JOHN AND TONY IRACE NAMED 2016 BERT NATHAN AWARD CO-HONOREES

The National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) has announced that John Irace, CEO, and Tony Irace, President, of Packaging Concepts, Inc. (PCI) have been selected as the 2016 Bert Nathan Memorial Award Co-Honorees. The award designates active involvement in NAC, providing positive leadership direction, significant contributions to the development and professionalism of the concessions industry with significant accomplishments and longevity to the theatre concessions industry and current, active involvement in theatre concessions at the executive level. They will be presented the award at the CinemaCon All-Industry Award Breakfast scheduled for Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 AM at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

After being notified of the accomplishment by NAC President Terry Conlon, ECM, John Irace expressed his appreciation. “Thank you and the NAC contingent for this prestigious award,” said John, “We are both honored and humbled to be recognized.” Tony Irace shared similar sentiments. “We are truly honored and humbled to be this year’s award winners, and look forward to celebrating with you in Las Vegas. We will have the award proudly displayed at the PCI offices!”

PCI, a distributor selling food-service and industrial packaging products, has always been a family business. The company was incorporated in 1972 by their father, Joseph Irace, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. John started at the business full-time in 1975. The company moved to St. Louis in 1982 and Tony joined the company in 1985. Their sister Barbara also joined the company in 1984. All eight of the Irace children have contributed to PCI in some way. In 1999, John, Tony and Barbara purchased PCI from their father and continued to grow it.

The Irace brothers join a long list of exceptionally talented and generous honorees. Past recipients of the Bert Nathan Award include Maria Angles, ECM; Norman Chesler; Charlie Cretors; Gina Troutman DiSanto, CCM; Larry Etter; J.C. Evans; John Evans, Jr.; Tim Farha; Shelley Feldman; Evan Gordon; Adam Gottlieb, ACS; Wally Helton, ECM; Dan Kroeger; Ron Krueger II; Jack Leonard; Peter Leyh; Frank Liberto; Libby Mauro; Mike Mosher; Shelly Olesen, ACS; Bruce Proctor, ECM; Bill Rector; Krista Schulte; Robert Scribner; Jeff Scudillo; Bob Shimmin; Skip Stefansen; Bruce Taffet; Anita Watts and the late Bill Chaplain, Len Marsh and Bert Nathan.

About NAC:

The National Association of Concessionaires, founded in 1944, is the trade association for the recreation and leisure-time food and beverage concessions industry. Members are comprised of the owners and operators of facilities such as: Movie Theatres, Stadiums & Arenas, Zoos & Aquariums, Colleges & Universities, Foodservice Contractors, Park & Recreation Departments, Amusement Parks & Family Entertainment Centers, Ice and Roller Skating Rinks, Racetracks, Bowling Centers, Outdoor facilities, Convention centers and Performing Arts Centers. Our members also are the companies that provide products and services to these facilities, including: Suppliers, Equipment Manufacturers, Popcorn Processors, Jobber Distributors, Consultants and Brokers.

For more information:

Chris Dammann, Director of Communications
612-849-8418
cdammann@naconline.org