International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York revamped, attracts thousands – slideshow

The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, held March 3-5 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, welcomed thousands of global attendees to showcase the latest innovations in the foodservice and hospitality industries. From food and beverage machines to biodegradable packaging, hundreds of companies exhibited products primed to enhance the industry.

The annual event, hosted by Restaurant Events LLC, was rebranded this year to the New York Restaurant Show to better align with the marketplaces the show services. Restaurant Events LLC also operates the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, held in California and Florida, respectively, which were also part of the revamp.

“The name changes are just one of several steps in our strategy to grow the events, with a strong focus on meeting customer needs,” Glenn Celentano, partner and CEO of Restaurant Events LLC, said. “These are actually the original names for the shows when they were launched decades ago, and we look forward to working with our state restaurant associations to build upon the success and longevity of these events by creating a new brand strategy.”

As a first-time attendee of the event, I was on the hunt for the latest and greatest technologies available on the market. A plethora of innovations were on display, including machines that can assemble, bake and box customized pizzas, as well as self-cooking machines designed to assist people — technologies which can be adapted by food scientists, product developers and other food and beverage companies to advance and simplify operations.

Sustainable packaging and tableware were also abundant — from plant-based straws crafted using coffee grounds and dragon fruit peels to biodegradable utensils, plates, bowls and cups made utilizing everything from sugarcane to bamboo. These options, which were neat to stumble upon, have the ability to impact food and beverage manufacturers and developers worldwide.

Check out some of the most unique products discovered at this year’s event in our exclusive slideshow.