Held at the Best Western Plus hotel in Dartmouth February 26 and 27.  Very well received due largely to an excellent line-up of spearkers that included:

Ian Smith from Clearwater
Kate Parker from EDC
Gilles Belliveau from Service Canada
Jason Frenette from NSERC
Chris MacIntyre from McInnes Cooper
Richard Ablett from Perennia
Peter Chapman from GPS Business Solutions
Linda Gourlay from Saltscapes
Barb Touchie from Economic Development NB
Nancy Beth Guptill from Sweet Spot Markeing
Brian & William Allaway from Acadian Maple
Lee Turner, Janice Ruddock and Don Newman from the association

Next year's conference is now being planned for Prince Edward Island

to be held in the Association's training room in Moncton December 3 to 5.  $875 less member discount. With instructors from Bio Food Tech.  In English.  For information contact Jim Landrigan at jklandri@gov.pe.ca.  To register contact Don Newman at don@atlanticfood.ca

Atlantic Canada pavilion hosted by the association at the 16th Americas Food & Beverage Show in Miami Beach.  15 companies, excellent traffic and sales.  Attracted a few thousand buyers from Latin America and the southern US.  With matchmaker-arranged interviews with selected buyers from Brazil, Panama and Costa Rica. Cruise line seminar, Atlantic Canada buyers reception and student outreach included.  2 companies took advantage of a demo stage set-up. Excellent location at the entrance to the show. Booked again for 2013.   

Three day workshop on HACCP and Listeria control held September 17 to 19 in Baddeck Nova Scotia.  With instructors Ebo Budu-Amoako and Jim Landrigan from BIO Food Tech.  12 participants. Very well received.

Held at the Cooke Aquaculture training centre in Saint George August 21 and 22.  With instructor Gordon Hayburn from SAI Global.  Ten particpants from four companies.  Very well received.

Two-day workshop on the BRC (British Retail Council) industry food safety program held April 30 and May 1 in Moncton.  With instructor John Kukoly from BRC Global Standards.  Eleven participants.  

Intensive wwo-day workshop held March 26 and 27 in the association's training room at 500 St George Street in Moncton.  16 participants.  Presenter Gary Gnirss from Legal Suites Inc. 

Held at the University of Moncton in Shippagan March 5 to 7.  Very well attended (50 participants) and with an excellent group of speakers including

    Julie Fournier, ACOA Moncton on India

    Gilles LeBlanc, NB Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Bouctouche on China

    Lee Turner, Atlantic Food & Beverage, Moncton, on the Atlantic Canada brand

    Jim Landrigan, Bio Food Tech, Charlottetown, on BRC, SQF and HACCP

    Francois Emond, CFIA, Moncton, on allergen labelling

    Cynthia Duncan, National Food Sector Council, Yarmouth, on training

    Derek Key, McInnes Cooper, Summerside, on new financing sources

    Paul-Aurele Chiasson, Lameque Coop, banquet speaker

    Jean Leger, NRC, Edmundston, on NRC financing

    Maurice Maillet, AAFC, Moncton on AAFC financing

    Daniel Arseneault, NB Cranberries, on the cranberry industry

    Marc-Antoine Guitard, NB Environment , Bathurst, on watercourse regulation

A 1-day Food Safety Workshop for Maintenance Staff! Finally!
The special Course Format is offered in Moncton: February 7, 2012
with Trainers from Bio Food Tech from PEI.

              2012        

Well received 3 day HACCP II Course: "Developing your HACCP Plans":
Nov 23-25 in Truro, NS with instructors from AgraPoint:
Niki Petrie - Director of Quality & Food Safety and
Geoff Farell - Quality & Food Safety Specialist.
11 participants.

Well received 2 day HACCP I Course: "Prerequisite Programs": Nov 21 & 22 in Truro, NS
with instructors from AgraPoint: Niki Petrie - Director of Quality & Food Safety and
Geoff Farell - Quality & Food Safety Specialist.
19 participants.

