FSD’s parent buys FSTEC

CHICAGO—The parent company of FoodService Director has acquired FSTEC, the foodservice industry’s premier technology conference and exhibition.

The seller, FSTEC co-founder and long-time chairman Rob Grimes, will remain involved with the annual event, working with David Jobe, president of the Leadership Conferences group of buyer CSP Business Media.

“FSTEC is an outstanding event,” Jobe said. “We are excited to help develop this platform where industry leaders can meet face-to-face and build relationships that are vital for business growth. We are excited to bring all our knowledge, resources, assets and, most importantly, relationships to help grow this event.”

“FSTEC chose to partner with CSP to build its future as they are the leading event organizer in the industry,” Grimes said. “This partnership will put FSTEC on a trajectory of inspired industry value and growth that cannot be achieved on our own. This is truly a partnership of the best the industry has to offer, and we are thrilled to become a member of the CSP events family.”

CSP Business Media’s other events include MenuDirections, a culinary conference for the foodservice directors and executive chefs of non-commercial operations; the Restaurant Leadership Conference, for c-suite executives of restaurant chains; and the Outlook Leadership Conference and Convenience Retailing University, both serving executives of the c-store business.

In addition to FoodService Director, the company publishes Restaurant Business, CSP and Convenience Store Products magazines.

“The acquisition of FSTEC represents an important step in our growth strategy and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing customers with the information and tools they need to make smart and informed business decisions,” said Mike Wood, CEO of CSP Business Media. “FSTEC’s outstanding technology-focused content and agenda will greatly complement our existing business platforms and allow us to offer a product suite that will be incredibly valuable to our customers.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.