2025 NFFS Industry Executive Conference

Welcome Reception & Dinner

Friday, February 21, 2025
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Kick off the 2025 NFFS Industry Executive Conference on Friday evening with the Welcome Reception & Dinner. This event always offers the perfect blend of great food, refreshing drinks, and valuable networking opportunities with your fellow conference attendees. Whether you're catching up with old colleagues or meeting new faces, this reception is designed to help you connect and engage in meaningful conversations in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere.  The evening provides a chance to unwind and recharge after your travels, while setting the stage for the exciting sessions, insights, and discussions that will take place over the following two days. Don't miss this opportunity to kick off the conference in a relaxed setting, enjoy great company, and prepare for the valuable days ahead! 

Behind the Mask: A NFFS Murder Mystery Masquerade Ball

Friday, February 21, 2025
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Step into a world of elegance, intrigue, and deception at the NFFS Murder Mystery Masquerade Ball! As night falls, attendees will don ornate masks, concealing their identities for an evening of murder, mystery and suspense. Hidden behind each mask may lie a clue or a suspect as you mingle with your fellow guests, trying to uncover the truth behind a sinister plot. Masquerade masks will be provided to all attendees, but guests are encouraged to bring their own personalized masks to add a personal touch to the evening. These customized masks will add an extra layer of intrigue and individuality to the event as everyone works together—or perhaps against one another—to solve the evening’s thrilling whodunit. Prepare for an unforgettable night where nothing is as it seems, and the truth is waiting to be unmasked!

NFFS Annual Meeting & Business Luncheon

Sunday, February 26, 2023
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

The NFFS Business Luncheon serves as both the official annual meeting of the Society and the closing event of the Industry Executive Conference. During the luncheon, members will vote to ratify the 2025 class of officers and directors, as well as a proposed revision to the NFFS bylaws. The Board of Directors and leadership will provide updates on the Society’s activities and achievements over the past year, and 2024 NFFS President John Mellone will deliver his outgoing remarks before welcoming the incoming president. Additionally, the winning team from the "Founders' Classic" Golf Tournament, along with individual challenge winners such as Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive, will be awarded their prizes. To wrap up the event, the location of the 2026 NFFS Industry Executive Conference will be revealed. 

Optional Add-On Activities

The activities below take place pre- and post-conference for attendees who wish to extend their stay in New Orleans. Spend additional time with your industry colleagues while enjoying recreational and cultural activities in the "Big Easy." These activities are subject to an additional fee. 

Founders' Classic Golf Tournament

Friday, February 21, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $225 per player, $89 for club rental

Join your fellow meeting attendees for an optional golf tournament during the 2025 NFFS Industry Executive Conference at the prestigious TPC Louisiana! This exciting scramble tournament offers a unique opportunity to network with fellow attendees while enjoying a day on one of the region's finest golf courses. TPC Louisiana is renowned for its championship golf course, featuring 18 meticulously maintained holes that meet the highest standards of PGA TOUR operation. Designed by master architect Pete Dye, this course offers a blend of challenge and playability for golfers of all skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or a newcomer to the sport, this tournament promises to be a fantastic addition to your conference experience. Secure your spot and prepare for a memorable day of camaraderie, competition, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans!

Food and Cocktail History Walking Tour

Friday, February 21, 2025
12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $185

Combining both food history and cocktail history, this event is a feast for the senses! Along with your guide and fellow conference attendees, you will visit up to six locations: award-winning seafood restaurants, James Beard Award-nominated craft cocktail lounges, iconic Creole restaurants, artisanal candy stores and more. Once inside you’ll sample dishes that represent both classic and modern expressions of New Orleans’ culinary heritage: classic dishes like gumbo and muffulettas, but also new interpretations like curried pork skins and savory plantains. We’ll also enjoy 4 full-sized cocktails like the refreshing Pimm’s Cup, the rum-heavy Hurricane, the French 75 and more. This 4-hour gastronomic odyssey is our way of showing you where the locals like to go now, and what they like to eat and drink once there. And with so many dining and drinking options in New Orleans, why not try up to 6 different places in one fell swoop?!

Steamboat Natchez Riverboat Dinner Experience

Sunday, February 23, 2025
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $165

Experience a spirit of adventure aboard the newest vessel to the French Quarter riverfront, the Steamboat NATCHEZ, as she takes you on a journey down the mighty Mississippi.  The Steamboat NATCHEZ is the last authentic Steamboat on the Mighty Mississippi River.  See captivating views of the French Quarter fade into the distance as the joyful tunes of traditional jazz carries you down the river.  Stroll the multiple decks, explore the beautiful, refinished interiors and savor the leisurely two-hour cruise that will give you panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the many unique sites along the way, with live narration. Your VIP status includes private access for our group in the Captain’s Salon, a full dinner, open bar and a private welcome reception, making for a truly memorable closing night activity to the 2025 NFFS Industry Executive Conference.