COFFEE FEST LAS VEGAS TO PARTNER WITH THE GREAT AMERICAN DESSERT EXPO

Coffee Fest, the specialty coffee and gourmet tea trade show where coffee business happens, has announced that it will co-locate with the Great American Dessert Expo at the Sands Expo Center June 12-14, 2004 in Las Vegas. The nation’s multi-billion dollar Coffee, Tea and Dessert industries will be united under the same roof with the exhibition showcasing over 300 exhibit booths and educational programming covering all things coffee, tea and desserts. The educational programming will focus on issues as they relate to retail in coffee shops, restaurants, gourmet food stores, hotels etc.

Coffee Fest, now in its 13th year, is produced by Lifestyle Events Inc. of Bellevue, WA. and was created as both an educational and marketing vehicle to assist the growth of the specialty coffee, tea and alternative beverage industry. The show is designed specially for coffeehouse, specialty retailers, restaurant owners and entrepreneurs. AS such the addition of the Great American Dessert Expo is a natural extension.

In addition to Las Vegas. Coffee Fest also takes place annually in Seattle and Washington, D.C. Lifestyle Events Inc. is headed by New York native Alan Silverman, a former restauranteur, whose Festivals Inc. (parent company of Coffee Fest) has created, produced and managed many large food events since it’s inception in 1982.

The Dessert Expo was launched in June 2003 by New York-based IMC Events and Exhibitions as part of a week-long event held in conjunction with the National Pastry Competition. IMC has an impressive track record in tradeshow marketing and management. It has single-handedly developed Kosherfest, an annual trade show for the kosher food industry, which is one of the fastest growing food trade shows in America. In addition, IMC has been involved in such shows as the Restaurant and Food Service Show, the NASFT Fancy Food Shows, Luggage & Leather Goods, Shoes, and Gold Commodities. IMC is headed by Menachem Lubinsky, who is a respected marketing expert with broad experience in the marketing of many goods, services, institutions and prominent figures.

“We are very excited about this co-location, which offers the industry the best in coffee and desserts under one roof,” said Mr. Silverman. “We are particularly delighted to be working with an organziation that has such an extraordinary reputation for producing quality food events.”

“It is only natural that pastries, ice cream, chocolate and dessert wines should be in the same venue with the best in coffee and teas,” said Mr. Lubinsky. “Co-locating with Coffee Fest will present the trade with an unprecedented opportunity to focus attention on one of the fastest growing segments of the food industry.”