Cheesemakers Hammered by COVID-19
America’s artisanal cheese makers are being hard-hit by the impacts of COVID-19. With many small cheesemakers heavily dependent on sales to restaurants, their distribution channels have been decimated by the closures related to the virus. With a reported 58 percent decrease in overall sales, many businesses do not have the financial reserves to sustain themselves for months. Thirty percent have either laid off or furloughed employees, and 48 percent have reduced employee hours. Managing cash flow, obtaining financial support, as well as managing staff add complex challenges that have resulted in many applying for debt relief or financial assistance to stay afloat in this new reality.
This comes from a survey conducted in May 2020 by the American Cheese Society. Titled “COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on the American Cheese Industry: Business Operations,” the survey compiled data from nearly 1,000 members including producers, distributors and buyers. “It is important for us to understand how our members and their businesses are coping during this pandemic, as well as how ACS and consumers can help support the industry,” said Marianne Smukowski, Board President of ACS. “The unwavering dedication that the community has had in ensuring the safety of employees and consumers has been heartening during these uncertain times.”
In many cases, members are using this as an opportunity to pause and improve business models, as well as explore new methods to package and distribute their products directly to consumers. The survey shows that 57.5 percent have identified new distribution methods for their products with 51 percent seeing an increase in overall e-commerce sales.
Since COVID-19 shuttered the country, ACS has provided a wealth of resources to support the cheese industry and has made the decision to shift its previously canceled 37th Annual Conference & Competition to a virtual event; more details will be provided at a later date. Other resources include weekly Fireside Chats with Executive Director Karen Lundquist, information on food safety, a letter template for members to write to their local representatives, shifting business models, financial relief, navigating home and personal life, and more.
You just need to inject medicine directly into the shaft purchase levitra online of male organ. It is a very quick objective test that can help an individual identify the important factors that discern personalities and determine occupational achievement. buy sildenafil australia So, they prefer breaking on line viagra the relations rather than living aimless. It is quite normal for experiencing Erectile viagra online why not check here Dysfunction condition. “At the ACS, we are acting quickly to share the creative work our members are doing to sustain their businesses and their communities,” said Lundquist. “Building awareness of the importance of sharing local cheesemakers’ critical role in our food chain, bringing finely crafted products from farm to table, and preserving our American artisan cheese traditions.”
Looking to the future, ACS members agree that there will be a new normal for the artisan cheese industry. Rising to the challenge to find new ways to innovate, they hope to see a positive impact from economic stimulus packages and community efforts on their operations.
American Cheese Society will continue its mission to support its members through developing educational resources and safe networking opportunities to connect the community during these difficult times. In celebration of May’s American Cheese Month, the organization asks consumers to think small and buy locally from artisans and producers.
For American Cheese Society Resources on COVID-19 visit cheesesociety.org/addressing-covid-19/.
Great American Beer Festival Goes Virtual for 2020
The Great American Beer Festival® (GABF), the country’s preeminent beer festival and competition, will pivot its 2020 event, originally scheduled for September 24-26 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, to an immersive online experience October 16-17. This decision was further confirmed with the announcement on May 20, when Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued an Executive Order temporarily suspending certain statutes to allow the operation of alternate care sites in Colorado because of the presence of COVID-19, rendering GABF at the Colorado Convention Center infeasible.
“While we are disappointed to not be gathering in Denver this fall for the craft beer community’s annual big tent event, the health and safety of our attendees, brewers, volunteers, judges, and employees is and always has been our top priority,” said Bob Pease, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Brewers Association. “As the world is still greatly affected by the spread of COVID-19 and will continue to be affected for the foreseeable future, we must stay true to our priorities and pursue other ways to host GABF.”
The 39th Great American Beer Festival may look different, but beer lovers from around the country will have the opportunity to come together in new ways to celebrate the nation’s craft beer community. The spirit of the festival will live on through live and virtual experiences with beer lovers and breweries nationwide on October 16-17, 2020. The event is still in planning, but experiences will likely include beer tastings, conversations with brewers, local brewery activations, and at-home beer and food pairing deliveries.
The festival’s renowned professional beer competition will take place in 2020. A panel of more than 100 professional judges will assess the more than 7,000 expected entries to identify the three beers that best represent each style category. The GABF gold, silver, and bronze medals are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence. Brewery registration opens on June 9. More information on the competition, style guidelines, and awards ceremony here.
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Over the past few months, the Brewers Association has worked tirelessly on behalf of its members and the larger brewing community to provide critical resources, as well as lobbying Congress both independently and with other hospitality and food industry groups, for relief. Following the cancellation of the Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America® and World Beer Cup™ in April, the Brewers Association offered five weeks of complimentary virtual, online seminars to interested participants. Furthermore, the Brewers Association’s COVID-19 Resource Center includes information on draught system shutdown, how to forecast cashflow, a checklist for safely reopening, and more.
More information about the 2020 GABF logistics, schedule, and ticket options will be released in the coming months. For the latest news, follow @BrewersAssoc on Twitter.
More Summer Food Shows Canceled Due to COVID-19
Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group has announced today that four upcoming restaurant, foodservice and specialty coffee events in its portfolio will be cancelled due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the industry and the California, Florida and Illinois state government-issued State of Emergency orders. The events that have been cancelled include:
- The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo /Healthy Food Expo West, which were scheduled to take place August 9-11, 2020 at the Anaheim Convention Center, California.
- Coffee Fest Anaheim, which was scheduled to take place August 9-11, 2020 at the Anaheim Convention Center, California.
- Coffee Fest Chicago, which was scheduled to take place August 28 – 30, 2020 at the Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois.
- The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show /Healthy Food Expo Florida, which were scheduled to take place September 22-23, 2020 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
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The remaining 2020 event, Coffee Fest PNW, scheduled to take place October 24-25, 2020 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Tacoma, Washington, is scheduled to run as planned.
“We have seen the impact COVID-19 has had on the food and beverage industry and our hearts are with our friends and colleagues. We are saddened and disappointed we have to cancel our industry events, however, in light of both government direction and general public health advisories we believe it is not possible at this time for a safe public gathering,” said Tom Loughran, Vice President for the Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group. “With the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the California, Florida and Illinois state government-issued State of Emergency orders, we have put the health, safety and well-being of our team, customers, partners, family and friends above all other priorities.”
The Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group face to face connections will resume with the following events:
- Coffee Fest PNW – October 24-25, 2020 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Washington.
- The NGA Show – March 7-9, 2021 at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York/Coffee Fest New York/ Healthy Food Expo New York – March 7-9, 2021 at the Javits Center, New York City.
- Coffee Fest San Antonio – June 18-19, 2021- at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas.
- The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo/ Coffee Fest Anaheim/ Healthy Food Expo West – August 22-24, 2021 at the Anaheim Convention Center, California.
- The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show/Healthy Food Expo Florida – September 19-20, 2021- at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.
“Although our next event is scheduled for October, we are working on new concepts to support the industry — through both our original and world-class education that is practical and relevant for today’s foodservice professional; and by bringing vendors together with restaurants, foodservice and retailers. We look forward to bringing to operators and manufacturers both virtual and potentially more intimate face-to-face gatherings when the timing is right,” Loughran added. “In the meantime, we continue to be committed to providing operators and the overall restaurant, foodservice, catering, and coffee/tea industry with tools to connect and rebuild their business. We are pleased to continue to support the marketplace with our COVID-19 Resource Center, an online platform providing access to both uniquely produced education focused on operators’ most relevant needs, along with aggregated industry education, plus association resources, industry links, and more.”
