The 2019 California Food Expo agenda is now available and features the food industry’s most significant topics: Retailer and Foodservice Future Trends, Transparency & Sustainability, Food Brand Pioneers and more. Sponsors, exhibitors and qualified buyer attendees can expect to hear from the food industry’s most trusted research firms and top executives from California’s leading food companies. The Expo is scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10 in Fresno.

Martin Kruger, the Chief Operating Officer for Follow Your Heart, will be the featured speaker for the, ‘2019 California Food Brand Pioneer,’ where he will be sharing the story of how this southern California plant-based food company, which launched in 1970 as a natural food store, is now one of the world’s largest plant-based food manufacturers whose egg-free mayonnaise (Vegenaise) and dairy-free cheese can be found in over 25,000 thousand retail stores in 35 countries around the world.

“Follow Your Heart has an amazing story and I am grateful for the opportunity to share it with attending buyers and my California peers,” stated Kruger. “Equally exciting is participating at the first annual California exclusive food show. No other state in our nation has a food industry with as much diversity, volume or innovation. We are proud to be a part of this dynamic platform.”

Phil Lempert, President & CEO for Consumer Insight, Inc. and more famously known as the Supermarket Guru, will be moderating one of the Expo’s most anticipated sessions, ‘How Retailers & Brands Can Capture the Changing Consumer: A Look at Retailer and Foodservice Future Trends.’ Joining Lempert on this panel will be industry experts from Technomic and the Nutrition Strategist & Brand Influencer for Raley’s.

Additional sessions being released include, ‘Transparency in the Age of Sustainability’ and ‘Navigating the Digital Space: eCommerce Platforms for Food Industry Companies.’ These sessions include the CEO of a San Diego-based vodka company who makes vodka out of day-old baked goods and the Vice President from the tech-start up turned industry standard platform for buyers and suppliers in the food industry. Details on these sessions can be found at: California Food Expo Schedule.

World-renowned broadcaster, author and Food Network personality, Simon Majumdar will be leading a competition for California’s most renowned chefs.

For updated information about the 2019 California Food Expo, including details on the New Product Award platform, and to register to exhibit or attend, visit: www.CaliforniaFoodExpo.com.

The California Food Expo is an exclusive industry trade show for California food and beverage companies to connect with more than 750 qualified retail and foodservice buyers, network with industry peers and showcase California’s thriving food industry.

More than 150 California food and beverage companies are expected to participate in the two-day event which includes educational sessions, business to business tradeshow, and the competition for California renowned chefs. The 2019 event will be hosted at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center on Monday, Sept. 9 and Tuesday, Sept. 10.