Opportunities to improve profits despite a tough economy highlighted the 2008 AWMA Summit & Business Exchange program Tuesday as distributors were challenged to learn from the experiences of other channels and to consider new and innovative ways of doing business.
AWMA Board members Jode Bunce (l), Eby-Brown Company, and Larry Glass (r), U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, listen to Chairman Dick Dunham's opening remarks on Tuesday.
AWMA Chairman Dick Dunham, Vice President of Operations at Stephenson Wholesale Company, outlined key developments over the past year and discussed new initiatives that are underway, including a new study on Optimizing the Profitability of Candy in the Convenience Channel, co-sponsored with the National Association of Convenience Stores and the National Confectioners Association, and the development of a tool to help distributors analyze the profitability of individual customers.
Next year's AWMA Chairman Sherwin Herring, Southco Distributing Company, is presented with the traditional Chairman's green jacket by 2008 Chairman Dick Dunham, Stephenson Wholesale Company.
The year’s highlights, Dunham said, included:
An outstanding REAL DEAL EXPO.
A Day on the Hill conference that helps make a difference in AWMA’s ability to do business in Washington.
Successful efforts, to date, of preventing FDA regulation of tobacco and federal excise tax increases.
Individual meetings with suppliers to improve relations with distributors.
A new executive education program in conjunction with the Wharton School of Business.
The first Foodservice at Retail Conference and Expo in cooperation with the CSP Information Group.
Dunham expressed appreciation to AWMA members for their involvement and their support during his year as chairman. “Your involvement benefits the association, and that benefits you,” he said. He presented Sherwin Herring, President, Southco Distributing Company, with the traditional green jacket symbolizing the chairmanship of the association. Herring will serve as AWMA's 2009 chairman.
