National Coffee Association Announces Plans For Annual Convention March 9 to 11 In Boca Raton Fla.

The National Coffee Association of USA Inc. will hold its 95th annual convention March 9 to 11, 2006 at the Boca Raton Club & Resort in Boca Raton, Fla. Entitled “The Coffee Factor: A global network of influence”, the convention will put special emphasis on coffee’s influence across a spectrum of disciplines, including international relations, finance, economics, and national security.

Speakers include: Jon Luther, CEO, Dunkin’ Brands; Jim Nolan, CEO, Sara Lee Foodservice; Nestor Osorio, executive director, International Coffee Organization; Mark Linscott, assistant U.S. Trade Representative/U.S. ICO delegation chief; The Hon. Dan Burton, R-Ind., U.S. Member of Congress; Michael Nugent, UBS, coffee industry analyst; Sabrina Vigilante, Rainforest Alliance; Paul Rice, Transfair USA; and Sally Vater, Ph.D., Chair, NCA Scientific Advisory Group.

Program highlights are:

• The ICO in a new era of U.S. membership

• Navigating organizational transformation

• Great companies need great passion; what it takes to lead in the competitive coffee industry

• The sustainability imperative beyond crisis

• The latest findings about coffee and health

• Financially speaking about coffee

• Coffee journalists’ roundtable; top trends to watch

• Preview of the National Coffee Drinking Trends survey

• NCA “Coffee Delivers” promotional campaign update

• Single-serve roundtable

• The micro roaster movement

• Crisis in container availability and other steamship issues

• Latest trends in packaging

• New product development trends

• Cupping workshop