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SEPTEMBER  16  •  9AM -3PM  •  DEVOS  PLACE

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Independent Distributor,
Serving Independent Operators

FRESH IDEAS, FRESH PRODUCTS & FRESH SOLUTIONS

Van Eerden Foodservice is a fourth-generation, family owned broadline foodservice distributor in Grand Rapids, Michigan & Fort Wayne, Indiana. Our high-touch philosophy, combined with our extensive line of products has allowed us to serve businesses throughout the Midwest for over 100 years. 

At the VanEerden Food Show you'll discover Fresh Ideas, Fresh Products & Fresh Solutions - and get the best deals of the year. 

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Culinary Demonstrations

Fresh Ideas Stage
Live Culinary Demonstrations

Visit our Main Culinary Stage at the center of the show floor
to discover Fresh Ideas, Fresh Products & Fresh Solutions.

Live culinary demonstrations to be announced

Speakers

-NEW-

Fresh Solutions Stage
Speaker Line-Up

Catch live, interactive sessions at the Fresh Solutions Stage focused on
Marketing, HR & Staffing, and Operations & Profitability.

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MARKETING

Clicks to Covers

Turning Online Views into

Dining Room Visits 

10am -10:30am

Marcus Drenth

Managing Director & Marketing

Strategist, NineTen Media

Digital marketing strategies that drive location traffic, increase sales, and create lasting results. 

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POLICY

Industry Update

MRLA Reviews Key Labor Law & Regulatory Changes

11am -11:30am

Michigan Restaurant

& Lodging Association 

A discussion on recent and upcoming changes in labor laws, regulatory updates and what they mean for Michigan operators.

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STAFFING & HR

Staffing Solutions

Recruiting in a Competitive Restaurant Market

12pm -12:30pm

Elnian Gilbert, 

Trainer & Keynote Speaker

Zingerman's Training

Proven methods for finding great

talent, from job postings to onboarding

and beyond. 

Accounting Tasks

PROFITABILITY

Know Your Numbers

Simplifying Food & Labor

Cost Tracking

Amy Emberling

Managing Partner, 

Zingerman's Bakehouse 

Exploring practical systems and formulas

to stay on top of key costs. 

1pm -1:30pm

Professional Kitchen Scene

OPERATIONS

Kitchen, Simplified

Efficiency tips to streamline your operation

Kieron Hales 

Managing Partner and Executive Chef at Zingerman's Cornman Farms 

Tools, layouts and time savers to make your back-of-house run smoother & faster.

2pm -2:30pm

Culinary Action Stations & Activities

Visit all four of our Culinary Action Stations throughout the show

floor to gain recipe inspiration and learn about new products & trends.

Activities
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Passport to Flavor

The World at your Fingertips

Show Floor, All Day

Use your Passport to Flavor as your guide to fresh ideas & global inspiration throughout the Food Show. Visit featured stops to connect with vendor partners, discover products and programs built for real operations, collect stamps & turn in your completed passport at the VE Info Booth for a chance to win prizes.

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Taste the World

Trending Tastes from Around the Globe

Ajinomoto

Booth #TBD

Discover global flavors with Ajinomoto through live culinary demonstrations and tastings throughout the day. Featuring brands like Golden Tiger®, Posada®, Fred's®, and Revel Eats®, this station showcases innovative appetizers and globally inspired menu solutions designed to spark fresh ideas for your operation.

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Premium Black Angus

Midwest Raised, Globally Inspired

Copper Creek Cattle Company, Booth #TBD

Experience the Copper Creek difference through live culinary demonstrations and tastings throughout the day. Discover premium Black Angus beef sourced from family-owned Midwest ranches and crafted to deliver exceptional flavor, consistency, and quality. Taste, explore, and find fresh inspiration for your menu.

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Global Mocktail Bar

Global Flavors, Zero Proof

American Beverage Marketers, Booth #TBD

Explore global beverage trends through an interactive mocktail experience. Sample unique recipes from around the world or craft your own creations using RE'AL and Finest Call products. It’s a fun way to inspire beverage ideas and bring on-trend offerings to your menu. Taste, experiment & discover your next signature sip.

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Global Spice Exchange

Explore a World of Flavor

McCormick,

Booth #TBD

Explore global flavors by building your own custom spice blends using a wide range of McCormick products. Follow a few globally inspired recipes or create something entirely your own. It’s an immersive, practical experience designed to spark new ideas and bring fresh inspiration to your menu.

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Tour a VE Trailer

Ride along, no seatbelt required.

VE Trailer,

Booth #TBD

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the delivery process that supports your operation every day. Walk through a Van Eerden trailer, step into the cab, and experience what a day in the life of our drivers really looks like. It’s a hands-on, real-world way to understand the people, precision, and care behind every delivery.

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Red Bull Experience

Red Bull gives you Wiiings

Red Bull,

Booth #TBD

Fuel your day with Red Bull through refreshing mocktail samples and high-energy inspiration throughout the show. Explore creative beverage ideas, discover new ways to elevate your drink menu, and experience the energy of Red Bull's signature trailer on the show floor, serving up great drinks and great vibes all day long.

Vote for your Favorite Vendor 

Click below to vote for your favorite vendor in three unique categories:

Best Booth Design, Best Taste & Best Overall Experience.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Featured Vendors

VanEerden White Logo

Grand Rapids

650 Ionia Ave. SW 

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

616-475-0900

vaneerden.com

Fort Wayne

8252 Smith Rd

Fort Wayne, IN 46809

260-204-6260

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©2026 Van Eerden Foodservice

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