The National Restaurant Association show, that was to take place May 16 – 19 in Chicago, has been cancelled due to Coronavirus concerns, its organizers announced Tuesday.
The following statement was shared by Winsight LLC CEO, Mike Wood, and National Restaurant Association Interim President and CEO, Marvin Irby:
"After many weeks of monitoring the evolving situation around COVID-19, including the guidance of the CDC and the Governor of Illinois, it is with great regret that we announce the unavoidable cancellation of this year’s National Restaurant Association Show, which we had planned to hold in Chicago on May 16-19.
We recognize the critical importance of the Show to the industry and we know that this will come as a disappointment to those who had planned for months to attend. While it is not the outcome we wanted, amid all the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and the immense strain it has put our industry, the safety of our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, vendor partners and our own staff is paramount. This is our community and we all must be kept safe.
We are so thankful for the support that has already been shown to us as we explored numerous options to keep the Show on schedule. We know you see yourselves as friends and members of the National Restaurant Association Show family. Although these developments resulting from COVID-19 require that the 2020 Show not go forward at this time, we are looking forward to partnering with you to make the 2021 Show the best ever."
The news comes at a time when the Specialty Food Assocition remains in close contact with officials in the federal government, New York City & State, and the Javits Center in New York City where its Summer Fancy Food Show is held annually, to better understand how the Covid-10 outbreak may affect its Show in late June – 14 weeks from now.
SFA is working very closely with the Javits Center in particular to understand how recent developments in converting the space to temporary hospital space may affect the planning of the show.
Being a nonprofit organization built to serve and promote our members for the long-term, SFA is moving as rapidly as possible while also taking care to comply with its legal obligations and protect the sustainability of the SFA.
For updates on the SFA's response to the coronavirus outbreak and other important information, visit specialtyfood.com/coronavirus.
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