A Social Media Marketing Workshop was held on Nov 15, 2011 at NB Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fisheries: 381 Killam Drive in Moncton. The workshop was jointly hosted with AAFC. It was designed for producers & processors who would like to boost their business & become a major player in the modern media world. It informed about building up a company presence & prestige on the market & to expand awareness for its products, its brand & services through the use of social media like Facebook, Twitter etc.. The session showed new channels of communication, new opportunities to reach out to more clients & to stay in touch with them! The workshop opened up the opportunity for everybody to dive for a short amount of time into the potential of this new virtual world!

The association hosted again an Atlantic Canada Pavilion at the 15th Americas Food & Beverage Show which was held at the Convention Center in Miami Beach November 14 & 15, 2011. It was well received & the show provided a unique opportunity to meet buyers from the huge Southeastern US & Latin American Market. 
Interested in getting to know more?
Please visit:http://www.americasfoodandbeverage.com .

                                          October                                                      

We set up an Atlantic Canada Pavilion at the Fresh Summit in Atlanta, Georgia October 14-17, 2011: one of the largest international events dedicated to fruit, vegetables & floral. The Fresh Summit draws more than 18,500 attendees from 50 countries annually. The Pavilion was very well received this year & as a result we have already reserved space for our Pavilion at the next Fresh Summit in October 2012. Fore more information about this show, please visit: www.freshsummit.com .

                                               September                                         

The 9th Atlantic Conference on the food industry with the topic: "Re-Inventing the Food Industry in the Region!" was held at the Holiday Inn Express on Mountain Road in Moncton: September 27-28, 2011. A selection of 8 excellent speakers made it a very successful informative event with networking opportunities. A round table discussion brought a lot of ideas to develop a "Go Forward Plan". The reception & the banquet Tuesday evening have been another highlight. 56 participants.

Speakers:

Dennis Cochrane, Atlantic Education International (AEI)
Scott McWiliam, Atlantic Lottery
John Rowe, Island Abbey Foods
Paul Nickerson, Sysco Foodservice Moncton
Steve Owen, National Research Council Canada (NRC)
Janice Goguen, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Dave Sangster, Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia
Lee Turner: Norampac

Well received 3 day intensive Listeria HACCP course in Baddeck, NS
with microbiologists from the Bio Food Tech from PEI.
19 participants.  

                                           May                                                          

The 3-day intensive food safety course for food plants managers & QA staff was held in Moncton May 16-18, 2011. The course was presented by Jim Landrigan & Ebo Budu-Amoako from the Food Tech Center in PEI & was well received. 11 participants attended. 

                                               April                                                              

                                                   February                                       

A third mission to the Carolinas has been undertaken in the week of February 21, 2011. 7 companies representing a large range of different segments of the food & beverage industry have been on this mission to develop further markets. The focus this time has been on visiting the "food houses" (large distributors) in Hickory (NC), Newberry (NC), Myrtle Beach (SC) & Charleston (SC). Creek & Rogers have been the matchmaker for this very successful event. A mission to Georgia is being considered for 2012. 

                                                      January                                          

The food processors association again hosted the Atlantic Canada pavillion at the 14th Americas Food & Beverage Show in Miami Beach October 26 and 27.  The event also included a session on preparing mussels and lobster and a seminar on accessing the cruise ship industry.  Much appreciated funding support was provided by ACOA and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.  The pavillion was made up of 20 booths at the entrance to the show and 17 companies participated.  Each met with about 1000 buyers from the huge Latin American market.  Due to the success of the venture, the association has reseverd 18 booths at the November 2011 show. 

Held at the Future Inn in Moncton on October 14.  Being presented by 3 excellent instructors from Fona International.  Free seminar with presentations in English. Very interesting & sucessful event. 35 participants.

Held at the association's training room in Moncton August 3 to 5.  With instructors from the PEI Food technology centre. 

