Discover “What’s New?” within our industry as we springboard new product items and technologies into the marketplace. Join us for our annual tradeshow and conference focused on highlighting the latest innovations within the fresh produce industry, from organics and new product developments to technology and unique brand approaches.
We’re providing educational sessions led by industry leaders to complement our tradeshow, offering an opportunity to hear how to elevate your brand in an increasingly competitive field and receive valuable fact-based data to boost your business. And as always, you’ll be able to sample a taste of true Southern hospitality as you fellowship with friends and colleagues.
When
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 – Saturday, September 13, 2025
Where
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S College St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(Current membership status is required to participate in all SEPC programs and events.
Select “Already Registered” below to modify your registration – add booth associates, sessions, guests, etc. – and to view the attendee list)
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
- 12:00pm – 4:00pm: SEPC Board of Directors’ Meeting (SEPC Board of Directors only)
- 6:30pm – 9:30pm: VIP Dinner (Valued In Produce; by invitation only)
Wednesday, September 10
- 6:30am – 3:00pm: Founders Memorial Golf Tournament
- Schedule:
- 6:15am: Shuttle Departure
- 6:30am – 7:30am: Breakfast
- 7:30am – 1:00pm: Tournament Play
- 1:00pm – 3:00pm: Awards Luncheon
- Schedule:
- 7:30am – 2:30pm: Martin Eubanks Sporting Clays Classic
- Schedule:
- 7:00am: Check-in w/ Grab-n-Go Breakfast
- 7:30am: Shuttle Departure
- 9:00am – 1:00pm: Sporting Clays Tournament
- 1:00pm – 2:30pm: Awards Luncheon
- Schedule:
- 8:00am – 3:00pm: Local Tour
- 8:00am – 5:00pm: SEPC Committee Meetings (SEPC Committee Members only)
- 9:30am – 3:30pm: STEP-UPP Team Building Experience (STEP-UPP participants only)
- 1:00pm – 6:00pm: Registration
- 6:30pm – 9:30pm: Welcome Reception
Thursday, September 11
- 7:30am – 5:00pm: Registration
- 7:30am – 5:00pm: Exhibitor Booth Setup (exhibitors and showcase participants only)
- 8:30am – 10:00am: SEPC University Educational Session
- 11:00am – 1:00pm: Southern Roots Women's Luncheon (women in produce only)
- 11:00am – 1:00pm: Good Seeds MENtor Program
- 1:00pm – 4:00pm: SEPC Board of Governors’ Meeting (SEPC Board of Governors only)
- 1:00pm – 5:00pm: SEPC Committee Meetings (SEPC Committee Members only)
- 6:30pm – 10:00pm: Chairman's Dinner Dance
Friday, September 12
- 6:00am – 11:00am: Exhibitor Booth Setup (exhibitors and showcase participants only)
- 8:00am – 4:00pm: Registration
- 9:00am – 11:15am: General Session & Keynote Brunch
- 11:30am – 6:00pm: Exposition
- Featuring: Wall of Innovations Showcase
- 6:00pm – 8:00pm: Exhibitor Load-out
- Location: Ryman Hall B1-4
- 6:00pm – 9:00pm: Closing Reception
Saturday, September 13
- 7:00am – 8:30am: Al Finch Memorial Prayer Breakfast
Speakers to be Announced Soon!
SEPC University Educational Session
Southern Roots Women's Luncheon
Good Seeds MENtor Program
2025 Pricing to be Announced Soon!
Please select your registration type based on the following criteria:
Exhibitor: $3,395
Exhibitors will receive four complimentary booth associate registrations. Additional booth associate passes may be purchased for $1,050 each.
General Attendee: $1,350
This registration is for one person only and is intended for growers, shippers, packers, brokers, processors, logistics, importer, exporters, and other similar industry professionals.
Spouse: $300
This registration is for one spouse per attendee. To minimize traffic, spouses are not allowed access to the expo floor until 4:00 pm.
Retail*: Complimentary Registration & Travel
This pass is valid for full-service retail chains that sell food to consumers. The company must have at least 10 stores or more. (Buyers with fewer locations may be included at the discretion of the Council.) Air travel (or travel mileage up to $400 reimbursement) and lodging are provided by SEPC upon request. Air and hotel request forms must be submitted through the registration process before August 9, 2024.
Foodservice*: Complimentary Registration & Travel
This pass is valid for broadline or chain foodservice industry members. Broadline Foodservice: A company that provides food and non-food products to restaurants, cafeterias, industrial caterers, and hotels. Chain Foodservice: Includes restaurants, hotels, industrial caterers, cafeterias, and meal box subscription companies. Air travel (or travel mileage up to $400 reimbursement) and lodging are provided by SEPC upon request. Air and hotel request forms must be submitted through the registration process before August 9, 2024.
