Iván Martinez de Cerveceria Reforma
By Jorge Rennella
After four unforgettable days in the 2017 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, most of us ended up with tired feet. However, the great experience, the contacts, the information about new products and trends, and the evidence about the development of the market, and hence the growth of our companies, made it worthwhile.
I began to cover the show, knowing that, as most years, I could not explore it completely and that I probably would not see some of the people and companies I met the last year. But I was lucky enough to see some of them again. Among those I did see again was Sabrina Castillo, executive manager of Fresh Directions Int., a Dominican company that supplies avocados and mangos in the United States. We were very glad to see each other again.
I also found a few Dutch companies. Since I lived a few years in the Netherlands, I took the opportunity to practice what little I remember of the Dutch language, and of course to get to know them and their products. On this occasion I meet Ernst Goettsch, sales representative for Frijado USA.
Another interesting person I met was Clara Cheng, a Taiwanese executive from the Flytech company. Her joy and enthusiasm for her work was contagious. It was very rewarding to speak with Clara, who speaks good English and Spanish, about her entrepreneurial business.
As in previous years, I found my dear Ecuador and México with great pavilions, promoting their businesses, products and new entrepreneurs. Both countries are supported by regional trade organizations, Pro Ecuador and Pro México respectively.
The Pavilion of México, supported, advised and organized by the institutions Pro México, SAGARPA and ASERCA, included companies such as: Brewery Reforma, a new craft beer brewer, represented by its CEO and founder, a young entrepreneur, Iván Martinez; Villa Vanilla, represented by Ana Franco and Juan Carlos Cervera; Koch Mezcal, represented by Oscar Trevino; La's Guava Sauce, represented by Simri Azriel Tolman; Piquin' is Mexican, represented by Sergio Salinas; Calufe International, represented by Tania Perez; and Casa Tequilera Herencia de Villa, represented by its owner, Cuauhtemoc Villa.
The Pavilion of Ecuador, advised, supported and organized by Pro Ecuador, brought businesses and new products such as Pimienta Yupanqui, a new variety of black pepper for the gourmet market, brought by Procosan S.A. and represented by David Yupanqui and Pierina Yupanqui; Golden Berries, a native product of the Andes, brought by Ecuaconservas and represented by Gonzalo Salvador; Avocado Pacose and Golden Sweet Spirit, represented by Dennis Brito; Connection, represented by Pablo Torres; Organic tamarind and artisanal Chocolate of Quininde, represented by Alfredo Guaman de Unkler S.A.; TropicMax, a company that brought Exotic Snacks - Plantain Chips, the Ecuadorian version of the potato chip – in a variety of delicious flavors, represented by Enrique Villacreses and Luis Villacreses; and finally Sumesa, represented by Mirella Gómez, which supplies a wide variety of products for the U.S. market.
To be at McCormick Place every year on this date is, for those who write and those who work with the food industry and restaurants, an annual ritual, nourishing and enjoyable, not only for our palates, but also for our intellect. It brings joy to my heart to see the desire to continue growing and succeeding, and to share and to meet so many good and professional people seeking a better future for their products, companies, families and world trade. See you next year, friends!
Jorge Rennella, a translator and journalist based in Chicago, is part of the el Restaurante magazine team.