Interactive Event Highlights EPIC’s Expertise in Managing Food Sector Risks
EPIC introduces its Food and Beverage Practice—where innovation meets insight to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients.
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants made a strong appearance introducing the next generation of its Food & Beverage practice on Sunday, May 3rd, during RIMS’ Riskworld 2025. Improving risk strategies for EPIC clients is paramount, Riskworld RIMS is the largest and most comprehensive event in risk management, bringing together industry experts to discuss business-building opportunities, elevate expertise, and move organizations toward risk resiliency.
Titled Navigating Food Risks: An Industry Exchange, EPIC’s event brought together producers and risk managers from food and beverage retailers, manufacturers, and foodservice providers. It took place in the stately Founders’ Room at Chicago’s iconic Field Museum and featured signature cocktails and gourmet food catered by EPIC client Compass Group.
“By offering specialized risk management solutions tailored to the unique challenges of agricultural producers, food and beverage retailers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, restaurant/hospitality groups, and foodservice providers, the practice showcases EPIC’s deep sector knowledge,” said EPIC Principal and Food and Beverage Practice Leader, Traci Marquez. “Through thought leadership, targeted events, and strategic client engagement, the practice not only strengthens relationships with existing partners but also positions EPIC as a go-to resource for companies navigating emerging risks.”
As part of an education and networking activity, attendees were assigned job roles within a fictional supplier of poultry products. Each was asked to stick to specific character traits, which led to spirited game play.
“It was a little different than your average cocktail party,” said Carl Cincotta, Managing Principal at EPIC Brokers. “People were really getting into their assigned characters and associated roles which made for both entertaining and thoughtful discussion.”
Players were divided into groups and asked to reach consensus on questions related to an Avian Flu outbreak. Gameplay was informed by responses to these questions, with risks escalating during each round of play until human-to-human bird flu transmission was discovered. As part of a twist, the EPIC client who played the role of the company’s risk manager was found to have tested positive for Bird Flu.
While the tabletop exercise was fictional, risks related to infectious diseases such as bird flu, uncertainty surrounding import tariffs, and a rise in nuclear and thermonuclear verdicts, are top of mind for risk managers in the food and beverage space.
“It’s one thing to read about emerging risks. It’s another to put yourself in the shoes of a decision-maker and feel the pressure,” said Marquez. “Our goal was to bring food sector risks to life in a way that’s both insightful and unforgettable.”
