FCSI focus on food and hospitality in the future at HostMilano 2017 - Foodservice Consultants Society International

For the first time at HostMilano, FCSI will provide a continuous programme on all tradeshow days at its booth, starting with breakfast and concluding with an after-work happy hour. In between, attendees can expects presentations, workshops and roundtable discussions all centred on the theme ‘Food and hospitality in the future’. The theme was decided upon following a survey of FCSI members.

Among the topics to be addressed are: industry best practice for the safe management of allergens; active and intelligent packaging to reduce waste and improve the shelf-life of food; food and beverage trends in the Middle East hotel sector, food safety and energy saving in foodservice.

Three times a day, attendees will also have the chance to attend ‘Face-to-face with the experts’ sessions where they can ask questions to FCSI international consultants in retail, catering, banqueting, food and hospitality. The European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers (EFCEM) will also deliver a 45-minute presentation every day before lunch.

In person communication

The face-to-face element of the show is an integral part of helping FCSI to communicate its message and vision, says Remko van der Graaff FCSI, chair of FCSI Europe, Africa, Middle East (EAME). “These trips and events are important for me as the chair of the EAME division. It is really good to get to know each other face to face, not just through LinkedIn – meeting people in person will bring the Society forward and when I meet people it is an opportunity for me share with them my vision, my message and my goals.”

For Martin Rahmann FCSI, past chair of FCSI EAME, HostMilano 2017 is the most important tradeshow on the annual calendar. He says, “From my longstanding experience, I can say to you that there is no other fair where we can meet members, partners and friends from South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

“For our members, this fair is an integral part of their diary and we can offer a frame for conversations, negotiations and networking. We [also] expect to become acquainted with many new trends and with new technological devices in the industry.”

Expert insight

At the event, Michael Jones, editorial director of FCSI’s Foodservice Consultant magazine will also be hosting an FCSI consultant expert roundtable, supported by Electrolux, at the show on Saturday 21 October.

The roundtable will focus on the topic of designing and creating high-performing, sustainable smarter and leaner kitchens’ and will include William Taunton FCSI (Chile), Thomas Mertens FCSI (Germany), Frank Wagner FCSI (Germany), Roger Obeid FCSI (Lebanon), Alexander Hofer FCSI (Italy), Ken Schwartz FCSI (US) and Nahum Goldberg FCSI (US) amongst others. While the roundtable itself will be behind closed doors, a write-up of the event will appear on this website and in the Q1 2018 edition of the magazine.