Industry-leader in retail, restaurant sectors features Padma Lakshmi as Keynote Speaker at convention 

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McLane Company, Inc., considered among the largest distributors in America and an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant brands, will feature former Indian American Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi as its Keynote Speaker at its convention, McLane Engage, to be held August 28-30 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

The Convention brings customers and suppliers together for its trade show and conference which features three days of networking, the latest in c-store products, educational content, deals and more, a July 9, 2024, press release said.

“This year, keynote speaker Padma Lakshmi, acclaimed culinary expert and “Top Chef” personality, will share insights on the importance of staying ahead of culinary trends and leveraging partnerships for innovation, collaboration in the kitchen, and creativity across the culinary landscape,” the company said.

In addition to the keynote, McLane Engage will provide the opportunity for networking with leading companies’ representatives and on issues ranging from artificial intelligence, future of c-stores, customer experience and digital innovation, and foodservice innovation and safety.

Representatives from more than 350 of America’s most beloved CPG and convenience store retail brands will be in attendance at McLane Engage, the press release said.

Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and a New York Times best-selling author. In 2023, she was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Born in India and brought up in the US, Lakshmi is a household name across the nation, mainly as a Top Chef host for almost two decades, a position she finally left in June 2023. She is a leading advocate for endometriosis awareness having suffered the condition for years before being diagnosed.

She created and produced the Hulu series Taste the Nation, which premiered its second season in May 2023 and received 4 Critics Choice Real TV Nominations, as well as the 2021 Critics Choice Real TV Award for Best Culinary Series, a 2021 Gotham Award nomination for Breakthrough Series, and 2022 Critics Choice Real TV Award for Best Show Host. In June 2022, Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition won a James Beard Foundation Award in the Visual Media – Long Form category.

She has been recognized by the American Civil Liberties Union and the United Nations Development Program. She has a line of eponymous fine jewelry, home décor, and cosmetics.