Press Release

NRF 2024’s New Foodservice Innovation Zone Offers Tastes of Latest Tech

For immediate release
January 10, 2024

“The retail industry is constantly evolving, and at NRF 2024, we are excited to explore innovations in the food service industry."

NRF Senior Vice President of Events Susan Newman

WASHINGTON – The new Foodservice Innovation Zone at NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show is ready to serve the latest in food technology innovation with more than 50 companies showcasing future-forward foodservice technology and immersive activations displaying the powers of a connected kitchen as well as how robotics can be integrated into the process.

“The retail industry is constantly evolving, and at NRF 2024, we are excited to explore innovations in the food service industry,” NRF Senior Vice President of Events Susan Newman said. “NRF’s Foodservice Innovation Zone will showcase new technologies to improve the customer foodservice experience and highlight how foodservice can be integrated into any retail space.”

The Foodservice Innovation Zone stage will feature leaders and innovators in food, and immersive activations place participants in real-life environments to see and interact with the technology that is changing the way retailers and operators deliver food to their customers. Additionally, the Foodservice Innovation Zone will include celebrity guest appearances from Robert Irvine of “Restaurant Impossible,” Crystal Kung Minkoff of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and Jon Taffer of Taffer’s Tavern.

“The partnerships between retailers and food operators are critically important in convenience stores, restaurants, grocery and other non-traditional environments,” International Food and Beverage Technology Association CEO Rob Grimes said. “The Foodservice Innovation Zone will provide the nearly 40,000 NRF 2024 attendees with the opportunity to witness these emerging technologies and understand how they operate and how businesses can benefit from them.”

Created in partnership with NRF and IFBTA, the Foodservice Innovation Zone overall sponsors are Kyndryl and PepsiCo; Michelin sponsors include Comcast Business, Creative Realities, Fortinet, Middleby, NCR VOYIX, PAR, PepsiCo, Samsung, Shiftsmart and Structural Concepts.

More information on the Foodservice Innovation Zone’s exhibitors, activations and programming is available here.

Retail’s Big Show will be held in New York Jan. 14-16, and is expected to bring together attendees from 6,200 brands and nearly 100 countries.

Complimentary registration is available to editorial members of the news media. For more information, visit the NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show press registration page.

About NRF
The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com

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