AWMA’s Distributors Education Foundation (DEF) is a non-profit organization that sponsors educational programs, research, scholarships and more–all for the benefit of convenience distributors and their trading partners.

AWMA and DEF offer industry-specific, timely educational programming and research designed to help convenience distributors in all aspects of their business and encourage an exchange of ideas to improve profitability and efficiency. Take a look at AWMA/DEF educational programming and research initiatives:

Educational Programs

2013 AWMA Show Education Sessions

Below are available presentations from the 2013 AWMA Show education sessions.

Obamacare: What it Means for Your Distribution Company (Video) - click here

All About the Numbers: Benchmarking and Performance Dashboards (PDF) - click here

Distributor Challenges: How to Provide Fresh, Perishable Products to Retail Customers (PDF) - click here

Ten Ways to Reduce Distribution Costs: The Supply Chain as a Competitive Weapon (PDF) - click here

Protecting Your Assets: Security Best Practices in a High Theft Industry (PDF) - click here

Tobacco Trends and Insights in Convenience Retail (PDF) - click here

AWMA Summit & Business Exchange (ABX)
September 9 – 12, 2013
Westin Kierland,
Scottsdale, Arizona

The AWMA Summit & Business Exchange includes a half-day educational seminar designed to highlight current opportunities and challenges for all partners in the convenience channel.

International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) Distribution Solutions Conference
October 14 – 16, 2013
Marriott World Center
Orlando, Florida

At the IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference, AWMA provides a series of educational sessions strategically-focused on issues of importance to convenience distributors.

The AWMA Show – The Convenience Distributor Conference & Expo
February 25-27, 2014
Paris Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada

More information about the educational sessions for 2014 to come. Please check back later.

Research Initiatives

Hershey Industry Performance Analysis (HIPA) Report
Thanks to The Hershey Company’s support, AWMA provides to participating distributor member companies a comprehensive financial performance analysis of the industry.  Distributors that participate in the HIPA Survey receive a report that gauges their company’s performance vs. industry peers and provides an individual company report that compares results to relevant industry benchmarks.

Employee Compensation Report
The Employee Compensation Report allows AWMA distributor members to compare their compensation levels and benefits policies with other convenience distributors. This study provides timely information regarding distributor salary levels, commission plans and benefit programs. The primary purpose of the survey is to give distributors comparative data to help in controlling payroll expenses and employee recruitment efforts.

Scholarships

DEF awards each year two $5,000 Ray Foley Memorial Scholarships to motivated individuals with a career interest in the convenience products wholesale distribution industry. Candidates must either work for an AWMA distributor member company or be a child or spouse of an AWMA distributor member company employee.

Contact Information:
If you would like to submit a topic for an education session, participate in a research study, or find out more about educational programs, please contact Meredith Kimbrell at meredithk@awmanet.org or (703) 208-1648.