Held at the Amsterdam Inn in Moncton with instructor David Lithwick from Market Alert in Toronto.  A very interesting presentation of an important new topic for many companies.

Held at the Future Inn in Moncton on April 15 and the Best Western in Truro on April 20.  With speakers from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.   Very well attended at each location by 80 fish & seafood participants.

Retort operator course held April 14 to 17 at the PEI Food Technology Center in Charlottetown. Hands on training with equipment at the center. 

One day seminars cohosted with Agriculure and Agri-Food Canada held at the Delta Beausejour Hotel in Moncton and the Hilton Garden Inn at Halifax airport.  With speakers from the Canadian Consulate in Dusseldorf, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and compannies doing business in the European market.  Very well received by over 30 participants at each location. 

Eighth annual conference  and held at the Delta Beausejour Hotel in Moncton February 10 and 11, 2010.   Co-hosted with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.  Focus on natural health products and functional foods with other speakers on other topics of interest to the food incustry as well.  Very well received by 69 participants.  Included the association's annual banquet.  Nineth annual conference to be held in the spring of 2011.

Held in the association's training room at 500 St George Street in Moncton Feb 3 to 5, 2010.  The course was essentially all you should know about food safety and HACCP and expanded to include a strong focus on listeria prevention. The instructors were from the PEI Food Technology Center.  13 students

Exporatory mission to Mumbai and Cochin India.  To investigate the feasibility of a much larger return mission in the fall of 2010 or spring of 2011.  Very well received in India and the followup mission(s) are being planned.  Thanks very much to support from ACOA and the World Trade Centre in Halifax.

The association, with financial support from ACOA, set up an Atlantic Canada pavilion of 16 booths at the 12th Americas Food & Beverage Show at the World Trade & Convention Center in Miami Beach November 8 to 10, 2009.  Thirty-two people manned the booths from a very strong group of Atlantic Canada companies.  The event was well attended by a few thousand buyers from the trillion dollar Latin America and the southern US markets.  Much business was transacted.  As a result of the sucess of the venture, the association plans to host the pavilion again in 2010.  The event also included a very well attended reception hosted by the Canadian Consulate in Miami at the W Hotel and a visit with the buying team at Carnival Cruise Lines.  The association wishes to thank the consulate, ACOA, Agriculture Canada people, Global Convention Servicses and Chef Allain Bossé who were a big help with the event.

Very successful second trade mission to Charlotte and Greensboro North Carolina.  19 participants representing 8 companies formed a delegation from all four Atlantic Canadian provinces and visited one to two large 'food houses' each day.  The Atlantic Canada products were very well received.  Funding support was provided by the IBDA program.  The matchmaker, Creek & Rogers Consulting did a very fine job.  The Canadain Consulate in Raleigh hosted a reception at Johnson & Wales University for the delegation and local business people on the last day of the event.  Special thanks to the consulate people for their great work on the scene.  A third mission is likely for 2010.   

At the Dramis building in Moncton.  Organized by Leslie Hall from Nealanders.  Morning session titled "Everything you should know about gums" presented by Kimio Tsuchiya from TIC Gums in Belcamp Maryland. Then an afternoon session "Everything you should know about starches" presented by Danie Neideffer from Tate & Lyle.   13 participants. 

Held at the Guv'nor's Inn in St John's.  Similar to workshops held in St John's on November 6 & 7, 2008.  With much appreciated support from the Newfoundland & Labrador Dept of Innovation, Trade & Rural Development.  7 participants. 

Held at the 'Dramis building' in Moncton.  16 participants. Instructors Jim Landrigan and Ebo Budu-Amoako from the PEI Food Technology Centre.

Repeat of very well received workshops held at various locations in the fall of 2008 with instructors from the PEI Food Technology Centre.  Held at 'La Picasse' community centre in Petit-de-Grat.  First event for the association on Cape Breton Island.  11 participants.

