News

North America Pizza & Ice Cream Show destined to become largest pizza show in eastern U.S.

May 12, 2003

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pizza will be the center of attention when the North America Pizza & Ice Cream Show (NAPICS) comes to the Greater Columbus Convention Center Feb. 8-9 (Sunday and Monday), 2004.

The landmark show will be sponsored by PizzaMarketplace.com and Pizza Marketing Quarterly, and presented by EPI.

Show organizers are expecting as many as 10,000 attendees, making the event the largest pizza-centered tradeshow in the eastern U.S.

NAPICS is an outgrowth of the Mid-America Restaurant, Soft-Serve & Pizza Show, which served these markets for the past 11 years. With more than one-fourth of the nation's 62,000 pizzerias located in Ohio and the five contiguous states, show organizers saw the need to expand the pizza and ice cream focus of the event.

"With the growth in the number of regional foodservice distributor shows, attendance at mainstream restaurant industry shows is in a general decline," said Ann Reichle, NAPICS chairwoman. "Attendance at niche shows, such as those centered on pizza and ice cream, however, is increasing. Focused shows like these allow attendees to address their specific needs quickly."

More than 200 exhibiting companies occupying 400 booths will display and demonstrate their latest wares, foods and beverages in the main exhibit hall of the convention center.

A long list of business-boosting seminars designed to help pizza and ice cream operators rev up their businesses and increase profits is under development. In these sessions operators will find advice on marketing, labor management, lowering food cost, menu development and much more.

NAPICS also will host the 10th-annual Pizza Pizzazz competition. As in previous years, the event is expected to draw nearly 100 pizza makers from all over the country to compete for the titles of best Traditional Pizza and best Gourmet Pizza.

Winners will receive cash prizes and all-expenses-paid trips to the April 2004 World Pizza Championships in Salsomaggiore, Italy, where they will join three other pizza makers on the U.S. Pizza Team.

For more information on what is destined to become the largest pizza show in the eastern U.S., watch www.pizzamarketplace.com and www.PMQ.com, or call 800-909-SHOW(7469).