Non-members are welcome to attend one monthly LIFC general meeting for a fee of $25. Members who bring a non-member guest please email dolores@longislandfoodcouncil.com. Non-members who would like to attend additional meetings can visit the Membership page on the LIFC website to join as a member.

Food & Beverage Summit
September 9, 2021 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
F&B Innovation: How Food & Beverage Companies are Adapting in a Post-Pandemic World
Flexibility is the norm in the ebb and flow of the pandemic. Those in the food & beverage industry adept at flexibility are more apt to thrive.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on consumer behavior, but it’s also made the need for innovation within food companies even more urgent as consumers seek out products that fit their post-pandemic lifestyle.
Innovation has come in different forms across the food & beverage sector. Food retailers have leveraged omnichannel strategies, integrating various methods of engaging and interacting with customers, to create a consistent brand experience and build loyalty. Manufacturers have gone direct to consumer (DTC) and are leveraging data like never before, to track consumer behavior trends. Foodservice companies have implemented automation and a redesigned restaurant format (including ghost and dark kitchens) to accommodate the consumer’s desire for convenience, drive-thru and digital experience.
Leading into 2022, food & beverage companies need renewed thinking to not only survive, but thrive. The most successful businesses consistently monitor consumer behavior, shopping, and consumption patterns to ensure they are meeting customers’ food and beverage needs.
So how can you adapt? Hear from industry experts, and find out the techniques and technology tools to succeed in a post-pandemic environment.
Our Speakers:
Brian Choi, Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer, The Food Institute
Biagio (“Ben”) Scotto, President, Villa Restaurant Group and Managing Member, Scotto Properties
Jeff Swearingen, Global Senior VP- Demand Accelerator, Venturing, and Global Business Services, PepsiCo
Moderator:
Lou Biscotti, National Food & Beverage Services Leader, Marcum LLP