Jeff Mauro will be the keynote speaker for Progressive Grocer’s Total Meal Solutions Summit, taking place September 9 and 10 in Austin, Texas. Mauro gained fame as the winner of Season Seven of Food Network Star. His prize was his first show, Sandwich King, which ran for five seasons. He also co-hosted the Food Network’s Saturday afternoon juggernaut The Kitchen, which is now in its 22nd season.
He currently is partner and executive chef of Pork and Mindy’s, a fast-casual barbecue restaurant specializing in sandwiches. Pork and Mindy’s has recently expanded into Mariano’s Fresh Market grocery stores in the Chicago area, bringing its signature sandwiches as well as special menus and grab-and-go items to Mariano’s stores.
“We are thrilled to have Jeff Mauro sign on to PG’s Total Meal Solutions Summit,” says Jim Dudlicek, editorial director of Progressive Grocer. “His background and enthusiasm for great eating will add even more excitement to a bold lineup that showcases innovation, inspiration and an intimate exchange of ideas.”
Mauro will be bringing his culinary experience and signature humor to Total Meal Solutions Summit, where he will speak about his experiences in the food industry as well as the process and challenges of launching his Pork and Mindy’s concept for grocery retail foodservice.
Other highlights of the Total Meal Solutions Summit include a food tour of Austin-area establishments excelling at meal solutions; the Progressive Grocer Chef Challenge, a live cooking competition with surprise ingredients; and critical research on foodservice trends from Datassential, the Food Marketing Institute, and Progressive Grocer.
Participants in the Summit include retailers like Whole Foods Market, Albertsons Companies, Giant Food, and H-E-B, as well as companies like Tito’s Vodka, Nestle Professional, Coca-Cola Company, Elkay Plastics, and Ruiz Foods.
