GMA Conference to Ponder Food's Future; Weis Markets Prez to Speak
WASHINGTON -- The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has announced the speakers for its inaugural Conference on the Future of Food, which will focus on the intersection between nutrition, international trade, regulations, and innovation in the food industry. The conference will take place in Washington, D.C., Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. One of the featured speakers is Norman Rich, president of Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis Markets.
The event will tackle a broad range of issues -- literally from farm to fork, GMA said in a statement. Nearly 60 experts in a variety of fields will debate how health and wellness, market access, regulatory changes, and emerging science are being driven by the rapid shifts in consumer demographics and demand.
"Not content to wait for companies to catch up, consumers are demanding customized products and services that deliver a new level of sophistication that is transforming the way the food industry operates," said GMA e.v.p. Mark Baum. "The GMA Conference on the Future of Food will help companies bridge this gap by gaining a better understanding of what lies ahead for the industry."
Featured speakers include Arthur Caplan, director of the Bioethics Center and the Chairman of the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania; William Dietz, director of the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Hugh Grant, chairman of the board, president, and c.e.o. of the Monsanto Company; Steven Gundrum, president and c.e.o. of Mattson; Faith Popcorn, founder of BrainReserve, trend expert, and best-selling author of "Clicking" and "The Popcorn Report;" Norman Rich, president of Weis Markets; and Steven Sanger, chairman and c.e.o. of General Mills, Inc.
The GMA Conference on the Future of Food is being hosted in cooperation with more than 30 related industry trade associations, with the support of ACNielsen, IBM, and Monsanto.
The event will tackle a broad range of issues -- literally from farm to fork, GMA said in a statement. Nearly 60 experts in a variety of fields will debate how health and wellness, market access, regulatory changes, and emerging science are being driven by the rapid shifts in consumer demographics and demand.
"Not content to wait for companies to catch up, consumers are demanding customized products and services that deliver a new level of sophistication that is transforming the way the food industry operates," said GMA e.v.p. Mark Baum. "The GMA Conference on the Future of Food will help companies bridge this gap by gaining a better understanding of what lies ahead for the industry."
Featured speakers include Arthur Caplan, director of the Bioethics Center and the Chairman of the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania; William Dietz, director of the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Hugh Grant, chairman of the board, president, and c.e.o. of the Monsanto Company; Steven Gundrum, president and c.e.o. of Mattson; Faith Popcorn, founder of BrainReserve, trend expert, and best-selling author of "Clicking" and "The Popcorn Report;" Norman Rich, president of Weis Markets; and Steven Sanger, chairman and c.e.o. of General Mills, Inc.
The GMA Conference on the Future of Food is being hosted in cooperation with more than 30 related industry trade associations, with the support of ACNielsen, IBM, and Monsanto.