13 Sep Don’t Miss Our Southeastern Food Processors Association Convention Coming To HHI!
One of America’s top island destinations awaits your registration to the SFPA Convention.
If you haven’t registered for our Southeastern Food Processors Association (SFPA) Annual Convention, coming October 18th through the 20th, do it today! The SFPA is the largest regional food processors organization in the Sunbelt and we’re making this year’s gathering extra special. Register now.
Food processors and associate members cover the gamete of national and regional brands who call the Southeast home. From Bush Brothers to Garner Foods, makers of Texas Pete® Hot Sauce and Green Mountain Gringo® Salsa, Sauer Brands, of Duke’s® mayo fame, Mt. Olive Pickles, and McCall Farms (one of America’s largest canned foods companies with multiple brands) as well as House-Autry Mills, Palmetto Processing, Boone Brands, Moody Dunbar and many more, the SFPA represents a heritage of nearly 80 years of feeding American families.
The Sonesta Resort is one of the pearls of discovery for SFPA members in 2023.
“We are launching a new format for this year’s convention that begins on Wednesday and closes on Friday to allow attendees to free up their weekend for a few extra days, stay at the beach or head home,” says Executive Director Kay Rentzel. “Hilton Head Island is one of America’s top island destinations, so bring your spouse or significant other and learn, network, and just have fun.”
This year’s convention will be held at one of the island’s top resorts, Sonesta Resort in the Shipyard Plantation. Boasting an oceanfront location with on-site restaurants, fitness center, lagoon-style pool, and full-service spa. There is easy access to tennis, bicycle rentals and off-site restaurants, shopping, island cruises and entertainment.
Bring your golf clubs and be ready for our Annual SFPA Golf Tournament at the Shipyard Plantation Golf Club.
The Shipyard Golf Club encompasses three unique courses comprising 27 holes of exceptional challenges.
Todd Schultz of Bush Beans and SFPA Tournament Chairman, says be ready for a great Thursday afternoon of golf and relationship-building and just plain fun. The tournament will follow Captain’s Choice rules, with winning teams recognized during Friday night’s Annual Charity Auction and Dinner.
The convention’s opening day, on Wednesday, Oct. 18th begins with registration and exhibit set up at 4pm, followed by a welcome reception at the resort’s beach pavilion at 6pm. The much-loved SFPA hospitality suite opens at 9pm.
Sonesta’s Beach Pavilion is the site of the Welcome Reception and Thursday’s Dinner & Fun Night.
Thursday, breakfast begins at 7am with the general session beginning at 8am and ending at 11:30 am to make way for members preparing for the convention’s annual golf tournament that begins at 1pm or free time for others. A Dinner & Fun Night at the beach pavilion begins at 6pm followed by the hospitality suite opening at 9pm.
Bring some beach chairs for you and your honey during convention breaks designed to let you unwind.
Friday, it’s breakfast at 7am and the general session beginning at 8am and ending at 11:30am. There’ll be plenty of free time for lounging, biking, shopping, or basking in the South Carolina sun. At 6pm the annual benefit auction for SFPA scholarships begins with the annual banquet hosted by the SFPA’s Board of Directors.
The Annual Charity Auction & Dinner
Proceeds from the SFPA’s Annual Charity Auction & Banquet go toward two reasons why our organization is so special. The SFPA Employee Child Scholarship goes to the children of SFPA member companies who apply each year. Students can apply with any major to a four-year college or university. A second SFPA Food Technology Scholarship goes to students majoring in food-related and affiliated southeastern universities. Winning students of this year’s scholarships will be announced and recognized for their achievement.
If you are a SFPA member, be sure to bring an item to donate to the auction and be ready to bid big and bid often to maintain the scholarship fund.
Education is an important part of each SFPA Convention offered during morning General Sessions. Here are some of the speakers set for this year’s General Session.
Ray Starling
General Counsel, NC Chamber of Commerce
As general counsel of the NC Chamber and president of the NC Chamber Legal Institute, Ray sets strategy for litigation of the NC Chamber, the NC Chamber Legal Institute and its affiliated entities.
Prior to joining the NC Chamber team, Ray served as chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue where he coordinated execution of the Secretary’s policy agenda for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a $140 billion agency with more than 100,000 employees. Ray focused on regulatory and deregulatory initiatives and acted as a point of contact for stakeholders throughout agriculture and rural communities.
In the fall of 2022, Starling released his book Farmers Versus Foodies in which he shares some perspective on the question of who will call the shots for the future of the farming and food system in the United States and beyond. The book is an Amazon best seller and has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
Brad Rose
Rose Research
Rose Research provides actionable research, consulting, and analysis on a global platform. The company has developed long-term relationships with some of the nation’s largest research organizations. The firm is known for its cutting-edge research tools, including – Sale Prediction Capabilities, Agri-Research Evaluations, Customer Satisfaction Studies, Mobile Survey Techniques, Online Interactive Solutions, Market Assessments, Competitive Analysis, etc.
Tom O’Shea
Egan Co.
Egan Company will present the benefits of automation controls in manufacturing and the latest and greatest technology available to provide additional efficiency to food processing that turns ideas into reality and problems into solutions.
Dr. Scott Whiteside
Clemson University
Dr. Whiteside will offer updates on the latest food packaging and innovation emerging in food plants nationwide. His expertise is in food safety, thermal food processing, food product shelf life, and food packaging.
A special offer to potential new SFPA processor members this year includes a free one-year membership to the association when you attend this year’s convention. Here you can meet and network with association members and understand the value of you affiliation with our professional organization. Contact Executive Director Kay Rentzel to discuss the free offer.
If you are a provider of services to the food industry and an Associate Member of the SFPA be sure to contact Kay Rentzel for special opportunities to sponsor events and activities within the convention.