Space at Worldwide Food Expo selling fast.

Space at Worldwide Food Expo 2007 was more than 75 percent sold out with the end of the initial “priority” sales period, according to the show’s sponsors, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the American Meat Institute (AMI).

The sponsors have sent an open invitation to all suppliers serving the food and beverage industries to reserve exhibit space for the major trade event next fall. Worldwide Food Expo is scheduled for October 24 to 27 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

As a result of brisk sales in the priority period to past exhibitors and association members this past summer, hundreds of companies have staked out their exhibit space for North America’s largest food and beverage show for processing, packaging, equipment, ingredients, supplies and services.

“Exhibitors have been excited by the commitment of dozens of food and beverage organizations to this event — including the American Beverage Association and Drinktec — as well as the commitment by such companies as Dean Foods Co. and Smithfield Foods to hold meetings at Expo for hundreds of plant managers,” says Susan Ruland, IDFA vice president of communications and meetings. “We’re gearing up for a terrific event next fall.”

Janet Riley, AMI senior vice president of public affairs and professional development, adds: “Interest among the exhibitors tells us the show is robust. We’re confident attendance at the show will reflect the early enthusiasm we’ve seen on the exhibit side.”

Worldwide Food Expo is a biennial event that attracts 25,000 industry leaders from 100 countries to witness the largest North American display of food and beverage industry suppliers in one location; more than 1,100 exhibitors cover 1 million square feet of floor space. The show’s educational programming addresses issues, trends and technologies in the food and beverage processing industry.  

Worldwide Food Expo encompasses the Food, Dairy & Beverage Exposition and the International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Exposition. For information on exhibiting, contact Mark Miller or Terri Sullivan at (703) 934-4700 or wwfe@cmgexpo.com