Media Advisory - Canada's Food & Beverage Sector Performance to be Discussed at the Canadian Food & Drink Summit 2015

The Conference Board of Canada's first Annual Report Card on Food to be publicly released

OTTAWA, Oct. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Building on its foundational Canadian Food Strategy released in 2014, The Conference Board of Canada's Centre for Food in Canada (CFIC) is hosting a 2-day event on October 26-27, 2015, to explore the future of Canada's food and beverage sector, and leverage new opportunities to enhance Canada's performance and potential.

Canadian Food & Drink Summit 2015: Measuring Performance, Taking Stock, Inspiring Action, will focus on resources and opportunities in the food and beverage sectors to boost industry prosperity, healthy food, improve food safety, environment sustainability, and address the challenges of household and global food security.

Among many highlights, the Summit will feature the Conference Board's first-ever Annual Report Card on Food (an assessment of Canada's national food performance compared to 16 leading OECD countries), the launch of a substantial program aimed at further reducing the number of calories Canadians consume from refreshment beverages and a frank discussion on the renewal of Canada's Food Guide and dietary guidelines.

Summit Highlights:

Day 1 (October 26th):

• 8:45 am (Toronto Ballroom): The Conference Board of Canada will release the findings of its 1st Annual Report Card on Food—Performance and Potential—our first-ever assessment of Canada's national food performance compared to 16 leading OECD countries. The Report Card will evaluate five elements (industry prosperity, healthy food, food safety, food security, and environmental sustainability), and will provide top line results comparing Canada's performance to the world.

• 10:30 am (Toronto Ballroom): Media Q & A with Dr. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy, and Jean-Charles Le Vallée, Senior Research Associate, Centre for Food.

Day 2 (October 27^th):

• 8:45 am (Toronto Ballroom): Canada's non-alcoholic beverage industry is launching a substantial and unique voluntary program aimed at further reducing the number of calories Canadians consume from refreshment beverages.

• 10:45 am (Johnston Room) : Media Q & A with Dr. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy, The Conference Board of Canada and Summit Co-Chair and Jim Goetz, President, Canadian Beverage Association.

• 3:10 pm (Toronto Ballroom): Expert presentations will lead an interactive dialogue on renewing Canada's Food Guide and dietary guidelines.

Advance media accreditation is required for this event.

When:	October 26-27, 2015
Where:	Hilton Hotel, Toronto Ontario
Who:	Summit Co-Chairs:
	Dr. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy, The Conference Board of Canada Dr. Jean-Charles Le Vallée, Senior Research Associate, Centre for Food in Canada, The Conference Board of Canada Notable speakers include: Jim Goetz, President, Canadian Beverage Association Dickie Martin, Vice-President, Brand Building, Unilever Canada Inc. Murad Al-Katib, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGT Foods Paul Hollands, President and Chief Executive Officer, A&W Food Services of Canada Tom Shebrek, Director, Business Continuity, Loss Prevention, Walmart Canada Gary McMullen, Owner and Founder, Muskoka Brewery Ryan Smolkin Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Smoke's Poutinerie

For the full list of speakers, schedule and times, visit: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/Libraries/CONF_PDFS_PUBLIC/15-0107.sflb

Follow the Canadian Food and Drink Summit 2015 conference on Twitter with the hashtags: #CBoCFood, #CBoCEvents

The Canadian Food and Drink Summit 2015 is presented thanks to generous contributions of our gold sponsors: the Canadian Beverage Association, Hellmann's Canada, as well as sponsors Saputo, and Farm and Food Care Canada.

SOURCE Conference Board of Canada

For further information and media accreditation: Sean Burgess, Communications CoordinatorTel.: [phone], ext. 294, E-mail: [email protected]; or Yvonne Squires, Media Relations, Tel.: [phone], ext. 221, E-mail: [email protected]