Summit to Examine What Millennials Want from Animal Ag

Menu analysts, trend spotters, brand strategists and researchers will comprise a panel on food trends at the upcoming 13^th annual Stakeholders Summit, the Animal Agriculture Alliance announced today. The Summit, themed “Cracking the Millennial Code,” will provide attendees with a look at the latest trends and the future of food—especially as they pertain to millennials—and will rely on the research and testimony of renowned experts from The Kruse Company, the Food Marketing Institute, the National Pork Board, and the rapidly growing D.C. area restaurant chain: Cava Mezze Grill.  “No one has a crystal ball when it comes to ‘what’s next’ for meat, milk and egg consumption,” said Alliance President and CEO Kay Johnson Smith of the Stakeholders Summit, to be held May 8-9^th just outside Washington, D.C.  “All of our panelists, however, will be presenting Summit attendees with research and expert analysis to help our stakeholders know what’s coming and to get excited for the new opportunities in food.”

 
Prior to the panel discussion, Nancy Kruse, President of The Kruse Company, will provide the audience with an overview of food trends that have caught on this year and what she expects to be the next “big thing” for animal agriculture. Kruse, who is the best-known and most widely quoted menu analyst in the restaurant industry, authors “The Kruse Report,” a column on trends that appears monthly in Nation’s Restaurant News.  Kruse will also help give context to the foodie movement and differentiate between what’s fad versus what’s forever when it comes to consumer buying habits.
 
Kruse will then be joined by David Fikes (Food Marketing Institute), Angela Anderson (National Pork Board) and Nikki Rappaport (Cava Mezze Grill) for a panel discussion on new millennial research, consumer buying habits and how restaurants and retailers are building on the latest food trends. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask these experts questions and receive real-time advice.
 
The Stakeholders Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference that is attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislators, universities and government agencies. While the 2013 Summit explored the role transparency and effective communications efforts play in countering misinformation spread by animal rights activists and other detractors, this year’s Summit will focus on the most influential demographic in the U.S.: millennials.
 
To learn more about these, and other Stakeholders Summit presenters and panelists, be sure to visit the Alliance website. Early registrations ends April 22nd, 2014—so register today to take advantage of the discounted rates!
 
Details:
Early registration for the one-and-a-half day event is $375 for Alliance members and $425 for non-members; $325 for those in government or academia. Media and students interested in registering should contact Emily Meredith. Registration materials and a full event schedule (as of April 15, 2014) can be found on the Summit website. 

This year, the Summit will be held at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel. The original room block is now SOLD OUT. An overflow room block has been created at the adjoining Residence Inn Arlington Capital View Hotel. Rooms are available at a special group rate of $209.00 per night on the hotel’s website or by calling (703) 413-1300. Attendees must book their rooms by April 28, 2014 to take advantage of the Alliance’s room block and rates.

As always, the Alliance’s Stakeholders Summit will be social!  Be sure to follow the hashtag #AAA14 for updates about the event.  For general questions about the Summit please contact summit@animalagalliance.org