FAIRFAX, Va. -- Tedeschi Food Shops president and CEO Peter Tedeschi, Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin COO James F. Fiene and CPD Energy CEO Mickey Jamal have been announced as panelists for the American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) 2012 Show Closing Super Session entitled "What's Driving the Changing Retail Landscape?" This session, to be held on Friday, February 17, will be moderated by Paul Reuter, CEO and editorial director of CSP Information Group.
"We are very excited about this session--hearing from leading retailers is of keen interest and importance to the distributors and manufacturers that attend the show, and this session in particular supports our overall strategic direction to bring thought leaders together to discuss industry trends, issues and opportunities," said AWMA president and CEO Scott Ramminger.
AWMA's board, convention committee and AWMA staff have been focused on revamping the AWMA Show for the past two years and an important part of the reinvention of the show is offering education sessions that deliver valuable industry insights.
"There is always money to be made in Vegas. One thing that is not a gamble is the profit wholesalers will reap after listening to what these experienced retailers have to offer about the future of their businesses, and how that will affect the distribution community," said Reuter.
At 189 locations and growing, Tedeschi Food Shops is continuing to push the limits of what a convenience store "should" be. Providing customers with fresh food, innovative services and community support, as the Tedeschi family has been since 1923, remains the driving force behind Rockland, Mass.-based Tedeschi Food Shops.
Open Pantry is a 26-store chain located in Wisconsin serving the Madison and Milwaukee markets. Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based Open Pantry is passionate about providing convenience. It is the executive's belief that the people, particularly in these hectic times, need time. By providing one-stop convenience for fuel, newspapers, coffee, milk, tobacco, high quality grab-and-go food and much more, Open Pantry's mission is to satisfy that customer on the move.
CPD Energy is a family-owned business that began with one station in 1981 in New Paltz, N.Y. It currently operates 135 locations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In October 2008, CPD was inducted into the Food Industry Hall of Fame. CPD's driving philosophy is centered on excellence, expertise and experience.
Industry Icon, Drayton McLane Jr. kicks off the AWMA 2012 Show as the keynote speaker during the Opening Super Session on Thursday, February 16. McLane, chairman of the McLane Group and CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club, will discuss his views on opportunities for distributors in this changing marketplace.
"AWMA is committed to bringing in industry leaders from around the country to discuss the forces and trends that are shaping the convenience industry. We are extremely gratified that Drayton McLane and the panel of industry retailers have agreed to share her considerable insights. This is a lineup that no one will want to miss," added Ramminger.
AWMA'S 2012 Show features more than 16 hours of educational sessions including two Super Sessions, concurrent sessions on foodservice, strategic leadership issues and key categories, as well as programs geared specifically for smaller distributors. More than 200 companies will be showcasing their latest products and services in the expo, which features a Foodservice Pavilion, Candy Pavilion and new Operations Pavilion. Registration, housing and complete details of the Show can be found at www.AWMASHOW.com.
The AWMA is an international trade organization working on behalf of convenience distributors in the United States. Its distributor members represent more than $85 billion in U.S. convenience product sales. Associate members include manufacturers, service providers, technology companies, brokers, retailers and others allied to the convenience retailing industry. In addition to c-stores, their largest customer segment, convenience distributors also service grocery stores, drug stores, tobacco shops, mass merchants, newsstands, concession stands, gift shops, fundraising groups, restaurants, institutions and more.
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