October 3/Deerfield, Ill./Prepared Foods -- The 29th Annual New Products Conference was held September 12-14 in Naples, Fla., with a range of speakers and topics addressing the latest trends and expectations of food and beverage consumers.
Delivering the keynote address, Denny Belcastro, executive vice president of industry affairs and membership services with the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), explained how shopper trips are shrinking and that in-home pantries now have reduced amounts of grocery staples. He also delved into the effects of the troubled economy on consumers of all incomes and related GMA research into shopper views.