Merchants Grocery Co. plant tour aims to help FDA better understand the distributor’s role in the tobacco distribution process. A group of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulators visited AWMA member Merchants Grocery Co. in Culpeper, Va., on Wednesday, July 18, and viewed the company’s tobacco processing operation at the invitation of AWMA and Merchants. …
Sweeten the Deal for Chocolate
Market researchers report that between 82% and 92% of Americans admit to indulging in chocolate candy. Even more important is the revelation that the majority of them do it at least once a month. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Americans aren’t eating out as much as they used to, but they are eating more chocolate,…
Sweet Outlook for Candy and Confections
Despite the continued economic doldrums, U.S. confectionery sales have grown at a pace of 4.2% annually and generate $29 billion in total sales, according to SymphonyIRI, a Chicago-based research firm. Jenn Elleck, of the National Confectioners Association (NCA), said the biggest misconception about selling candy is that candy sells itself. “Retailers don’t think they need…
AWMA’s Closing Super Session Panel Announced
AWMA’s 2012 Show Closing Super Session titled “What’s Driving the Changing Retail Landscape?” is set to be held Friday, Feb. 17., and will include insights from a panel of leading retailers that includes Tedeschi Food Shops President & CEO Peter Tedeschi, Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin COO James F. Fiene, and CPD Energy CEO…
AWMA Announces Education Sessions
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) plans to offer more than 18 hours of education during the 2011 AWMA Show scheduled to take place Feb. 8-10, 2011 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. “Distributors, brokers, retailers and manufacturers will experience an entirely new event as we continue on the path to re‐invent the Show…
AWMA Show To Feature Expanded Exhibit Hall
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) has announced its 2011 Show will feature an expanded Expo and the addition of a dedicated Foodservice Pavilion highlighting the latest foodservice products, programs and equipment for the convenience retailing industry. The AWMA Show is scheduled for Feb. 8-10, 2011 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. “Foodservice is…
Outlook Strong for Salty Snacks
The recession of the past couple of years has not swayed consumers from their salty snack habits. In almost every type of data, salty snacks continue to thrive. According to NACS’ 2010 State of the Industry report, convenience store salty snack sales climbed 3.4%, while margin dollars climbed 4.8%. Since 2007, sales of salty snacks…
Sonja Hubbard to Kick Off AWMA Show
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) has announced that Sonja Hubbard, CEO of E‐Z Mart, is scheduled to serve as the Opening Session Speaker during AWMA’s 2011 Show, Feb. 8-10 in Las Vegas. During Sonja’s presentation, Insights & Perspectives on the Future of Convenience Retailing, she plans to provide her views on the challenges, changes…
Strong Outlook for Confections
Candy Shopper Insights Repositioning candy to the highest traffic aisle in the store could significantly boost sales, according to the “Convenience, Candy & Profit” study conducted by Kit Dietz, of Dietz Consulting. Other key findings include: • Keeping core brands in stock at all times. • Improving in-store product placement. • Understanding and responding to…
Sweet Opportunity
By Bob Gatty, Contributing Editor If manufacturers, distributors and convenience store retailers would embrace some basic changes and work more closely together, they could realize a potential bonanza of hundreds of millions of dollars in new profit, according to a new joint industry study. That is the message of the soon-to-be released “Convenience, Candy &…