F&B@Sea Sets 2024 Conference Program in Miami
F&B@Sea, the one-of-a-kind experience for the cruise food and beverage ecosystem, has unveiled details of its 2024 conference program. The conference beckons industry pioneers and cruise lines to converge at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center in Miami from April 10-11 to explore the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of cruise F&B.
The conference sessions promise a deep dive into evolving consumer trends, the burgeoning demand for local sourcing, and the profound impact on F&B preferences aboard cruise ships, all while addressing the growing necessity for sustainable practices within the industry.
Kicking off with the State of the Industry Keynote: Navigating the Cruise F&B Supply Chain, on 10 April from noon to 1 p.m., attendees will delve into the intricate dynamics of cruise F&B supply chains. The keynote will spotlight discussions on sustainable sourcing, F&B supply/demand dynamics, and the evolving landscape of local procurement in global destinations.
Following the keynote, attendees can expect enlightening sessions on Local Flavors, Global Appeal and The Evolution of Specialty Restaurants on Board. These sessions will explore authentic cultural food experiences, immersive dining concepts, and the rise of local culinary options—three of the top trends forecast to dominate the period of 2024/25, as outlined in the latest Cruise F&B Trends Report.
A highlight of the program includes a groundbreaking cruise Supplier Workshop: Conscious Trends Shaping Cruise F&B Supply & Demand, curated in partnership with the Plant Based Food Association. Scheduled for April 11 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., this workshop is designed to empower current suppliers, and new entrants to the cruise sector alike, in meeting the escalating demand for sustainable practices, products, and supply within cruise F&B operations.
“We are thrilled to unveil our 2024 conference program, which promises to be a transformative event for the cruise industry,” said Chiara Giorgi, Global Brand and Event Director for Seatrade Cruise. “This conference represents a unique opportunity for industry leaders to come together, share insights, and chart the course for a more sustainable and innovative future in cruise F&B.”
View the full program here.
After successfully launching in March 2023, F&B@Sea returns with more vendors, more produce, and more variety with over 100 F&B suppliers taking part at the live marketplace. Attendees can also expect a host of new features and immersive brand activations alongside the inaugural F&B@Sea Awards on April 11. F&B@Sea will run alongside the world’s largest cruise conference & exhibition, Seatrade Cruise Global (April 10-11, Miami Beach Convention Center) with shuttle buses running regularly between the two events.
For more information on F&B@Sea or to register, visit www.seatradecruiseevents.com/fnbsea
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Pagoda Snacks Named ‘Official Egg Roll’ of LCS Spring Split
LCS & PAGODA
Just in time for Lunar New Year and the League Championship Series (LCS) Spring Split, the maker of Pagoda Snacks announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Riot Games — the company behind the leading global esports property League of Legends.
Pagoda Snacks will be featured as the “Official Egg Roll” of LCS and offer fans the perfect game-time snack through special activations, product drops and giveaways throughout the LCS season.
The LCS is the preeminent professional North American esport and currently the fourth most-viewed professional sports league in North America for gamers in the 18-34 years-old age demographic. Pagoda Snacks will be integrated throughout LCS’ 2024-2026 season events connecting LCS fans with the perfect go-to snacks to refuel.
“We know more time in the kitchen means less time to playing and streaming League of Legends. According to YouGov, approximately 50 percent of next-gen consumers feel as though their lifestyles do not leave enough time to prepare food,” said Monica Ball, marketing manager for Pagoda Snacks. “That’s where our craveable and convenient lineup of Pagoda Snacks comes to the rescue. From our crispy egg rolls loaded with freshly cut vegetables and authentic seasoning to our Crab Rangoon filled with real crab meat and cream cheese paired with a sweet chili sauce, we offer quick, easy-to-prepare but still delicious snacks for LCS players and fans to refuel and supercharge their gaming sessions.”
“We’re thrilled to have Pagoda Snacks join the LCS as our newest partner and further as the ‘Official Egg Roll’ of the League Championship Series,” said Mark Zimmerman, LCS Commissioner. “There’s no better food to fuel our fan experience than egg rolls and I know LCS fans will be hyped to add Pagoda Snacks to their go-to snack lineup.”
