 Event Details Registration Rates Hotel Details Conference Schedule Keynote & Panels Exhibitors 2027 Sponsorships
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The Event to Watch in 2027
The Future of Food Processing Starts Here.The 2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE is NJFPA's largest and most dynamic event! Bringing together the processors, partners, ideas, and industry expertise moving food manufacturing forward. An evening of connection. A full day of ideas, insight, and industry opportunity. Make sure you are part of it. 2027 Keynote
Luis VillalobosChief Operating Officer | Rastelli Foods Group Rastelli's AI Journey: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
With discussion participant Carl “Chip” Zerr, Rastelli Foods Group Hotel Booking Deadline: March 11, 2027
Don't Miss the $169 NJFPA Group RateReserve your room at The Westin Mount Laurel by Thursday, March 11, 2027 to request the special conference rate. Rooms are subject to availability. Book Your Hotel RoomSave the Date
2027 Food Processors EXCHANGEPowered by NJFPA Join food industry professionals from across the region for an opening evening reception followed by a full conference day of high-value networking, practical education, fresh ideas, and industry insight at NJFPA's premier annual event. Why Attend
Built for the People Moving Food Manufacturing ForwardStep away from the day-to-day and spend focused time connecting with the people, ideas, and resources shaping the food processing industry. April 1–2, 2027
Two Days. One Industry. Countless Connections.
Make the conversations, discoveries, and connections that are harder to create from behind a screen.
Choose Your Registration
Registration RatesChoose the registration option that best fits how you will participate in the 2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE. What's Included with Registration?Individual attendee registration (member or non-member) includes Thursday's networking reception, Friday's breakfast and networking, conference sessions and keynote, access to the Exhibit Hall, and Friday's luncheon and awards. Exhibitor registration includes one exhibit table and two attendee registrations, with access to Thursday's reception and Friday's breakfast, sessions, Exhibit Hall, luncheon and keynote. Exhibitor setup begins Thursday at 3:00 PM. Additional exhibitor attendees may register at the rates shown below. Stay Close to the Action
Hotel DetailsNJFPA Group Rate
Book Your Stay at The Westin Mount LaurelConference attendees may reserve rooms at the special NJFPA group rate of $169 per night for the 2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE. Event Dates: April 1–2, 2027 Plan Your EXCHANGE
Conference ScheduleTwo days of meaningful connections, industry insight, exhibits, and education. Session titles and speaker details are featured below. Program schedule is subject to change. General session assignments will be updated as confirmed. Ideas Worth Bringing Back to Work
Come for the conversations. Leave with connections, insights, and ideas you can actually use.
Keynote + Two Featured Panels
AI From Every AngleFrom real-world implementation on the factory floor to regulatory compliance and emerging business risks, the 2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE will bring together food industry, technology, legal, and regulatory perspectives for a practical look at what AI means for manufacturers today. 2027 Keynote Speaker
Luis VillalobosChief Operating Officer Keynote Presentation
Rastelli's AI JourneyThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly
AI is changing the way food companies operate—but the road from possibility to practical implementation isn't always a straight one. Keynote speaker Luis Villalobos, Chief Operating Officer of Rastelli Foods Group, will share Rastelli's real-world AI journey: what worked, what didn't, what they learned along the way, and where they see the technology taking their business next. Joining Luis for interactive discussion and audience questions, Carl “Chip” Zerr will contribute a food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory perspective. About LuisLuis Villalobos is Chief Operating Officer of Rastelli Foods Group, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, operational transformation, and business growth. He oversees operations and strategy for Rastelli's $800 million global food services business. Previously, Luis held executive leadership positions at West Liberty Foods and Tyson Foods, managing large-scale manufacturing operations and leading initiatives in automation, efficiency, and continuous improvement. His leadership philosophy centers on People, Process, and Profit, with a focus on leveraging innovation and technology to strengthen operations and deliver measurable results. Read Luis's Full BioJoining the Keynote Discussion
Carl H. “Chip” Zerr III, M.S., CFS, SQF Advanced PractitionerGlobal Director of Food Safety, Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs About ChipCarl “Chip” Zerr brings more than three decades of food industry experience in food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing operations. Since joining Rastelli’s in 2006, he has focused on strengthening food safety and quality systems, addressing complex operational challenges, and developing effective teams. A former U.S. Marine Corps officer, Chip holds advanced degrees in Food Science/Microbiology and Food Regulatory Science from Texas A&M University. He will join Luis for discussion and questions during the keynote, bringing practical food safety and regulatory insight to the conversation. Read Chip's Full BioFeatured Panel Discussion
Business Risks in the Age of AIA practical conversation examining the evolving business, workplace, technology, and legal risks organizations must consider as artificial intelligence becomes more deeply integrated into everyday operations. Panelist
Charles J. VaccaroPartner About CharlesCharles J. Vaccaro is a partner in the litigation practice at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP. Based in the firm's Red Bank office, he represents clients in state and federal matters involving commercial disputes, contracts, shareholder claims, construction, employment and civil rights, insurance coverage, and other complex litigation. His clients include public entities, small and mid-sized businesses, real estate developers, contractors, healthcare providers, insurers, and condominium associations. Charles is a summa cum laude graduate of Rutgers University School of Law–Newark and has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and Super Lawyers – New Jersey Rising Stars. Panelist
