Food Industry Leaders Come Together To Present Opening Keynote Panel At Plant Based World Conference & Expo

Panelists Include Representatives from Kroger, Compass Group and the Plant Based Foods Association

New York (PRWEB) Ann Beaty, Director, Kroger Merchandising Consulting at 84.51° and Edward Brown, President, Restaurant Associates will join Michele Simon, Executive Director, Plant Based Foods Association for the opening day keynote to discuss The Growth of the Plant-Based Foods Industry at Plant Based World Conference & Expo (PBW) taking place on June 7-8, 2019 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The expert panel will provide a broad outlook on how retailers, food service providers and brands can explore opportunities and tap into this market, pulling from lessons of past success and budding trends that will shape the growth of plant-based foods and the food industry as a whole.

In her position consulting with Kroger, Ann Beaty has been leading a passion project related to targeting and capitalizing on the vegetarian/vegan customer at Kroger and using consumer data and industry trends to meet the needs of the growing number of plant-based customers at America's largest grocer. She is responsible for developing the most effective use of brick and mortar retail space, analyzing consumer data to arrive at meaningful insights that shape future strategy and developing creative data-driven solutions to urgent business problems.

Restaurant Associates, a member of Compass Group, is recognized as the nation's premier on-site dining management company. As one of America’s leading chefs, Ed Brown has cultivated a culinary prowess by working in some of the most celebrated kitchens in the world. His passion and considerable talent have earned him wide acclaim including numerous New York Times stars and a Michelin star.

A 1983 graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Brown’s professional life began at the New York Times three-star Maurice Restaurant as Sous Chef working beside Chef Christian Delouvrier. After two years, Brown journeyed to Paris and the kitchen of the famous Michelin three-star Lucas Carton as Chef de Partie Tournant. It was during this time that Brown was introduced to the cuisines of the world and the variety of techniques that are still evident in the combinations, flavors and simplicity of his cooking style today.

Michele Simon is passionate about improving people's access to healthier and more sustainable foods. With 20 years of experience in food and beverage law and policy she has written extensively about food politics, litigation, and a wide range of food and beverage advocacy efforts that impact our choices. To better support food companies doing the right thing, in 2015 she founded the Plant Based Foods Association, a trade group representing the nation's leading plant-based food companies and offers legal advice on federal regulatory compliance for labeling and marketing, among other services. Her first book, Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back was called "brilliant" by Marion Nestle, professor at New York University.

In addition to this exciting keynote, Plant Based World will be offering The Eat for the Future Business Forum which will include sessions designed to educate professionals from retail, food service and brands. See the updated conference agenda here.

The Plant Based World Conference & Expo will feature leading plant-based food industry companies like Founding Partner, Follow Your Heart; Gold Sponsors 22 Days Nutrition, No Evil Foods, and Good Catch Foods; and Silver Sponsors Daiya, Tofurky and Miyoko's Kitchen. Other Sponsors include Dr. Praeger's, Ingredion and Upton's Naturals. For more information, click here. Companies interested in exhibiting can contact Michelle Bonina, Sales & Business Development Director at 203-416-1924 or Michelle(at)theplantbasedworld.com. For more information about Plant Based World Conference & Expo, visit http://www.plantbasedworldexpo.com/.