As the “Official Egg Roll” of LCS, Pagoda Snacks will be a part of the LCS broadcasts with a “Let Him Cook” segment that will spotlight the best plays and moments of the day from professional players.
Additional Pagoda Snacks broadcast integration will come with the “Put the Egg Rolls In” Tech Pause, where LCS fans will have the perfect opportunity to fuel up and grab a bite to eat.
Throughout the partnership, fans should keep an eye out for additional Pagoda Snacks activations and touchpoints like exclusive drops and promotions so they can celebrate the season with LCS’ “Official Egg Roll.”
Made with quality ingredients, Pagoda Snacks strive to be the superheroes in every family’s freezer. With golden-brown, crispy, crunchy wrappers, fresh-cut vegetables, tasty filling and quality ingredients, Pagoda Egg Rolls are the perfect snack to crush your cravings. Pagoda Snacks include potstickers, crab rangoon, and cream cheese wontons. The brand’s entire portfolio of products contains no partially hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup and no added MSG. Pagoda Snacks are made and distributed throughout the U.S. by subsidiaries of Schwan’s Company. For more information, please visit www.PagodaSnacks.com.
League of Legends Esports (LoL Esports) is the fastest growing global sport and the pinnacle of competitive gaming with 9 regional leagues, 93 professional esport teams, and more than 860 players. Accessible around the globe on 35+ TV and digital channels, it is one of the most-watched forms of sports entertainment globally. League of Legends Esports started in 2011 and remains owned and operated by Riot Games, one of the world’s top video game developers. Led by Naz Aletaha, Global Head of LoL Esports, our mission is to build a thriving global sports ecosystem by focusing on growth, engagement, profitability, integrity, and accessibility. From the thrilling regional league competitions that captivate millions of fans across the globe to the trophy lift at Worlds, it all lives within LoL Esports. For more information, please visit LoLEsports.com.
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Sweetgreen Appoints Retail Veteran Williams as COO
Sweetgreen announced the appointment of Rossann Williams as the company’s chief operating officer, effective Feb. 5. Williams joins Sweetgreen’s executive leadership team and will oversee operations, real estate + development and supply chain for the company.
Williams is an accomplished global operations executive bringing more than 30 years of experience leading retail businesses. Williams is a respected and engaged leader focused on cultivating high-performance teams at every level of the business.
“Rossann is an industry veteran with a proven track record in driving sustainable growth of global, iconic brands and leading teams to generate profitability,” said Jonathan Neman, CEO and co-founder of Sweetgreen. “Rossann complements the existing skills and experience of our leadership team as we pursue our next chapter of growth. It’s clear that she shares our values, and I look forward to partnering with Rossann to further our mission of connecting more communities to real food.”
Prior to joining Sweetgreen, Williams spent over 18 years at Starbucks, where she rose to EVP and president of North America retail. In this role, she oversaw a market of approximately 16,000 stores, where she significantly improved same-store sales, successfully opened thousands of new stores and helped navigate the company through the pandemic. At Starbucks, Williams also served in senior operations roles across North America, eventually rising to SVP, global and Americas operations services. Previously, Williams held leadership roles for several well-known Fortune 500 brands, including Blockbuster and Toys “R” Us.
“I’ve long admired Sweetgreen’s leadership as a founder-led, mission-driven company driving the industry forward. I am deeply aligned with Sweetgreen’s values, people-centric approach and commitment to connect more people to delicious, real food. I’m thrilled to be joining the Sweetgreen team at a moment of significant growth and an incredible opportunity ahead,” said Williams.
Sweetgreen is on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Sweetgreen sources the best quality ingredients from farmers and suppliers they trust to cook food from scratch that is both delicious and nourishing. They plant roots in each community by building a transparent supply chain, investing in local farmers and growers, and enhancing the total experience with innovative technology.
Since opening its first 560-square-foot location in 2007, Sweetgreen has scaled to over 220 locations across the United States, and their vision is to lead the next generation of restaurants and lifestyle brands built on quality, community and innovation.
To learn more about Sweetgreen, its menu, and its loyalty program, visit www.Sweetgreen.com. Follow @Sweetgreen on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
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