Hassan KhanTechnology Consulting Partner About HassanHassan Khan is a Technology Consulting Partner at Grassi, where he leads the Technology Advisory practice. He has more than 20 years of experience in technology accounting, operations and business process optimization, strategy and governance, risk analysis, offshoring, and enterprise intelligence. Hassan’s practice areas include implementing technology risk management frameworks; developing tailored regulatory compliance frameworks focused on GDPR, CCPA, GLBA, PCI, HIPAA, and FERPA; conducting IT systems and infrastructure reviews; advising on product strategy and innovation; and supporting IT due diligence and crisis management. He also has extensive experience in IT cost reduction, insourcing and outsourcing analysis, vendor negotiation, and end-to-end IT transformation. Before joining Grassi, Hassan was a Managing Director at a national accounting firm, where he worked with management teams, audit committees, and boards to provide independent senior-level technology expertise designed to improve business performance and help executives drive greater value from technology. Hassan is a licensed Certified Systems Auditor in New York and a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma. Additional Panelists to Be Announced
Additional industry and professional perspectives will join Charles and Hassan for this discussion as the 2027 EXCHANGE program continues to develop. Featured Panel Discussion
AI on the Factory Floor: Innovation, Manufacturing & Regulatory ComplianceBringing together technology, manufacturing, food safety, and regulatory perspectives for a practical conversation about AI in today's production environment. Panelist
Konstantin ParadizovEukodyne About KonstantinKonstantin Paradizov is Co-Founder and CEO of Eukodyne, a New Jersey-based manufacturing software company, and an AI practitioner specializing in industrial use cases, on-premises AI deployment, and process engineering. He brings more than 25 years of manufacturing experience, including over nine years in pharmaceutical manufacturing at Merck & Co. For the past 16 years, he and his brother have run Eukodyne, helping food, beverage, process, and hybrid manufacturers implement and connect SCADA, MOM/MES, quality control, and lot traceability systems that give them the reliable records needed to prepare for BRCGS and SQF audits. Today, Konstantin builds AI agents for manufacturing and integrates shop floor systems so that AI can draw on real-time information from edge devices instead of disconnected spreadsheets. He is also developing a system that captures institutional knowledge from expert operators and turns it into documentation that otherwise exists only in their heads. Through Eukodyne’s partnership with NJMEP, he teaches hands-on AI workshops that help manufacturing teams adopt AI in practical, measurable ways. Konstantin holds a Six Sigma Black Belt and an MBA from NYU Stern. Panelist
Mellonie O'NeillAssociate Director of QA Compliance & Training About MellonieMellonie O’Neill is Associate Director of QA Compliance & Training at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, where she provides food safety consulting, regulatory compliance guidance, and practical support to food manufacturers. With nearly 30 years of experience in quality assurance, sanitation, environmental health and safety, continuous improvement, and plant operations, she helps companies develop and strengthen food safety systems, prepare for regulatory and third-party audits, and translate compliance requirements into effective manufacturing practices. Mellonie is also an experienced industry trainer and instructor of Rutgers’ graduate-level Food Safety and Plant Operations course, bringing a practical, industry-driven perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing today’s food manufacturers. Panelist
Alexander “Zanda” Pemba, Ph.D.CEO & Cofounder · MATANGA research LLC About ZandaAlexander “Zanda” Pemba, Ph.D. is a senior food safety, quality, and operations leader with more than a decade of experience guiding regulated manufacturing organizations through growth, change, and regulatory complexity. Born and raised in Zimbabwe and now based in Philadelphia, PA, Zanda brings a global perspective shaped by hands-on leadership across food manufacturing, packaging, medical devices, and advanced technical production environments. Zanda is recognized for his calm, integrity-driven leadership style and his ability to unify teams, build trust, and move organizations from reactive to proactive operating models. His work spans plant-level operations through executive decision support, with a consistent focus on audit readiness, risk management, supplier quality, and continuous improvement under PCQI, FDA, USDA, SQF, HACCP, and third-party audit frameworks. As a board member, Zanda would bring both strategic judgment and practical operational insight, grounded in lived manufacturing experience and validated by peer and team leadership. He would be committed to advancing the mission of the New Jersey Food Processors Association by strengthening member support, promoting regulatory clarity, and helping New Jersey food processors build resilient, people-centered, and compliant operations. Session Details Coming Soon
Additional information about this panel and the practical issues it will explore will be announced as the 2027 EXCHANGE program continues to develop. On the Exhibit Floor
ExhibitorsMeet the companies bringing their expertise, solutions, and industry resources to the 2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE.  2027 Exhibitor
BD EngineeringBD Engineering focuses on electrical, HVAC, plumbing, sprinkler and refrigeration engineering for food processing facilities, cold storage and commercial kitchens. Let us drive the stupid out of your next project.  2027 Exhibitor
GrassiOpening Reception Sponsor
Visit Grassi in the Exhibit Hall during the 2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE. Join the Industry
Be Part of the 2027 EXCHANGEConnect with New Jersey's food processing community, learn from industry leaders, and take part in NJFPA's premier annual event. Register NowSupporting the EXCHANGE
2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE SponsorsNJFPA is proud to partner with organizations committed to supporting New Jersey’s food processing community and helping make the 2027 Food Processors EXCHANGE possible. Confirmed 2027 sponsors will be featured here as partnerships are finalized. Check back for updates and learn how your organization can gain visibility, connect with industry leaders, and support this premier annual event. Coming Soon
2027 Sponsor RecognitionSponsor logos and recognition details will be added here as 2027 partnerships are confirmed. Review 2027 SponsorshipOpportunities Questions about sponsorship opportunities?
Contact NJFPA at [email protected] . |