Held at the Memramcook Institute.  Focus on marketing of locally produced products.  108 participants.  Speakers Jane Eckert, Lori Colborne and Brent Warner.  Coordinated by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council and the NB Department of Agriculture & Aquaculture.  

            2008                  

Held at the Lion's Hall in Oxford, NS.  20 poeple attended from Oxford Frozen Foods, Knol Farms and Zep Sales.  Instructors Jim Landrigan and Ebo Budo-Amoako from the PEI Food Technology Centre.  Course specifically designed for front-line operations staff.

Held at AgraPoint in Kentville.  Four students from Eden Valley Farms, Atlantic Bioventure and Prince Edward Aqua Farms.  Instructor Niki Petrie.

Held at the Old Orchard Inn in Wolfville.  Started with a reception at the Grand Pre Winery.  Nine speakers presented on a wide range of topics.  46 total participants.

Held at the Ramada plaza convention centre in Dartmouth.  Presenters were Jim Landrigan and Ebo Budu-Amoako from the PEI Food Technology Centre.  21 people attended from thirteen companies.

Held at the Dramis building in Moncton with instructors Niki Petrie and Cheyl Phillips from AgraPoint.  Seven people took the course from five companies.

Held at the Complexe les Deux Rivieres in Tracadie-Sheila.  Twelve excellent speakers presented on a wide range of topics.  48 total participants.

One day workshop focusing on listeria presented by Elena Connors from Impact Microbioloby.  Included an overview of other pathogens as well.  Focus on how to prevent cross contamination.  24 people attended from 14 companies.

Course on skills needed by supervisors in a food plant.  Offered because of feedback that supervisory training is needed in many plants.  Developed by the National Seafood Sector Council but applicable to any food plant.  Previously run successfully in Charlottetown and Oxford.  Instructor Jim Landrigan.  Six participants.  To be offered again in the fall and likely in Nova Scotia.

A follow-up on successful technical seminars held before where well qualified speakers are brought in on emerging technical topics.  The topics for this event were trans fat reformulation, alternative sweeteners and allergens.  The speakers were Lesley Hall from Nealanders and Ron Arsenault and Dave McLennan from  the CFIA.  Thirteen people participated.  Plans are already underway for the next seminar.

            2007            

Held at the Delta Beauséjour Hotel in Moncton.  72 participants. 

Speakers:

Rich Simmons, AgraPoint - 'lay of the land' for agri-food industry

Louis Arsenault, NB Fisheries - 'state of the sea' for seafood

Nell Halse, Cooke Aquaculture - 'state of the land & sea for aquaculture

Richard Gratton, Ocean Spray - 'flow of the waters' for beverages

Jeanne Cruikshank, Can Council Grocery Dist - Food Distributors

Beth Pomper, Canadian Consulate - the Philadelphia market

Diane Jebson, AAFC - the consumer

Carol Culhane, International Food Focus - fortification of food

Bob Crane, N2 Organics - organics

Michael Wilkovesky, Bus Continuity Consult - business continuity planning

Mike Timani, Fancy Pokket - banquet address

John Lutes & Albert Mallet - foreign workers

Beverly Woznow - provincial nominee program

Don Newman - the food processors association

Held at the Crystal Palace Hotel in Moncton.  Instructors Jessica Dunfield and Rich Simmons from AgraPoint in Truro.  11 students.

Two-day course on managing a media crisis, such as a food recall.  Instructors Margaret Leahey and Serge Clavet.  Included mock press conferences and scrums.  Held at the Prestige Executive Centre in Moncton October 25 and 26.  Very well received by five participants.  To be offered again in the spring. 

Trade mission to North Carolina October 15 to 19 for 6 companies.  Included visits to retailers and one-on-one matchmaking sessions in Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh.  Verified that the North Carolina market has great potential for Altantic Canada food products.  Supported by IBDA funding.  To be held again in 2008 with a larger group of companies. 

A follow-up to last year's highly successful first Acadian Peninsula food processing conference.  Held at the Complexe les Deux Rivieres in Tracadie Sheila.  54 participants.  Time and location already reserved for the 2008 event.

