It’s no secret that Rhode Islanders like to do business in person.
While in larger cities across the country the trend is for mega companies to take over grocery stores and deliver to our doors, here in Rhode Island we have a boom in year-round farmers markets where we talk directly to the growers and purveyors. Local and regional food-service distributors and liquor wholesalers still maintain outside sales forces to call on accounts in person. Our local independent restaurants and food retailers continue to thrive. And the owners, chefs and managers of those businesses will have traveled to find out in person what is new and what is next at the region’s largest food-service trade show, the New England Food Show at the Boston Convention Center held Feb. 25-27. The show is produced by the National Restaurant Association, which also produces a national exposition held each May in Chicago. The association took over production of the New England show three years ago.
The association’s producer of both shows is Mary Pat Heftman, vice president, convention and strategic alliances. She stated to an industry online publication why this show continues to be relevant: “Our show offers a very unique difference from finding a product on the web. The show enables [chefs, restaurateurs and retailers] to consume and taste and to be able to see cooking and test drive equipment in use as if it were in [their] restaurant.”
The show featured keynote speakers TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer, as well as television personalities Robert Irvine and John Taffer, and culinary demonstrations and educational sessions. The New England Food Show is produced in partnership with the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and the food-service trade associations of Connecticut and New Hampshire.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TV personality Robert Irvine was one of the keynote speakers at the New England Food Show held Feb. 25-27 at the Boston Convention Center. / COURTESY NEW ENGLAND FOOD SHOW[/caption]
Whether equipment or goods are purchased in person at the trade show or ordered online, odds are they will be delivered to Rhode Island businesses on a truck. That function is about to be spotlighted, as the state steps in and collects tolls from trucking companies, distributors, manufacturers and purveyors of all types of merchandise.
The Rhode Island Food Dealers Association has alerted its membership – those vitally important independent grocers, food retailers and some restaurants – to what literally might be coming down the pike. Steve Arthurs, RIFDA president and CEO, issued a statement in mid-February informing his members as the first toll gantries went up in the state. This is the first tolling system in the Ocean State for tractor-trailers. Arthurs said in a statement to association members, “It is widely believed [the truck-tolling procedure] will be challenged in the courts by the trucking industry.”
State transportation officials have stated no tolls would be collected until the gantries are tested. The testing, according to officials, would last at least a month after construction was completed. The fact the food dealers’ group received advanced word is notable in that it is also an alert to retailers to beware of surcharges out-of-state companies may attempt to levy before the actual tolling takes place.
According to industry representatives, similar surcharges have shown up on invoices when fuel prices or excise taxes rise. It is an aspect to this story that has not been widely reported but could have an immediate impact on consumer prices, regardless of how truck tolling plays out.
Bruce Newbury’s Dining Out radio talk show is heard Saturdays at 11 a.m. on 1540 AM WADK and through the TuneIn mobile app. Email Bruce at Bruce@brucenewbury.com.
