Oct 1, 2019United Fresh’s BrandStorm heading to Austin in February
Hugh Forrest, chief programming officer of SXSW (South by Southwest), will deliver a keynote during United Fresh’s BrandStorm 2020, on Tuesday, Feb. 11 in Austin, Texas. Forrest will speak on the storied history and growing success of the annual event best known for its conferences and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries that has grown to influence business and entrepreneurial innovation.
SXSW launched as a music-only event in 1987 and attracted 700 attendees. More than 30 years later, it has emerged as a premier destination for creative innovators from dozens of industries, attracting more than 70,000 registrants from around the globe.
“Austin is known for its culture — be it food, music, or the growing technology boom, and SXSW is the embodiment of the Austin cultural experience,” said Mark Munger, vice president of sales and marketing, 4Earth Farms and Chairman of United Fresh’s Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council. “We’re elated that Hugh Forrest will be joining us during our own produce marketing event this February.”
Forrest was named “Austinite of the Year” in 2012 by the Austin Chamber of Commerce (along with fellow SXSW Directors Roland Swenson, Louis Black and Nick Barbaro). He currently serves on the board of directors for Austin Habitat for Humanity, as well as the Austin-based accessibility company Knowbility.
Following Forrest’s presentation, BrandStorm attendees will participate in FRESHx, an interactive pitch where they’ll present their creative strategies for elevating fresh produce in the global food narrative.
United Fresh’s fifth annual BrandStorm, Feb. 10-12, 2020, will take place in Austin after four years in San Francisco. Held at the University of Texas at Austin’s AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, the event boasts the only annual opportunity for produce marketers to gather to dive into marketing education, idea-sharing and innovative dialogue with peers and colleagues.
United Fresh members can attend BrandStorm for $695 with discounts offered to marketing teams (from the same company) at the reduced rate of $645 each when you register two or more colleagues. Non-members can attend for $895. Attendees can register at www.unitedfreshbrandstorm.org.