Speakers:  Flavio Quaranta (IC Agencies), John Argall (BioAtlantech), Nadia Tchoukanova (Coastal Zone Research Institute), Terry Shears (TM Shears), Frank Emond (CFIA), Rick Allen (Quality Engineered Solutions), Don Plumstead (Foodcon), Murray Hatchard (Co-Op Atlantic), Annie LaPlante (Co-Op Atlantic), Anne Guimond-Nadeau (National Bank), Jacques Legare (CTAC Quebec), Christa Bourque (McInnes Cooper), Brad Proctor (McInnes Cooper), Pierre Patenaude (Oceatec), Fabrice Pernet (Coastal Zone Research Inst), Roger Gervais (NB Innovation Fund).

Held at the Crystal Palace Hotel in Moncton with two instructors from the PEI Food Technology Centre.  9 participants

Held at the Future Inns in Moncton with 27 participants.  Giselle Comeau and Gilles Gautreau from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency did an excellent job presenting a topic that requires a detailed knowledge of the new labelling requirements.

Intensive three-day course with one day on transportation, one on logistics and one on warehousing/distribution.  To bring front-line and other staff in the food processing industry up-to-date on how best to optimize transportation expenditures.  Organized by the Atlantic Institute for Logistics and Transportation.  Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Moncton August 21 to 23.  Nine participants.  Instructors Terry Shears (logistics), Peter Vuillemot (transportation) and Peter Tye (distribution). To be held again in the spring.

Two day intensive workshop held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Moncton.  Nineteen people attended.  The instructor was Neville Craddock from Bletchinley UK to be the instructor and he was very well received.

Presented at Farnell Packaging in Dartmouth for eleven participants.  Instructors from the PEI Food Technology Centre.

Seminar held at the Future Inns in Moncton.  Instructor Bernie Matt brought 30 people who attended up to date on CT-PAT and related programs to ensure smooth flow of goods across the US border.  Thanks to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for setting up the event.

Presented by instructors from the PEI Food Technology Centre.  15 students.  Held at Cooke Aquaculture facility.

Held at the Future Inns in Moncton.  45 participants.

    Speakers:

    Mike Timani, Fancy Pokket Corp, on critical issues facing the industry

    Janice Ruddock, Taste of Nova Scotia, on new directions for her organization

    Danie Couture, Trade Commissioner North/South Carolina, on this market

    Patrick Goguen, Enterprise Greater Moncton, on labour force realities

    Sheila Barth, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada on branding

    Ray Dufour, Institute of Logistics & Transportation,
                          on transportation issues & challenges

    Carol Culhane, International Food Focus - two presentations:
                          one on impulse channels &
                          another on the use of salt in processing food

    Richard Bourdeau, Quebec Agriculture, Fisheries & Foods - on new strategies

    Francois Vanier, Fruit Crystals Inc, on freight consolidation for both:
                           the US & Caribbean markets

    Eloi Duguay, Business New Brunswick - banquet speaker

This very intensive one-day workshop was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Moncton on November 14.  The instructor was Gary Gnirss from Legal Suites.  18 people attended.

Similar to the October 1 event but this time in Fort Lauderdale for the processors that were attending the Miami F&B show.  Included one-on-one meetings with cruise industry buyers.  30 participants.

Event held at The Fisherman Restaurant in Shediac.  32 people attended.  Giselle Comeau and Gilles Gautreau from the Canadian Food Inspection agency did an excellent job of presenting a very thorough overview of Canadian Nutrition Labelling requirements.           

In depth two-day workshop held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Moncton May 16 & 17, 2006.  Instructor was Gary Gnirss from "Legal Suites".  29 people attended the day on Canadian labelling.  25 attended for the US labelling day. 

Held at the Crystal Palace Hotel in Moncton on March 1.  10 students attended.  Instructors from the PEI Food Technology Centre

With two instructors from the PEI Food Technology Centre.  Similar format to two previous courses presented in St George, NB in 2004 and 2005.  15 students.

