Emerald Purchases Cocina Sabrosa Expo, Creating a First for the Latin F&B Industry in the U.S.
February 10, 2023
Emerald, in collaboration with Abasto Media, is spicing up its portfolio with the recent acquisition of Cocina Sabrosa Food & Beverage Trade Expo, the only B2B event in the U.S. solely dedicated to the Latin food and beverage sector.
Formerly a regional event in Southern California, Cocina Sabrosa will be enhanced and expanded to create the first U.S.-based, national Latin food and beverage industry event serving restaurateurs, grocers, suppliers and entrepreneurs within the growing business segment.
“It’s an honor and privilege to work alongside Abasto to launch this premiere nationwide event, which will drive new business and educational opportunities for the passionate, rapidly growing Latin food and beverage community,” said Andrea Fletcher, brand director and Cocina Sabrosa brand leader at Emerald. “Between Emerald’s expertise in building connected communities and Abasto’s industry knowledge and relationships, we’ll be perfectly poised to deliver the resources, content and connections Latin food service leaders need to prosper.”
The acquisition of Cocina Sabrosa Food & Beverage Trade Expo represents another important step in Emerald’s portfolio optimization strategy by strengthening the company’s food and beverage portfolio of leading brands, including International Pizza Expo, International Artisan Bakery Expo, and SIAL America, which is co-produced with industry partner Comexposium.
Emerald’s expansion within the Latin market is aligned with the company’s focus on business sectors with high growth potential. According to research by Nielsen, the Hispanic market represents $1.9 trillion in buying power in 2023, an increase of 87% over the last decade. This sector also accounts for 50% of the growth in the U.S. food and beverage industry between 2005 and 2020, and was valued at $21 billion at the end of that period, according to data released by Statista.
Serving as the only U.S. business hub for the Latin food, beverage and retail industries, Cocina Sabrosa will create new opportunities for retail industry professionals to discover emerging trends and new suppliers from a comprehensive offering of food and beverage products, equipment, technology and professional service providers. Equally, Latin food and beverage suppliers will now have access to a new, focused audience of retailers, allowing for business growth, increased sales and market share.
“We have been envisioning a national Latin food and beverage event for some time by creating an event that will bring our partners and readers together under one roof,” said Gus Calabro, director of Abasto Media. “There is high demand within this segment to create an event like this, and partnering with a world-class company and leader in the events industry like Emerald is now making this a reality.”
The Cocina Sabrosa Food & Beverage Trade Expo ‘s inaugural national debut will take place Sept. 26-27, 2023, at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Texas.
In addition to supporting commerce and discovery opportunities, Cocina Sabrosa Food & Beverage Trade Expo will also showcase a conference program and other unique educational opportunities, from food and beverage tastings and service demonstrations to professional training, sales and marketing seminars. More detailed information on scheduled programming will be released in the coming months.
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Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates.
Water Stewardship Efforts
MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship.
In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step.
MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts.
Caring for One Another
MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include:
Unserved perishable prepared foods from events
Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens
Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses
The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.
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