Each year, Western New York IFT (Institute of Food Technologists) host a Suppliers’ Night Expo in Rochester, bringing together food scientists, ingredient suppliers, decision-makers, entrepreneurs, food processors, and food service owners.

This event is designed to facilitate networking and support business growth by connecting retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers to explore innovations and build meaningful partnerships across the food and beverage industry.

Maureen Ballatori will deliver a Keynote Address presenting on marketing strategy, competitiveness, sustainability, and consumer behavior.

KEYNOTE DESCRIPTION:

Consumers today have more choices than ever, and that makes it harder for food and beverage brands to stand out. In this session, Maureen Ballatori, Founder and CEO of Agency 29, will share practical observations from working closely with food, beverage, and agriculture brands as they scale.

The keynote will explore how consumer expectations around trust, transparency, and sustainability influence purchasing decisions, and what that means for marketing and competitiveness in a crowded marketplace. Rather than focusing on theory, Maureen will highlight common patterns she sees across brands - what tends to resonate with consumers, where companies often overcomplicate their messaging, and how small strategic shifts can make a meaningful difference.

This session is intended to offer approachable, real-world perspective for product developers, suppliers, and industry leaders who want to better connect innovative products with the people they’re ultimately made for.