Food Safety & Acrylamide Update
Elizabeth Fawell, Associate, Hogan & Hartson, LLP

Food safety reform is a top priority for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress, and the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (HR 2749) that passed the House and now before the U.S. Senate, would significantly expand the FDA & HHS’s authority to regulate the growing, harvesting, processing, packing, transporting, and tracing of food transported anywhere in the U.S. Leading food industry legal and regulatory experts from Hogan & Hartson LLP will discuss this legislation as well as other issues that impact snack food companies including acrylamide in foods.


Snacking on Private Label in the Recession and Beyond
Darren Seifer, Food & Beverage Industry Analyst, The NPD Group

The recent economic troubles have caused many consumers to shift purchasing habits and have caused retailers to shift strategies and tactics. Leading industry observer Darren Seifer, Industry Analyst with the NPD Group, will discuss how consumers and retailers are changing, what consumers are eating and when, what’s the role of private labels and what strategies retailers are employing, what are the threats and opportunities for retailers and manufacturers, and how the snack food companies can meet the needs of a more discerning consumer.

Economic Trends. 2010 and Beyond
Dr. Raveendra Batra, Professor, Department of Economics
Southern Methodist University

The recent financial crisis is not a surprise to Ravi Batra, the best-selling author of a new book called “The New Golden Age: The Coming Revolution Against Political Corruption and Economic Chaos”. He predicted this in advance. SNAXPO Attendees will hear from Dr. Batra as he explores a variety of economic reforms aimed at maintaining the demand-supply balance without increased debt and a plan to eliminate the U.S. trade deficit within the rules of free trade. Find out how all this affects the future of your business.

For more information on Dr. Batra, please visit his website at
http://www.ravibatra.com

Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation Update
Dr. Jerry Giaquinta, Chief Marketing Officer, HWCF
Dr. Sue Finn, Chairman, American Council on Fitness and Nutrition
Sue Parks, CEO, Walkstyles
Dr. Bob Brown, Director of Global Nutrition, PepsiCo., Inc.

With obesity rates increasing, health and wellness issues continue to be a main concern for the food and beverage industry. As an Associate Member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), the Snack Food Association, along with a coalition of food and beverage companies, retailers and non-governmental organizations, will be participating in a national multi-year initiative aimed at helping to lower the rate of obesity by 2015. This panel will discuss the goals of the HWCF, how snack food companies can get involved in the Healthy Weight Initiative and help combat the increasing rate of obesity and promote active and healthy lifestyles.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Carlos Gutierrez, Former CEO and Chairman of the Board at Kellogg Company, Former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce
Thursday, March 4 (During Kick-Off Breakfast)
Omni Fort Worth Hotel – Texas Ballroom E - F

In the current economic environment and with an administration with a definite social and political agenda, business leaders have to become even more involved to ensure that the American economy stays strong. With his dual perspectives from the highest levels of government and business, Gutierrez explains why business leaders cannot assume that the job of advocating for American business will be done by someone else. He dissects the current topics dominating the business pages, from tax increases and trade to labor laws and environmental regulations.

State of the Snack Food Industry 2010
Sally Lyons Wyatt, Senior Vice President,
Information Resources Inc. (IRI)
Friday, March 5 (During Recognition Breakfast)
Omni Fort Worth Hotel – Texas Ballroom E - F

Hear how consumers and market demands for new products, new flavors and new packaging are reshaping and transforming the snack food industry. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Information Resources, Inc.’s expert on the snack food segment, will discuss overall snack food industry performance in 2009 and present the latest industry trends, up-to-date snack food sales data, and consumer insights for the major snack food categories. This annual presentation provides the key facts and figures and is a must attend for everyone in our industry.