2011 AWMA Show Opens in Las Vegas | American Wholesale Marketers Association

2011 AWMA Show Welcome Reception

The ballroom was packed at the AWMA Welcome Reception, sponsored by Altria Sales & Distribution, to wrap up the first day of the AWMA Show – Conference & Expo.

Photo © 2011 Gary Michael www.exposuresltd.com

Powell and Hubbard at Welcome Reception

Kaye Powell, S. Abraham & Sons Inc., and Sonja Hubbard, E-Z Mart Stores Inc., had a chance to catch up at the AWMA Welcome Reception.

Richmond-Master and Helix

The AWMA Board of Directors invited new attendees and exhibitors to join them early at the Welcome reception, including Mike Englisch and James Ward, Helix, show here with (center) Scott Carrico, Richmond-Master Distributors.

Several Past AWMA Chairmen

Past AWMA Chairmen, Dick Dunham, Stephenson Wholesale Co., Jon Burklund. Burklund Distributors, and Ricky Jones, Andalusia Distributing Co., enjoy themselves at the Opening Night Reception.

First Time Attendee & Exhibitor Reception

Justin Jones and Shannon Parker from Steve’s Frozen Chillers of Nevada are enjoying the Welcome Reception for First Time Attendees and Exhibitors.

Opening Reception Sponsor - Altria

The Altria Sales & Distribution team (L-R front row): Kristen King; Mei-Ling Campbell; Sarah Krysalka; Kelly Cushman; Kylie Bishop; (L-R back row): Mark Smith; Connie Boler; Travis Campbell; Eric Ransom; Jim Pulsifer; Kristen Benson the exclusive sponsor of the 2011 AWMA Opening Reception.

Publish Date:

February 8, 2011

The 2011 AWMA Show opened at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas yesterday with a record crowd of distributors, suppliers and convenience retailers attending a special daylong session that focused on the challenges and opportunities offered by improved category management.

As distributors began to stream into the Paris Hotel, located on the famous Las Vegas strip, the mood was extremely positive and upbeat as they looked forward to the three-day Conference & Expo.

“This certainly looks great,” said Dick Dunham, Stephenson Wholesale Co., Durant, OK, as he and his team relaxed in a lounge on the casino floor after their long flight to Las Vegas. “This is going to be a tremendous Expo, and this location is terrific—a huge improvement over what we’ve had in the past.”

This year’s Conference and Expo has an expanded educational program that includes two foodservice seminars, a new foodservice pavilion on the Expo show floor, and the category management program yesterday, which attracted 125 attendees.

Last night, new attendees and exhibitors attended a special reception to help them become acquainted with AWMA staff and members of the Board.

“This is a great opportunity for us to meet distributors in the c-store industry,” said Mike Webster, president and CEO, Paper Rolls Now, a supplier of paper products, such as towels, cash register tape, and gas pump receipt paper. “We have never sold to the C-store industry and our company has been in business for many, many years. So this is a big opportunity for us.”

Greg Stanton, vice president of US business development for Rudolph Foods, the world’s largest supplier of pork rind products, attended the AWMA Summit & Business Exchange last September in Key Biscayne, FL, and found the experience so valuable that he decided to attend this year’s Expo.

“We are trying to grow our business in the direct market, and so I thought this would be a good place to meet distributors,” he said. Rudolph Foods’ direct brand product is Smithfield Farms.

A new company, Steve’s Frozen Chillers, is represented at the Expo by Justin Jones, sales and marketing representative. Based in Las Vegas, the company is seeking to expand its markets, and Jones hopes to make contact with distributors. Steve’s Frozen Chillers produces dispensed beverages such as frozen cappuccinos and related frozen drinks.

The Expo’s Opening Reception, which was exclusively sponsored by Altria Sales & Distribution, brought together a huge crowd of distributors who were excited about today’s educational programming, super sessions, and opening of the Expo trade show floor.

Steve Shing, GSC Enterprises, Inc., and Steve Altman, Mountain-Service Distributors, paused during last evening’s opening reception to discuss plans to network and garner new ideas and information from the Expo.

“This industry is changing so rapidly that you just have to keep abreast,” said Shing. “It’s unbelievable. That is the reason that I go to the Summit as well,” he added, noting that the 2011 Summit & Business Exchange will be held September 12-15 at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, Atlanta, GA.