As the year comes to a close, we find ourselves immersed in reflection, celebration, and preparation for the year ahead. The Year-End Celebration, hosted by CFBN and the Chicago Section IFT at the beautiful offices of Nixon Peabody embodied this spirit, combining philanthropy, inspiration, and forward-looking insights. The speakers shared their inspiring experiences. The event closed with a heartfelt gesture from the Chicago Sysco team, who presented a significant donation to Bigger Table. This contribution will help produce nearly 100.000 nutritious and healthy meals. We truly feel we ended the year on a high. 

Leaders, Inspiration and Insight 

After the attendees were welcomed by Sebnem Karasu, President of Chicago-section IFT and Alan Reed, Executive Director of CFBN and Bigger Table, the celebration turned to the speakers. Here’s the highlights:

Flavia Panza, VP Marketing and Innovation Strategy at Dairy Farmers of America: Embracing personalization and cultural authenticity. 

Representing the cooperative Dairy Farmers of America, Flavia emphasized the importance of personalization and cultural relevance in engaging markets, particularly the Hispanic community. She highlighted their significant role as a growing demographic, influencing household spending and food preferences. Cultural authenticity is essential to connect with your consumers. In 2025, Flavia expects the rise of personalization to redefine consumer engagement. The abundance of data will enable companies to understand consumers better. 

Bill McDowell, Editor-in-Chief and VP, Content and Channel Strategy at Institute of Food Technologists: What is old, is new again.  

Quoting Winston Churchill, “The farther back you can look. The farther forward you are likely to see”, Bill McDowell contextualized the trends shaping 2024 and 2025. While market volatility and price sensitivity dominate consumer behavior, he noted a spilt between cost-conscious shoppers and those prioritizing quality and taste. Trends such as health and wellness, continue to shape choices, pointing out that people will look for personalized solutions solving ‘new’ health issues such as gut health. Next year, authentic global flavors will get more emphasis as a trend driven by Gen Z and Gen Alpha. 

Prem Singh, President and CTO at Teinnovations, LLC: Innovation in Packaging 

Prem Singh showcased transformative packaging solutions, from methane-based plastics to biodegradable materials derived from sugarcane fibers. His examples, including a Lululemon shoe crafted from Starbucks coffee ground, demonstrated how innovation can turn environmental challenges into sustainable solutions.   

Whitney Jacks, Director of Local Sales at Sysco – Chicago: Cultivating the Underdog Spirit 

Whitney Jacks shared her company’s 2024 spirit: act as the underdog; staying hungry, scrappy and relentless as the way to win. Despite being an industry leader, Sysco embraces the ethos of Chicago – “the Second City that wins”. Her outlook for 2025 emphasizes integrative thinking as a way to foster collaboration, staying open for all the options, engage in new ways of doing things while leading teams through transformations and drive growth in challenging markets. 

Year-End Wishes 

The celebration concluded with networking, meeting acquaintances and making new connections. All of this with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and Millenium Park providing the perfect backdrop. It was a perfect way to close 2024 on a high note and move forward to an exciting 2025.