TINLEY PARK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tinley Park - It's a foodie fantasy. For ten years, Dutch Farms has been mounting a Food Show at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park, Illinois. This year, they're taking the whole enchilada.
When the Convention Center expanded to accommodate larger shows, Dutch Farms became one of the biggest. "This is the first year we require both exhibit halls. The Center's renovation is beautiful, it's modern and it's an easy-to-access location for our customers to come see our products," says Karen VanProoyen, Marketing Director for Dutch Farms.
The one-day show is a huge undertaking. Held February 13 this year, Center staff shape pipe and drape into vendor spaces. Heavy cooling and refrigeration equipment, kitchens, vehicles and expansive hanging decorations are brought in and set up. Special AV needs are accommodated. Thousands of samples are offered and hundreds of thousands of cases of food are bought and sold.
"This is a Must Attend show if you're a Midwest food retailer; an absolute necessity. Buyers get great deals and vendors introduce new products and give buyers access."
"We have a choice of where this show goes," says VanProoyen. "And we choose the Tinley Park Convention Center."
"The location is perfect, with representatives from independent grocery stores and big chains from all over the Midwest finding it simple to access. Even for our visitors from Chicago, the easy in-and-out and the free parking make this location more convenient to visit than any other place." The Center is adjacent to I-80, with interchanges within miles to I-355, I-57, I-294, I-55 and I-90/94. VanProoyen mentioned the adjoining Holiday Inn as an important feature, especially for those traveling from a distance.
"The Convention Center staff is so accommodating. They throw a great party the night before the event," smiles VanProoyen. While the Center's expansion was perfectly timed for Dutch Farms, VanProoyen is especially pleased by the expansion's quality. "This is a comfortable, inviting place for our customers. We are proud to display our products at the Center."
Eventually, there may be two Dutch Farms Food shows each year. "They'll both be at the Tinley Park Convention Center."