Chicago – IAPMO R&T, North America’s premier third-party testing and certification body for plumbing, mechanical, and water treatment products, recently participated in the 96th annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and the co-located Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants (BAR) at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Billed as the largest gathering of restaurant, food-service, and lodging professionals in the world, the event brought together a diverse range of industry segments. In addition to thousands of independent and chain restaurateurs, NRA Show attendance included 100 percent of the top 50 restaurant brands in the world; 98 of the top 100 restaurant brands; non-commercial representation from Compass, Aramark, Sodexo, Delaware North, and Centerplate; dealer and distributor representation from Sysco, US Foods, TriMark, Wasserstrom, and Edward Don; and retail representation from Publix, Kroger, Mariano’s, Whole Foods, Wawa, and Sheetz.
IAPMO R&T Electrical/Sanitation Certification Manager Daniel Woodcock was among IAPMO R&T’s representatives at the four-day event. “We are pleased to see that our sanitation certification program continues to gain recognition in the industry,” said Woodcock, who oversees IAPMO R&T’s Food Equipment/Sanitation program. “Other than several new projects generated from the exhibition for clients’ sanitation certification needs, our field labeling service also sees a good demand to approve the field-installed equipment for sanitation compliance.”
The total exhibit space for the show exceeded 637,000 square feet across three buildings, eclipsing a mark set in 2000. More than 63,000 people registered for the event, and they came from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
“Across all three halls and all four days of NRA Show and BAR, the optimism of the restaurant and hospitality industry could be felt around every corner,” said John Metz Jr., 2015 NRA Convention chair and the executive chef, CEO, and co-founder of Marlow’s Tavern. “The energy and excitement of our industry coming together to shop, learn, connect, and discover was palpable in every conversation, transaction, and presentation that took place here.”
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and food-service outlets and a work force of 14 million employees. The association represents the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocates on its behalf.
