Retail confectioners are meeting up this summer in Indianapolis, Ind. for the RCI Annual Convention & Industry Expo. The event will be held June 20-24, 2016 at The Westin Indianapolis. The week will include several opportunities for confectioners and suppliers to connect through the expo floor, education sessions relevant to the industry and behind-the-scenes tours.
A key mission of RCI is to help retail confectioners succeed in their businesses. Through education sessions, the confectionery suppliers expo, and even the behind-the-scenes tours, the event offers a comprehensive confectionery experience for attendees to gain ideas and solutions to take back and apply to their own businesses immediately.
The event will start with two days of our confectionery industry expo, featuring a tradeshow full of industry suppliers. The expo will provide opportunities for attendees to see, touch and taste products new to the confectionery industry. Following the expo, the events continue with Candy Clinic, where RCI members share new ideas, new confections and even marketing tactics, while competing for awards to showcase in their retail shops. Next on the agenda is Kettle Talk, an open discussion where members are encouraged to ask questions relevant to their business for feedback from industry experts.
Education session topics at the convention include the following:
- Us vs. Them, presented by Matt Havens
- Running Your Business From Your Phone, presented by Brian Pelletier, Kakao Chocolate
- Caramel: A Confectioner’s Best Friend, presented by Joe Sofia, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate and Dennis Witzel, Dennis Witzel Sales & Consulting
- Growing Your Business Through Innovation, presented by Randy Good, Good’s Candy Shop
The last two days of the event include behind-the-scenes confectionery tours. Tours include Abbott’s Candy, Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates, Good’s Candy Shop, Schimpff’s Confectionery, Goat Milk Stuff and The Best Chocolates in Town. The tours offer attendees the unique ability to learn from fellow confectioners and see how their businesses run.
Attendees can elect to join us for the entire week or a portion of the week. RCI offers various package options this year, from full registration for total access for the week’s events to a new 3-day pass or an education package and various other a la carte options. If you’re interested in gaining valuable knowledge and connections within this sweet industry, this is certainly an experience worth investing in 2016 – you won’t regret it.
Upcoming RCI Events & Education Courses:
Annual Convention & Industry Expo
June 20-24, 2016
The Westin Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Ind.
Fall Regional Vancouver September 21-23, 2016
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Annual Convention & Industry Expo
June 12-16, 2017
Chicagoland, Ill.
For more information about upcoming RCI events, visit www.retailconfectioners.org/events.