Wholesale, Jobber, and Receiver*: Complimentary Registration (exclusions apply)
This pass is valid for full-service distributors that provide comprehensive services to retail and foodservice operators. (Does not include buying offices, terminal markets, commission merchants, buying brokers, etc.). Only two (2) members per company will receive complimentary registrations. This does not include ticketed event fees. Any additional registrations will be charged the general attendee fee as well as any ticketed event fees.
*Registration requires approval at least two weeks prior to each conference. Must meet the corresponding criteria listed above to be approved. We reserve the right to provide acceptance or refusal of applicants within the guidelines of the criteria noted above as well as due to budget restrictions and hotel availability. A questionnaire may be required to be completed if further information about the company is needed.
Press*: Complimentary (trade-out agreement required)
Press and media attendees must contact Anna Burch ([email protected]) to negotiate trade-out agreements.
Industry Trade Association*: Complimentary (trade-out agreement required)
Employees from other industry trade associations (such as IFPA, OPN, etc.) must contact David Sherrod ([email protected]) to negotiate trade-out agreements.
Charitable Organization*: Complimentary
This registration is reserved for employees of SEPC Cares charitable partners as well as employees of other pre-approved SEPC member organizations who are recognized as 501(c)(3). Only two (2) members per company. This does not include ticketed event fees. Any additional registrations will be charged the general attendee fee as well as any ticketed event fees.
*Registration requires approval at least two weeks prior to each conference. Applicants must meet the corresponding criteria listed above to be approved. We reserve the right to accept or refuse applicants within the guidelines of the criteria noted above as well as due to budget restrictions and hotel availability. A questionnaire is required to be completed to begin the approval process for charitable organization establishment.
VIP*: Complimentary
This registration is reserved for Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, Lifetime Members, speakers, and other approved attendees. Air travel (or travel mileage up to $400 reimbursement) and lodging are provided by SEPC upon request. Please email Molly Edenfield ([email protected]) to make travel requests.
*Registration requires approval. Must meet the corresponding criteria listed above to be approved. We reserve the right to provide acceptance or refusal of applicants within the guidelines of the criteria noted above as well as due to budget restrictions and hotel availability. A questionnaire may be required to be completed if further information about the company is needed.
Please note, this is an SEPC members-only event. If you are not currently a member in good standing, please sign up for membership now!
Charlotte Convention Center
501 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202 USA
Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte just 7 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the Charlotte Convention Center is the city’s premier meeting and convention space. The 600,000-square-foot Charlotte Convention Center is located across the street from the 700-room Westin Hotel and is also connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame via an overstreet walkway. The facility offers a full-service, in-house food and beverage department, visitor info services, a UPS Store, a preferred in-house A/V provider with complete inventory of equipment and professional technicians, and more.
WARNING: Potential scammers may try to phish for hotel rooms. Hotel rooms should ONLY be reserved and confirmed by either using the links provided via email or by contacting the individual hotel directly.
In the past, SEPC has received reports about brokers contacting members to book hotel reservations. These brokers falsely imply they are affiliated with show management and secure full or partial prepayment for hotel rooms from member companies. Please note, that we have no affiliation with any of these room brokers. Please do not provide them with any details of your reservation and do not give them your credit card or any personal information.
Exhibitor Information
Exhibit space is first come, first served. Select "Exhibitor" as your registration type when registering to claim your booth space today!
Benefits
- Ideal Environment and Timeframe to Launch New Items into the Marketplace
- Outstanding Exhibitor/Buyer Ratio
- Intimate Atmosphere to Make Quality Connections
- One-day Exposition with Capped Attendance
- Equal Opportunities with 10' x 10' Booths for All Exhibitors
- Multiple Networking Opportunities Throughout Conference
Booth Size: 10' x 10'
Includes:
- 8' Pipe and Drape
- 3' Pipe and Drape
- (1) 6' x 30" Skirted Table
- (2) Plastic Side Chairs
- (1) Wastebasket
- (1) ID Sign
Exhibitor Move-In:
- Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday, September 12, 2025 - 6:00 am - 11:00 am
Exhibition Hours:
- Friday, September 12, 2025 - 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Exhibitor Move-Out:
- Friday, September 12, 2025 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
**Exhibitors MUST NOT begin to break down booths until 6:00 pm on Friday!**
Sampling Guidelines:
- Please submit the Sample Distribution Request Form to the Charlotte Convention Center Director of Food and Beverage no later than two weeks prior to the event for approval.
Exhibitor Toolkit
Through our valued partnership with AGS Expo Services, the exhibitor toolkit information will be available soon! Your Welcome to Online Ordering email from [email protected] will provide access to your online hub and exhibitor kit.
Feature Your Newest Products Along Our Wall of Innovations!
Example shown of last year's themed showcase design
Exclusive Price: TBA
- Case Dimensions: 37” W x 13” H x 25.5" D
- All shelves include lighting and cases will be locked
- Space is limited to one (1) case per company
- Purchase your showcase by TBA*. Cases are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited.
