ABX Wednesday Night Reception

The ABX Reception gave participants a chance to relax and catch up.
 

Merchants Grocery Meets with Procter & Gamble

Mike Hicks of Merchants Grocery Co. making a point while meeting with the Procter & Gamble team.
 

AWMA Board Executives Relax at ABX Reception

AWMA Board members (L-R):  Jon Burklund, Dick Dunham, Sherwin Herring and Hugh Raetzsch at the ABX Reception

Hershey Meets with Core-Mark at ABX

One of two Hershey Company teams shown meeting with Core-Mark International.

Outside at 2010 Summit/ABX

ABX participants were able to enjoy some outdoor time after a long day of meetings

Full Wednesday Night ABX Reception

Wednesday night’s ABX Reception was filled to capacity.

Douglas Companies Meets with Crayola

Members of the Douglas Companies Inc. team viewed a presentation while meeting with first time ABX participant Crayola LLC.

Summit 2010 Platinum Sponsor R.J. Reynolds Tobacco

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., American Snuff Co. and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. were the exclusive sponsors of the Wednesday night ABX Reception.
 

Altria Meets with Cooper-Booth at ABX

One of the Cooper-Booth Wholesale Co. meetings was with Altria Sales & Distribution.

AWMA distributors and suppliers met yesterday, and continue today, in a round of 30 face-to-face business meetings where they discussed issues of concern and mapped out business plans for the coming year.

The venue was the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Key Biscayne, FL, site of the 2010 AWMA Summit, which began Tuesday with a day-long educational program that was packed with information all geared at helping distributors and manufacturers improve business results.

The AWMA Business Exchange (ABX) is designed to help trading partners, in private, pre-scheduled meetings, effectively and efficiently resolve issues and work together to develop opportunities for the months ahead. With 15 sessions held Wednesday and another 15 today, the sessions were fast-paced and intensive, with both suppliers and distributors well-prepared to take advantage of this tremendous business opportunity.

“It’s invaluable to have one-on-one meetings like this in this setting,” said Joe Noorda, Gem State Distributors, Inc. “You can express your concerns and any issues that you have, but you can also more fully partner up on opportunities that are available. I love it. It’s great.”

A major advantage for distributors and manufacturers alike is the efficiency of being able to hold these discussions with decision-makers in one location over the condensed period of two days. There is no other way that either could reach their trading partners so efficiently over such a short period of time.

“What I’ve learned is that both sides have their trials and tribulations, but understanding both aspects for manufacturers and distributors is very helpful,” commented Scott Carrico, Richmond-Master Distributors, Inc. “This gives us an opportunity to air things out. After all, our common goal is to satisfy the retailer and meet consumer demands.”

Many distributors and manufacturers are old hands at the ABX, but there were first-timers on hand as well.

Kennith Fries, TNT Marketing, a division of Crossmark, attended for the first time this year, with the manufacturers TNT represents, and was delighted with the results.

During a morning break on Wednesday, after just two meetings, Fries said he was able to achieve accomplishments that would not have happened in a regular office appointment. “Everybody is focused and interested in growing their business,” Fries observed. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s been great.”

The meetings offer a great opportunity for mutual understanding. “We are able to have face-to-face discussions with the powers that be,” said Don Campbell, Jackson Wholesale Co., “not just to talk with them, but to listen, too.”

Mike Clark, Republic Tobacco, was happy with his early results as well. “This allows all of us to recap what’s occurred during the year and lay the groundwork going forward,” he said.

For Bob Franklin, Triple C Wholesalers, Inc., the ABX is “one of the best formats, if not the best, in the industry.”

Franklin had 14 meetings slated for Wednesday. “It is the best way to give wholesalers and manufacturers a chance to meet one-on-one to discuss current business and review strategies for new business,” he said. “I look forward to this event every year.”

Following the long day of meetings that began at 7:15 a.m. and ended at 6:20 p.m., the ABX Reception took place giving attendees a much needed opportunity to relax and recap the day’s events.

Thank you to our Summit & ABX Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors
Both Altria and Hershey were exclusive co-sponsors of the Tuesday Summit Program
Altria Sales & Distribution Inc. - Exclusive sponsor of the Tuesday Summit Reception
The Hershey Company – Exclusive sponsor of the Wednesday ABX Breakfast

Platinum Sponsors
American Snuff Company
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company
Exclusive Sponsors of the Wednesday ABX Reception

Gold Sponsors
Altadis U.S.A. – Excusive Sponsor of the Thursday ABX Lunch
BIC Consumer Products, USA – Exclusive Sponsor of the Wednesday ABX Lunch.

Summit Sponsors
Cadbury North America – Co-Sponsor of the Thursday ABX Breakfast
Commonwealth Brands, Inc. – Co-Sponsor of the Thursday ABX Breakfast
Lorillard Tobacco Company – Sponsor of the Tuesday Summit Breakfast