AWMA is pleased to announce a new education program, Harmonizing Assortment – A Holistic, Consumer-focused, Data Driven Category Management Framework, to be held at the Swissôtel Chicago on April 23 – 25, 2012. Harmonizing Assortment will provide a unique opportunity for both category management team leaders and sales leaders to learn how distributors can work in a collaborative effort with retailers and manufacturers in order to exchange information, share data and implement plans that satisfy consumer needs and therefore, sell more candy and snacks.

Hear from consumer insight teams, category management and data experts as they demonstrate how to analyze inventories, explore the root causes of an excessive number of SKUs, and rationalize product placement to capitalize on how the consumer shops the center store. By distributors, retailers and manufacturers working together, value and profitability is added for all partners in the convenience store channel.

This education session will be a two-pronged approach – training both a category management team leader and a sales leader from each distribution company. The conference will be limited to 100 attendees - 50 attendees for each portion of the program.

Who should attend?
The category management portion should include wholesale distribution company executive decision-makers responsible for overseeing product categories, specifically, the candy/snack category:
•    Owners/Presidents/COOs
•    Category Management Team Leader
•    Buyers

The sales portion should include a sales leader who oversees sales representatives.

Reasons to Attend:

• Explore innovative concepts and fresh ideas to drive greater sales and efficiency in the center store.
• Understand how the consumer shops and makes purchase decisions
• Learn how to train the sales force to sell, prepare, plan, present and track category management at the retail level.
• Develop strategies that enhance your company's growth and maximize profit.
• Gain valuable insight from data experts and consumer insight teams whose experience offer innovative solutions.
• Hear industry experts address important challenges in the convenience channel.
• Connect with industry colleagues while sharing thoughts and ideas focused on the future.

Agenda Topics Include:

• Selling the value of category management to your retail customers
• Industry alignment between distributors, manufacturers and retailers
• Capitalize on consumer shopping patterns to initiate high margin impulse purchases
• Consequences of doing “business as usual” in the convenience channel
• Optimize available shelf and promotional space for candy and snacks
• SKU rationalization and reduction of poor performing SKUs
• Organizational implementation plan
• Measuring change and proof of value for your customers
• Navigation and analysis of industry data
• Distribution of core SKUs

Schedule at a Glance (subject to change):

Monday, April 23, 2012
12:30 p.m.  -   Lunch
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.  -   Program/Breakouts
5:00 p.m. -  Reception

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
7:30 a.m. -  Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – Noon -  Program/Breakouts
Noon  -  Lunch
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. -  Program/Breakouts

Wednesday, April 25, 2012
7:30 a.m. -  Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – Noon -   Program/Breakouts

Registration:
Registration will open in December 2011.
Registration Fees: $1,995 for two attendees (one sales leader/one category management team leader) from each distribution company.

Accommodations:
Swissôtel Chicago
323 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601-9722
(312) 565-0565
http://www.swissotelchicago.com

Don’t miss out on the chance to join your fellow AWMA distributor members at this exciting new program!

For more information, please contact Meredith Kimbrell at (703) 208-1648 or meredithk@awmanet.org