together subject matter experts (SMEs) who can address food safety topics such as regulations and implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), food packaging, HACCP, economic fraud, safety and regulations for allergens, labeling, pest control, sanitation and traceability.