May 6, 2007
CHICAGO, IL – May 6, 2007 – The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Show and four co-located trade shows are pleased to announce the expected donation of 200,000 pounds of food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The donation of remaining product samples at the close of the convention on Tuesday, May 8 is likely to fill 25 semi-trailer trucks including refrigerated rigs for GES Corporation.

The FMI Show is one of the largest annual food trade events in the world, and will take place May 6-8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. All Things Organic, the Fancy Food Show, United Fresh Expo and the U.S. Export Showcase will be co-located with the FMI Show and will contribute to the food donations.

“These shows serve up a feast for the hungry of Chicago, generating the most donations in a single day each year,” said Food Depository Executive Mike Mulqueen. “We thank the food industry for its generous giving and the hundreds of Chicago area volunteers who gather all the products from exhibit floors and load them into trucks with the help of McCormick Place workers.”

FMI and the Chicago area food bank first teamed up in 1996, and since then more than 1.8 million pounds of food and beverages have been donated by exhibitors at this annual event. The milk, bread, produce, cereal, luncheon meats, cheese and hundreds of other supermarket products will provide about 150,000 meals for Chicago area men, women, and children this year as in previous years.

“FMI is proud to facilitate this generous contribution from the entire food industry” said FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds. “Support for food banks is a natural part of our business which serves communities across America in countless ways. It is fitting that one of our industry’s signature events culminates with this outpouring of donations for the needy in America.”

Across America the food industry supports food banks throughout the year. According to a 2005 FMI report one-quarter of the food retailers surveyed gave food banks one million or more pounds of food, and more than one-half donate at least 100,000 pounds annually. Many more companies contribute to food banks in variety of ways including help with transportation, product sorting, warehouse construction and food safety guidance.