Some of the best conversations at Expo West don’t happen on the floor.
They happen at dinner. When the badge is off, the noise dies down, and people actually start talking like real humans again. That’s the idea behind Plates & Placements, and we hosted our very first one this year with RangeMe and ECRM. None of it would have come together without Wayne Bennett, who showed up for this the right way from the very beginning.
We kept the room small on purpose. A mix of buyers, distributors, founders, and people who actually make decisions in this space. Because it was Women’s History Month, we focused on women leaders and decision-makers, which made the conversations feel even more intentional.
The goodie bags were one of my favorite touches of the night. Every product came from a women-owned brand, and we specifically chose brands that didn’t have booths at Expo West. Smaller brands that don’t always get pulled into those rooms, but absolutely should be. It felt like a quiet way to give them a seat at the table without needing a big budget or a booth to earn it.
The goal with Plates & Placements has always been pretty simple. Get the right people together, take the pressure off, and let real conversations happen. No forced networking. No pitching every five minutes. Just dinner with people who are serious about this industry and actually want to connect.
We’re planning more of these with RangeMe and ECRM at Fancy Foods and Sweets & Snacks. If you’re a buyer or distributor and want to be in the room, reach out.
– Tia Ellis
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