Long Beach Convention Center
Are you worried about attending trade shows in-person because of COVID? That’s a normal concern, but the organizers of Cocina Sabrosa Trade Expo are working hard to put attendees and exhibitors at ease about that concern.
The inaugural Cocina Sabrosa Trade Expo was supposed to occur 2020, but like all other live shows last year, it was cancelled. All exhibitor deposits were refunded or rolled into 2021 reservations. Fortunately, things are looking good for the 2021 event, which is scheduled for October 4-5 in Long Beach, California.
“Since our re-launch for the 2021 Expo, we have been receiving an impressive number of contracts from companies to exhibit in Cocina Sabrosa,” says Eric Jurado, the show director. “They represent a wide range of companies with products such as tequila, chicharones, soda and juices, michelada and wine to hot sauces, tortillas, cheeses, bakery items, nuts and snacks, parchment paper and agave products. In addition, we have received contracts for exhibit space from food truck manufacturers, retail services such as POS and insurance, as well as kitchen equipment businesses.”
However, Jurado says he has noticed hesitation among some companies because of the lingering pandemic. So he emphasizes that maximum safety procedures will be followed. These procedures, part of the Safe and Secure standard that is being adopted by all the top trade show producers, include eight key priorities:
- Enhanced cleaning: Cocina Sabrosa will undertake enhanced, deep cleaning before, during and after our events, working with venue partners to ensure the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness. This includes continuous sanitization throughout the course of an event, with a focus on high-touch areas such as door handles, restrooms and food and beverage areas.
- Personal hygiene: Cocina Sabrosa will provide additional hand washing facilities and hand sanitizing stations throughout the event space, encouraging all participants to regularly wash and disinfect their hands.
- Non-contact registration: Cocina Sabrosa will employ a system that facilitates non-contact registration for participants, including the availability of online registration.
- Physical contact: Cocina Sabrosa will request that participants avoid physical contact, such as handshakes and embraces, promoting alternative ways to greet business partners.
- Physical distancing: Cocina Sabrosa will maintain a density of participants in line with local authority regulations and venue or other relevant guidance. This will be managed through one or more control measures such as pre-show communications to participants, on-site signage and floor markings and on-site social distance ambassadors.
- Food and beverage stations: Cocina Sabrosa will work closely with venue partners to employ the highest standard of food safety, If any queuing is anticipated, social distancing will be maintained through the use of floor markings and relevant signage.
- First aid: Cocina Sabrosa will have access to a qualified first aider and a separate quarantine area if possible. Participants will be asked not to attend if they are feeling unwell, and teams will follow local health authority guidance on detecting and managing anyone who displays symptoms of COVID-19.
- Screening: Cocina Sabrosa will follow relevant health authority guidance on screening participants.
“We couldn’t be more excited to see again how quickly the Latin Foodservice industry has embraced the 2021 show so far,” Jurado says. “We moved the 2021 CSTE to late fall to make sure this Expo has the greatest opportunity for success. We want to let every participant know that they can be assured we are taking a Safe and Secure approach in order to hold the event and should a cancellation be forced by the government, which we don’t anticipate, we will take the same approach as we did for the 2020 expo on refunds.”
Jurado says booth space is filling up quickly. Potential exhibitors can call him at 714-914-4012 to discuss participation. Exhibitor and Attendee registrations are also being accepted at www.cocinaexpo.com
Editor’s Note: el Restaurante magazine will also be exhibiting at Cocina Sabrosa. We look forward to seeing all our friends there!