Long before "Happy Meals" and Chicken McNuggets, New Yorkers were devouring pizza, America's original fast food, at neighborhood parlors on every street corner. What began at Lombardi's on Spring Street in 1897 as a strictly ethnic treat has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry catering to every possible taste. According to "Pizza Wars," a recent TV special airing on the Travel Channel, New York City boasts more than 3,000 pizzerias. A New York Times writer counted "some 2,750" pizzerias in the metro area's 2002 Yellow Book telephone guide, noting, "The pizza slice is ubiquitous on New York streets."

So many pizza operators in the Big Apple, and not a pizza trade show in sight. But that's about to change when the New York Pizza Show, presented by PMQ Magazine, debuts Nov. 2 and 3 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

"New York is the pizza capital of the world," says PMQ publisher Steve Green. "The city deserves a pizza show of its own. New York pizzeria operators want it, pizza suppliers and manufacturers want it, and now they're going to get it. And it will be a pizza show that New Yorkers can be very proud of."

The New York Pizza Show will be produced and managed by Infinity Expo Group, a full-service, privately held exhibition management company that specializes in launching and managing events in partnership with publishers, associations and entrepreneurs.

"When Infinity Expo said they'd do the show with us, it was a done deal," Steve said. "We were looking for the right partner, and they were number-one on our wish list. Their principals have launched more successful New York City trade shows since 1990 than any other group. They have the New York area experience and location we needed to put on the kind of show we'd like to do. It's a perfect match."

The New York Pizza Show will provide an unprecedented forum for pizza store owners, operators, managers and other restaurant industry decision-makers to learn about new products and services, swap marketing and promotions ideas, seek advice from leading experts and consultants and attend seminars and workshops specifically designed for pizzeria operators.

Exhibits will cover the full range of pizza-related categories, including Food, Flour and Ingredients, Equipment, Beverages, Supplies, Decor and Specialized Services. "This will be a truly comprehensive exhibit floor, featuring every product and service that a pizzeria needs to be successful, along with some exciting new innovations as well," Green said.

The event also will play host to the 2005 U.S. Pizza Team Competition Finals featuring the most talented pizza acrobats in the country. Winners of the competition will represent the American pizza industry at the World Pizza Championship in Italy.

In addition, the New York Pizza Show will bring together many of the industry's top experts for an educational program tailor-designed exclusively for pizza operators. The program includes Pizza University, dedicated to providing practical, real-life, hands-on learning and strategies for increasing sales and boosting profits. The show also will host a live, on-site version of PMQ's popular Web forum, The Think Tank, where pizza professionals will meet and swap success stories, moneymaking ideas and advice for solving common problems. And leading pizza experts will answer operators' toughest questions in PMQ's Ask the Experts Solution Center.

Finally, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and chat with the publisher, editors, writers and sales staff of PMQ at PMQ Magazine Headquarters, a special area located on the exhibit floor.

"This show is all about pizza and nothing but pizza," Green said. "It is a serious pizza show for serious pizza operators. They won't be coming to New York to pull slots. When they're not at the show, they'll be visiting the many pizza landmarks and success stories they can only find in New York."

In addition to editorial coverage in PMQ Magazine, the New York Pizza Show will be supported and promoted on the Internet by two major industry Web sites targeting the pizza industry. The show's official site, www.newyorkpizzashow.com, features regular event updates – including program details, bios of seminar leaders and speakers and special promotions – as well as complete information on registering or exhibiting at the show. Show information also will be posted regularly at pmq.com, the pizza and restaurant industry's number-one Web site.

 

To exhibit at the New York Pizza Show, call Dianna Seddon at (877) 281-8134 or e-mail her at dseddon@infinityexpo.com. To register to attend the show, call (877) 281-8134