From May 17–20, the Greenwald Sales & Marketing team returned to McCormick Place in Chicago for the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show—and it was nothing short of spectacular.
With over 2,200 exhibitors and more than 100 educational sessions, the show buzzed with innovation, inspiration, and industry camaraderie.
New Faces, Fresh Perspectives
We were thrilled to have new team members join us this year, bringing fresh energy and insights. Their enthusiasm was contagious as we navigated the expansive show floor, discovering the latest trends and technologies shaping the foodservice industry.
30,000 Steps (and Counting)
Our team logged over 30,000 steps each throughout the weekend—covering miles of booths, demos, and networking events. Comfortable shoes were absolutely key as we powered through each day, exploring everything from cutting-edge kitchen equipment to stunning tabletop designs. No doubt, our company issued shoes – Nike Air Jordan 1’s in Chlorophyll – were the perfect option for comfort and style! We even had a contest for one lucky winner to take home their own pair!
Product Highlights That Stole the Show
Front of the House’s Onda and Smart Buffetware stole the show! The newly launched dinnerware collection, Onda, is made from recycled plastic bottles and is also fully recyclable! This stunning collection pays homage to the Ocean and on the back of each piece, it denotes how many water bottles were removed from the ocean, melted to resin, and repurposed to gorgeous dinnerware! Available in a basic neutral color, shell, it can be matched to any pantone for a moderate minimum order quantity. Onda gives operators the opportunity to add Green Points while focusing on saving green and saving the oceans. FOH also showcased products from the Smart Buffetware brand, rounding out their buffet offerings with heat lamps, warming stations, and more! With groundbreaking additions to tabletop and buffetware, Front of the House has you covered.
Eastern Tabletop’s gold Ferris Wheel certainly turned heads! A stunning piece of buffet decor, the Ferris Wheel allows operators to display on a show-stopping, head-turning, masterpiece for their culinary dreams to come true! Available in three sizes, this item is sure to be a must-have for cutting-edge events.
TableCraft’s newest stunning Q2 Product Launch offers solutions for all customers. Coming out strong in the coffee category, TableCraft means business! With brand-new airports, plastic and stainless-steel carafes with PVD finishes, modern creamers, and bamboo coffee station storage, they are taking the category by storm. Check out all of their new items.
Anchor Hocking debuted Premium weight Corelle—a brand-new addition to the already impressive Corelle dinnerware collection. Premium weight comes into the market with seven layers of glass, adding increased tensile strength and superior durability with an ultra-white body. Available in many shapes, sizes, and designs, Corelle brings the operator sleek offerings with superior cost-savings for their resupply budgets. Anchor Hocking also added new lidded storage options, brand-new Monaco stacking glasses, and a host of gorgeous new barware items from Ocean glass. Â
Hospitality Brands had a stunning booth showcasing the three main pillars of the business: (1) glass drinkware – Alchemy European crystal and Legend barware, (2) Bold Crystal Sapphire polycarbonate drinkware and decorware, and (3) Tailor Made – the ultimate in drinkware customization offerings. Focusing on the sexy, cutting-edge and staying away from the me-too is what has put them at the top of the drinkware innovation totem pole.
Zafferano debuted many new styles and colors at the show. Still the leader in the LED lighting category, Zafferano was there to impress with modern colors like sage and steel blue in the most popular lamp styles and new styles like Damina Pro and Angelina Pro offered in four colors and Sister lamps with integrated Wi-Fi offered in six colors. Made for indoor and outdoor, Zafferano lamps are the most durable on the market and can withstand the rigors of foodservice.
Reuniting with Friends (Old and New)
One of the best parts of the NRA Show is reconnecting with familiar faces and forging new connections. From longtime partners to fresh collaborations, it was incredible to catch up and talk shop with the industry’s best and brightest. We even bumped into a few surprise guests—sharing laughs and swapping stories that made each day fly by.
Savoring Chicago’s Culinary Scene
After long days at McCormick Place, we made sure to enjoy Chicago’s unbeatable food and drink scene. Highlights included infamous Chicago deep-dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s, classic Italian and steaks from Gene & Georgetti’s, mouthwatering, premium steaks from Swift & Sons, and flavor-forward American fanfare from The Gage.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 NRA Show reaffirmed our commitment to staying at the forefront of the foodservice industry. We’re excited to integrate the innovations and insights gained into our offerings and continue serving our partners with excellence.
Cheers to another successful year—and here’s to even bigger things to come!
