Who's News in Catering for February 19, 2022

Venue News

The Matrix Club, Naperville’s planned newest and luxurious premier convention, banquet, and performance venue, cannot wait to open its doors to the public this April. Apart from the banquet and convention center, the venue includes The Matrix Room, a 220-seat international fusion restaurant, bar, and music lounge; Dhrishti Center of Performing Arts that seats 200; yoga and dance studios; Dhrishti Art Gallery to promote art from local and international artists; and Matrix Sound Lab, offering the best in audiovisual recording and mastering. The impressive banquet and convention area will seat 1,200 people for banquets and can also be used for concerts for up to 2,000 people. Carefully curated audio-visual systems featuring Bose, RCF, Danley, and Chauvet products will produce a high sound quality. Overseeing the culinary side is multi-star Michelin-rated Chef Yanni Sanchez who applies her culinary expertise and training from France, Mexico, North America, and South Asia. 

Association Updates

The National Restaurant Association today announced the appointment of Michelle L. Korsmo as the Association’s President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, effective May 1, 2022. In this role, Korsmo will be responsible for guiding the Association’s strategic path toward its vision for a thriving restaurant and foodservice community. Korsmo is a seasoned trade association executive with extensive public policy experience at the federal and state levels. Since 2018, she served as President & CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, prior to which she served as CEO of the American Land Title Association after being promoted from COO. Additionally, Korsmo was Executive Vice President at Americans for Prosperity Foundation and served in the 2001-2004 Bush Administration as Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. 

Hot Off the Presses

Leading tradeshow organizers Emerald and Questex will join forces for Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week, an inaugural event featuring four premiere food shows under one roof at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), March 21 – 24, 2022. SIAL America, Bar & Restaurant Expo (formerly known as Nightclub & Bar Show), Pizza Expo, and World Tea Conference + Expo will occur concurrently, uniting decision makers from all sectors of the $1.5 trillion food and beverage industry as it continues to recover.  The event underscores Las Vegas’ appeal as a premiere culinary destination and further demonstrates its designation as the number one trade show destination in North America for 26 consecutive years, according to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), the world's leading resource for the trade show, exhibition and event industry. A collaboration between international trade show organizers, Emerald and Comexposium, SIAL America is the first-of-its-kind cross-category generalist food and beverage show supporting the food and beverage market. Attending will be importers, food service companies, distributors, retailers, wholesalers and restaurateurs looking to discover, innovate and learn. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) endorsed the inaugural edition of SIAL America due to SIAL’s long-standing reputation as a premier event host for the industry.  

Gordon Food Service® today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Macgregors Meat & Seafood Ltd, a leading Canadian supplier to foodservice, retail, and private label customers coast to coast. The acquisition will diversify and expand Gordon Food Service's customer offerings through new food categories and new retailers. Upon the transaction's completion, Macgregors will operate as a Specialty Company of Gordon Food Service.