Space now being added to accommodate more manufacturers.
AWMA’s 2012 Expo is sold out and space is being added to accommodate additional manufacturers at its annual convention and expo to be held Feb. 15 – 17, 2012, at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
For the past three years, AWMA has been focused on reinventing and re-energizing the AWMA Show to ensure that it offers the strongest event possible for the convenience distribution community.
“We are intent on making sure that each year the AWMA Show introduces new features and activities. The 2012 Show is packed with top notch education sessions, presentations by industry innovators and an expo that features the broadest array of products and services than we’ve seen in many years,” commented Scott Ramminger, AWMA’s president and CEO.
“Distributors, retailers and manufacturers looking for ideas to grow their business need to look no further than the line-up of education sessions being offered. From industry icon Drayton McLane to sessions on core categories to visionary retailers offering their perspectives on the future, it is clear that the show is on the right track and the sold out expo confirms that,” Ramminger added.
The trade show features more than 300 exhibit booths and many new exhibitors including: Barcelona Nut Company, Gladson, Great Lakes Bottling Co., Lindt & Sprungli USA, Palmer Candy Co., Sara Lee Foodservice and The Category Management Association.
A new addition to the expo for 2012 is an Operations Pavilion that showcases dozens of companies offering operations and technology solutions specific to distributor needs. Other category-specific pavilions include a Foodservice Pavilion and a Candy & Snacks Pavilion. A complete list of exhibitors can be found on AWMA’s Website: www.AWMASHOW.com.
AWMA distributor members who attend the expo on Friday, Feb. 17 will be entered into a drawing making them eligible to win a cash prize of $10,000 – the largest cash prize AWMA has ever offered. The drawing will take place at 1:45 pm in the exhibit hall. Additionally, every distributor, broker and retailer that attends the expo on Friday will receive a 50% discount on their registration fee to attend the 2013 AWMA Show in Orlando, Florida.
AWMA’S 2012 Show offers more than 16 hours of educational sessions, including two Super Sessions, concurrent sessions on foodservice, strategic leadership issues and key categories as well as programs on developing a positive corporate culture and how to reach the growing Latino customer base. An all-star lineup takes center stage at the Opening Super Session with Drayton McLane and the Closing Super Session, featuring leading retailers James Fiene, Open Pantry Food Markets of Wisconsin; Peter Tedeschi, Tedeschi Food Shops Inc; and Mickey Jamal, CPD Energy.
In addition to a sold out expo, registration is also expected to break last year’s record, which was the most well attended show for nearly a decade. “Every one of the top 50 distributors are currently registered to attend the 2012 Show and in some cases they are bringing their management team,” added Ramminger. “The buying power and concentration of decision-makers attending the AWMA Show is significantly above other industry events. In fact, the average distributor who attends is making buying decisions for more than 2,800 retail outlets and nearly 20% of attendees provide products and services to as many as 10,000 stores.”