2008 World of Food & Fuel Expo: Celebrating 30 Years
The World of Food & Fuel Expo's goal is to present Tennessee’s best networking opportunity for retailers, suppliers and wholesalers.
Our Expo is designed to create relationships throughout the food industry in Tennessee. Join us at the 30th annual World of Food & Fuel Expo and Convention to network, develop current relationships and learn more about the Tennessee market.
In 2008, the World of Food & Fuel Expo and Annual Convention will be held April 17 -20, 2008 at the Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, Tennessee. The TGCSA convention and expo features Tennessee’s largest food trade show, as well as various educational seminars to assist members in their business operations. TGCSA members receive registration and exhibitor discounts. Click here for more event info.
Click here for more information on exhibiting.
Education Sessions
Saturday, April 19
8:45-10:00: Food & Safety Product Recall Panel
Dr. Bill Morris, University of Tennessee Food Safety Specialist
Buddy Woodson, Department of Agriculture Dairy Inspection/Safety
Carol Sanchez, Food & Drug Administration
Retail Food Safety Experts, Kroger and Food City
Each panel member will speak specifically on an issue and then field questions. Topics that will be discussed are: recalls and how they are handled in Tennessee, how FDA is working with retailers and wholesaler to recall product, Dept. of Agriculture sanitation violations/inspections, transportation of food with non-food items
10:15-11:15 Concurring Education Sessions
Randy Jennings, Dept. of Agriculture-Introducing Biofuels into the Marketplace
Randy Jennings will discuss biofuels in relation to Tennessee’s retailers, how they are regulated by the state, and the environmental advantages that biofuels offer. Although biofuels offer many advantages there are different handling procedures that must be followed to ensure product quality and integrity.
Jennings will also go over incentives for the future and the Governor's Interagency Alternative Fuels Working Group has established a Strategic Planning Task Force that is a long range Strategic Plan for Tennessee.
Kathleen Smith, Safeway- Organized Retail Crime
Kathleen Smith, CFI, is vice president of loss prevention for Safeway where she is responsible for security and loss prevention for over 1,800 stores in the U.S. and Canada, thirty-three manufacturing facilities, twenty warehouse facilities, and buying office worldwide.
With over thirty years of security management and law enforcement experience, Smith is chairperson of the Food Marketing Institute’s loss prevention committee. She is also on the advisory committee for the Center for Interviewer Standards and Assessment, the loss prevention committees for the California Grocers Association and California Retailers Association, and the board of directors for California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corporation.
Speakers and Entertainment:
Saturday, April 19
Opening Breakfast , 7:30-8:30: Lt. Governor Ramsey:
Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey represents Tennessee Senate District 2, which encompasses Johnson and Sullivan counties in East Tennessee. He was elected to the Senate in 1996 after serving two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives. During his time as a state representative, Ramsey represented the 1st district, located in Sullivan County.
On January 9, 2007, Senator Ramsey was elected Speaker of the Senate and Lt. Governor. He is the first GOP Senate Speaker in 140 years and the first from Sullivan County in over 100 years.
Senator Ramsey authored the state’s handgun carry permit law and is an avid outdoorsman. He also sponsored legislation creating the state’s ''brownfield'' law, helping Tennessee’s environment by making it easier to redevelop old industrial sites.
Keynote Luncheon Speaker, 11:30-1:00: Mike Hamilton, UT Athletic Director
Mike Hamilton became men’s athletic director at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2003. Hamilton joined UT in 1992 and served as assistant, associate, and senior associate athletic director. As athletic director, he oversees compliance with NCAA and SEC rules, financial management, competitiveness of Tennessee teams, graduation of student-athletes, and service to the university and community.
Hamilton is chairman-elect of the Knox Area Chamber Partnership, serves on the board of directors of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, and is a principal of the Mike/Beth Hamilton Celebrity Golf Classic for Adoption. He holds the B.S. in accounting and the MBA, both from Clemson University. Hamilton and his wife, Beth, live in Knoxville and have two children.
Chairman’s Entertainment, T. Bubba Bechtol
This comic from Pensacola Beach, Florida, has become one of the nation's funniest observers of basic “Bubba Lifestyle” simply by calling it like he sees it. Whether it's entertaining audiences on television talk shows, performing as an opening act in concert halls or doing his standup routine at the Grand Ole Opry,
T. Bubba has earned a reputation as a down-to-earth humorist whose quick wit crosses all regional, gender, generational and class lines. T. Bubba's routine draws as much from the comedic insights of Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Cosby as Minnie Pearl. Please join us for this entertaining show Saturday night at the chairman’s banquet.
Sunday April 20
Devotional Speaker, Doug Banister
Doug Banister is the pastor of All Souls Church in Knoxville and has written four books. He holds degrees from Talbot School of Theology, Gordon Conwell Divinity School, and the University of Tennessee. Doug has been married 24 years to his wife, Sandi and they have four kids together along with two dogs.
