2015 Education Illinois Food Retailers Association Annual Conference & Expo Expo October 7-8, 2015 with Co-Host Grocery Merchandising Association Illinois Best Bagger Village Links Golf Course, Glen Ellyn Drury Lane Conferene Center, Oakbrook Terrace Awards Banquet Golf Outing Connect with industry partners Learn in the classrom and from each other Advance your competitive edge
Conference & EXPO EDUCATION Education Sessions with Top Food Industry Consultants Thursday, October 8 10 a.m. Drury Lane Conference Center, Oakbrook Terrace Designed specifically for store owners, managers and department heads Larry Miller discusses shrink control best practices at the 2014 Conference. At the 2013 Conference, Harold Lloyd conducts his Supermarket SMARTS program. Scholarships for the Young Leaders of Tomorrow IFRA Education Foundation Thursday, October 8 The IFRA Scholarship Fund For the 2014-2015 academic year, 82 students received one-year scholarships totaling $67,000 through the IFRA program. The scholarships funded by the Foundation are one-year awards in the amount of $1,000 or $500. Using funds raised from the IFRA grand raffle ticket sales and various golf outings throughout the summer months, the Foundation awarded $12,000 in scholarships to employees or children of full-time employees from Illinois Food Retailers Association member companies. l Ticket Price: $100 l The cost of a ticket can be shared by up to 10 people. Grand Raffle Drawing $5,000 Grand Prize l See back of ticket for details and room for additional names. $1,500 Second Prize l Anyone can sell these tickets. Anyone can buy these tickets. $500 Third Prize l The best odds ever of winning! l One in every 10 tickets WINS! 1 in every 10 tickets wins $200 Top prizes subject to change based on ticket sales. Buy your Grand Raffle tickets today! 2
EXPO On the Trade Show Floor Thursday, October 8 12-3:30 p.m. We encourage members to meet and visit our vendors on the Expo floor while you learn about the latest products, services and technology. Kerry Lavelle and Theodore McGinn - Lavelle Law, Ltd., with Ron Ludwigson, Kramer Foods. Craig Riecks, Paxton IGA, Rob Prisco, Prisco s Family Foods, and Carol David, Lipari Foods. Preliminary Conference Program Day 1: Golf Wednesday, October 7, 2015 Golf Outing Village Links of Glen Ellyn 11:00 a.m. Golf Tournament Arrivals 11:30 a.m. Buffet Lunch 12:30 p.m. Shot Gun Start 5:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception cash bar 6:00 p.m. Golf Awards Banquet Expo Note: 1-5 p.m. Exhibitor Set Up Drury Lane 3 Day 2: Education, Expo & Banquet Thursday, October 8, 2015 Drury Lane Conference Center 8:00 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting 8:00 a.m. Exhibitors continue set up 10:00 a.m. General Session #1 11:00 a.m. General Session #2 or Break Out Sessions 12:00 p.m. Expo Opens See the latest in industry products Activities on Expo Floor Educational Breakout Sessions 3:30 p.m. Expo Closes 3:30 p.m. Bagging Championship 5:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception 6:00 p.m. Industry Awards Banquet Award Recipient: Tony s Fresh Markets 8:00 p.m. Adjourn
Conference & EXPO BEST BAGGER CHAMPIONSHIP Third Annual Illinois Best Bagger Championship Thursday, October 8, 3:30 p.m. First place prize $500 cash prize & trip to the National Best Bagger Contest at the NGA Annual Convention in Las Vegas (Feb. 28 - Mar. 2, 2016), including airfare and hotel. Second place prize: $250 Third Place Prize: $100 Are you Illinois Best Bagger? Quality customer service is a hallmark of the independent grocer. Knowledgeable, friendly employees are one of the grocery industry s most valuable assets. Bagging has been an important first step for many supermarket employees who have pursued long and rewarding careers in the grocery industry. Host a Bagging Competition in your Store Hosting this NGA nationally recognized Bagging Competition in your company is a great way to develop skilled customer service programs, while adding fun and excitement and a team spirit to encourage