The show, previously scheduled for June 17-18 in Chicago, IL, will take place on KeHE’s digital ordering platform from June 10-18, due to COVID-19 safety concerns.
“Our organization looks forward to June annually, when we welcome our KeHE community to Chicago,” said Brandon Barnholt, KeHE’s President & CEO. “We would love to be together to experience our show in person, however we have made this difficult decision because we take the safety of our attendees and employees very seriously. KeHE has created a valuable digital buying and selling experience for our customers and suppliers that they can experience from the safety of their own space—to keep their businesses strong.”
This will be the second virtual Holiday Show, the press release notes. The first virtual show,2020 Holidays of Hope,was KeHE’s largest and most successful show to date, with over 5,000 attendees and nearly 600 exhibiting suppliers. The show saw a 40% increase in overall sales placed.
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“During the pandemic, we’ve learned creating meaningful connections virtually is key,” said Ari Goldsmith, Vice President of Marketing, KeHE, in the press release. “Attendees can quickly and easily get what they need. By listening to the partners we serve, we’ve been able to build on the success of Holidays of Hope. In June, we will offer an enhanced digital experience to meet their everchanging needs.”The platform enables retailers and suppliers to communicate about promotional deals, discover product attributes, and place orders. Retailers can also explore exclusive products.
The 2021 KeHE Holiday Show is exclusive to current KeHE suppliers and retailers. Exhibitor applications will launch later this month.
