Dot Foods invited employees, customers, and suppliers to the company's annual 2012 Food Show, offering the opportunity for attendees to hear expert presentations, learn about Dot's business model and network with more than 120 top food industry manufacturers.
Held May 3-5 in St. Louis, where Dot's corporate and sales office is located, the Food Show, themed The Food Network, had approximately 1,400 attendees.
Dot started the weekend off by offering a private concert by the musical group Foreigner for all attendees. The Food Show offered seven different seminars presented by Dot executives, covering topics such as helping convenience stores succeed with foodservice, sales management, and completing an offering with non-foods.
Leading suppliers and suppliers who participated in the open exhibitor booth show were asked to decorate their booths according to the weekend's theme. Georgia Pacific took first place, while Cargill Kitchen Solutions and CSM Bakery won second and third place, respectively.
Attendees randomly selected as winners for a $1,000 prize include Chuck Chmelir, of Deli Fresh Foods; Alan Fick of Fick Distributing; Jim Harrington of F. McConnell & Sons, Inc.; Richard Marshall of BNC Group; Shelly Smith of Tri-State Restaurant Supply, Inc.; Abdulla Mamun of Littco Restaurant Supply; Nasir Shoak of Price & Company; Allen Nieminen of City Wholesale; Bill Yost of Gummer Wholesale; and Jimmy Laurent of Ray's Wholesale Meats. Sullivan Candy and Supply was the grand prize winner and awarded a trip to Montage in Laguna Beach, CA.
In addition, Dot donated leftover product and food to St. Louis-based St. Patrick Center, Missouri's largest provider of homeless services. Two full trucks and eight large bags of donated clothing were delivered to the agency that provides opportunities for dignity and self-sufficiency to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Gene Schmitt, manager of program support services at St. Patrick Center said, "On behalf of St. Patrick Center, we'd like to thank Dot Foods and the generous donation that they provided us. Products were used for our Women's Night Program and made available for our other clients, and yet we still have several boxes to sort through. Dot's staff has been wonderful to work with as well."