employees to excel in their positions. Entrants must spend more than 25 percent of the time at work bagging groceries, no age restrictions. Statewide first place winner advances to the national competition in Las Vegas for a chance to win: 1st Place: $10,000 2nd Place: $5,000 3rd - 5th Place: $1,000 Guidelines Please visit the IFRA website for a complete list of guidelines on how to run your own in-store contest at www.ilfood.org. The winner of your company contest will compete for the state championship on October 8 at the IFRA-GMA Annual Conference. Please call the Association office today to let us know that you would like to host a company competition. Judging Criteria l Speed l Proper bag-building technique l Style and attitude Entry deadline for statewide competition is Sept. 9 2015. 4
BEST BAGGER CHAMPIONSHIP Who Will Be Illinois Best Bagger? Arin McCollum and Bill Bach, Strack & Van Til. Dave Sansone, Christian Vega, Mike Kozlowski, Fairplay Foods 2014 State Champion from Berkot's Super Foods, Anthony Borgetti, getting ready to compete in the NGA best bagger finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Best Bagger Finalists: Tony Borgetti, Berkot s Super Foods; Calvin Wright, County Market/Niemann Foods; Arin McCollum, Strack & VanTil; Jorge Mejia, Sunset Foods; Angela Benson, Sullivan s Foods; Christian Vega, Fairplay Foods; Thomas Cira, County Fair Foods. 5 The contingent from Sunset Foods: Ron Bernardi, Stephanie Sandberg, Jorge Mejia, Allen Perin, Mike Ori and Bill Tarpey.
Conference & EXPO AWARDS BANQUET Industry Awards Banquet Thursday, October 8 6:00 p.m. Help us honor 2015 Industry Retailer Award recipient Tony's Fresh Market on Thursday, October 8. Past Honorees IFRA 2014 Conference Honorees: Tom Woodlock, Sentry Foods; Joe Busch, Valu Merchandisers; Joe Koppeis, The Market Place; Jim Otte, Country Squire; John Clavio, Country Squire. IFRA 2012 Conference Honorees: Berkot s Super Foods Group. Sponsorships Boost Recognition Each year monetary contributions are provided by companies which help underwrite the cost of Conference programs. A series of sponsorship plateaus have been arranged that will provide participating sponsors maximum recognition throughout the Conference and a great return on their investment. Your generous support is appreciated. Platinum Sponsorship: $10,000 Diamond Sponsorship: $7,500 Gold Sponsorship: $5,000 Silver Sponsorship: $2,500 Bronze Sponsorship: Up to $1,000 Statewide Best Bagger Championship Sponsor: $1,000 6
AWARDS BANQUET Industry Awards Banquet Thursday, October 8 6:00 p.m. 2015 Industry Retailer Award Recipient Tony's Fresh Market Illinois Food Retailers Association with Co-Host 2014 Annual Conference & Expo Grocery Merchandising Association Congratulate Tony's Fresh Market in our 2015 Conference Magazine Expo Magazine Seminars 2014 Golf Bagging Championship Industry Recognitions Help us congratulate Tony's Fresh Market by advertising in our Conference Magazine, which features industry highlights, 2015 Conference activities and a handy Buyer's guide. If your company would like to take a congratulatory ad in our Conference magazine to recognize Tony's Fresh Market, please call the Association office at 630-627-8100 or use the enclosed Ad Space Authorization Form. 7
Illinois Food Retailers Association Annual Conference & Expo October 7-8, 2015 with Co-Host Grocery Merchandising Association Golf Outing New Location Wednesday, October 7 11 a.m. Village Links Golf Course, Glen Ellyn Network with industry peers while enjoying a day out at the beautiful Village Links Golf Course in Glen Ellyn. The Village Links is a 7200- yard championship, 18-hole golf course that has hosted several top tournaments and 42 USGA and PGA tour qualifying events. Gary Knuth, Michelle Meifert, Leah Miller, Seth Birkholz Northern Illinois Food Bank. Terry Goodrich and Mike Corcoran, Fairplay Foods. Brad Miller SuperValu, Tim Lubkeman and Larry Tobias Kirby Foods and Sean Towle W. Newell Register today at www.ilfood.org Information: IFRA 630-627-8100