- How to purchase:
- As you register for Southern Innovations, select What's New? Wall of Innovation as one of your sessions.
- Once you register, you'll receive a submission link via email for your showcase information to be featured within our conference directory and app - one (1) high-resolution image of your product as well as a detailed description (50 words or less); Submission Deadline: TBA
- Already registered?
- How to modify registration to add/edit sessions on agenda:
- From the registration website, select "Already Registered?"
- Enter the email address and confirmation number of the person who needs modifications.
- Select the "Modify Registration" button at the bottom of the page.
- Click "Next" until on the "Sessions" page.
- Make appropriate modifications.
- Be sure to select "Next" and "Finish" at the end to ensure changes are saved.
- How to modify registration to add/edit sessions on agenda:
*Refunds will not be issued after submission deadline. If showcase is purchased after that date, information will not be included in conference directory and app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I view the Attendee List?
- You can access the attendee list by logging in to your registration and selecting “Attendees List” within the "Post Registration" dropdown. It is our Board’s policy that we do not provide contact information with this list.
Is there exhibitor space available at Southern Innovations?
- Southern Innovations is our fall show that has an innovations focus. Held in September, this show has available exhibit space based on a first-come, first-served policy. With exhibitor and attendee numbers growing over the years, this show would be a good foot in the door to SEPC (and could help with your chances at getting a booth at Southern Exposure if you are on the waitlist). Again, you must be a corporate member to exhibit.
Is there exhibitor space available at Southern Exposure?
- Southern Exposure is our most popular show held in late-Feb, early-March each year in Florida and because of this we have an extensive waitlist to exhibit. Booth spaces are first right of refusal, so previous years exhibitors have a choice on whether they want to return the next year. We do have over 100 companies on the waitlist to exhibit at this show. The waitlist is based on a lottery. If booth space becomes available, we’ll hold a “lottery drawing” in September to fill the space. You can increase your chances in the lottery by participating. We give extra chances to those who attend our shows, participate on committees, and even more for sponsoring. You must first sign up for a corporate membership before being placed on the waitlist. You can view all membership options and benefits here, including an informative digital membership packet that has lots of info about SEPC and what we have to offer.
What are the deadlines for this conference?
- Exhibitor Deadlines
- TBA: Final date to receive refund for exhibitor booth and Wall of Innovations showcase.
- General Attendee Deadlines
- TBA: Final date to reserve hotel rooms within the SEPC room block.
- TBA: Final date to cancel hotel rooms within the SEPC room block without penalty. Any rooms cancelled after this date will result in a one night's room charge.
- Retail/Foodservice Attendee Deadlines
- TBA: Final date to request complimentary hotel and airfare through SEPC registration.
- Registration Deadlines
- TBA: Final date for all attendees to receive refund for conference and session registration (does not include exhibitor booth or Wall of Innovation fees)
How do I modify my registration to add/edit sessions, substitute attendees with another registrant, add/edit group members, or add guests?
How to modify registration to add/edit sessions on agenda:
- From the registration website, select "Already Registered?"
- Enter the email address and confirmation number of the person who needs modifications.
- Select the "Modify Registration" button at the bottom of the page.
- Click "Next" until on the "Sessions" page.
- Make appropriate modifications.
- Be sure to select "Next" and "Finish" at the end to ensure changes are saved.
How to substitute attendees with another registrant:
- From the registration website, select "Already Registered?"
- Enter the email address and confirmation number of the person who needs modifications.
- Select the "Transfer Registration" button at the bottom of the page.
- Follow the prompts to input the new registrant's information.
How to add/edit group members:
- From the registration website, select "Already Registered?".
- Enter the email address and confirmation number of the primary registrant.
- Select the "Add Group Member" button at the bottom of the page.
- Follow the prompts until the end to finish adding the group member and ensure their registration is saved.
How to add guests:
- From the registration website, select "Already Registered?"
- Enter the email address and confirmation number of the person who needs modifications.
- Select the "Modify Registration" button at the bottom of the page.
- Select "Add Spouse" on the first page.
- Follow the prompts to input the spouse's information.
- Be sure to select "Next" and "Finish" at the end to ensure changes are saved.
What are sponsor credits and how do I use them?
- As a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Level Sponsor, your company receives a certain amount of credit that can be used towards golf, ticketed events, and booth associate fees at Southern Exposure. This is provided as part of our sponsorship benefits. Sponsor Credits will expire if not applied by the end of each corresponding membership period. Our annual membership period runs June through May of the following year.
- You must still register for those agenda items during the registration process.
- Email accounting@seproducecouncil.
com to request sponsor credits to be applied at Southern Exposure. - We’ll manually deduct your credits and send an invoice if a balance is due.
2023 RECAP VIDEO
2024 Southern Innovations, Nashville, TN
Recap Video