38 participants

Speakers included:

"Cultural Aspects of International Trade" - J Barrie Reid

"The Future of Food in Canada" - Diane Wetherall

"Navigating Food Distribution Channels in the US" - Chalie Morro

"Food Brokers in the US" - Art Papazian, Johnson O'Hare Co

"Differentiation in Advertising" - Andrew Young, McCain Foods

"Fundamentals of Branding" - Kathryn Cosgrove, Tangerine Group

"The primary producer serving the local market" - Fraser Hunter, NS Fed'n Agriculture

"Organics" - Bob Crane, N2 Ingredients

"Branding Canada" - Sheila Barth

"Keeping it Simple for Marketing Success" - Greg Connell

First time for the association to put on an event for owners and financial managers in the industry.  29 people attended.

Speakers included:

    Mark Beverly, Dominion Securities

    David Forbes, Business Development Bank of Canada

    Ryan Dillon, Royal Bank

    Ron Murphy, Cavendish Farms

    Norm Raynard, Grant Thornton

    Steve Fowler, Grant Thornton

    Denis Melanson, Enterprise Greater Moncton

Well-received first time course with two instructors from the PEI Food Tech Centre.  Presented at the association's training room in Moncton to ten students from six processor companies.

160 participants

Co-hosted with the National Seafood Sector Council and other agencies

Speakers:

  - Louis Arsenault, NB Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture

  - Jim Carrol, Futurist

  - Carol Culhane, International Food Focus

  - Chris Emery & Larry Finnson, Clodhoppers Candy

  - Shawn Graham, MLA, Kent

  - Alastair O'Reilly, Canadian Centre Fisheries Innovation

  - Claude Williams, MLA Kent South

Panelists

- Kathryn Cooper, Guelph Food Tech Centre

- Anne MacEacheron, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

- Carl Butterworth & Tany Yardley, Ergonomics in Motion

- David Bonnell, Marine Institute

- Kerry Wright, Mallot Creek Strategies

- Doug Powell, University of Guelph

- Norm Cheeseman, GS1 Canada

- Mary Ann Green, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

- Frank Henniger, Food Systems International

- Richard Stead, Canadian Embassy in Brussels

- Ron Skinner, PEI Food Tech Centre

- Barry Reid, Nova Scotia Community College

- Marc Allain, SJMA Consultants

- Jessica Norup & Jeff Sward, Natural Resources Canada

- Chuck Steeves, Atlantica Learning Corp

Three-day course held at Corey Aquafeeds facility in St George New Brunswick.  Ten students attended and their evaluations were excellent.  Instructors were Jim Landrigan and Ebo Budu-Amoako from the PEI Food Technology Centre.  Funding support from Business New Brunswick was much appreciated.

with a tour of the Pump House Brewery

 31 participants

 Speakers:
- Carol Culhane, International Food Focus Ltd, Toronto
- Michael Peterman, Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur
- Bob Murray, National Starch
- Greg McCollum, Rogers Wireless
- Susan Shivas, Solae Company, St Louis
- Wim Caers, ORAFTI Food Ingredients, Belgium

in St George – April 2004

 Instructors from the PEI Food Tech Centre

 ten students

In partnership with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada – March 2004
  
 22 participants

 Speakers:
- Bill Dover, Dover Hospitality Consulting
- Jeff Trafford, M & S Foodservice
- Jeannie Cruikshank, Canadian Council Grocery Distributors
- Marc LeBlanc, Sysco
- Chef Stephan Muller, Delta Beausejour

in partnership with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada – March 2004

 33 participants

 Speakers:
- Keith Bray, Canadian Food Brokers Association
- Carol Chapman, C2 Communications
- Gary Stewart, ASAPCO Foods
- John Monahan, Johnison Enterpises
- Loring Wilmot, Wilmot Consulting