NEW ORLEANS —CSP's spirited 2020 Convenience Retailing University conference brought together a record number of attendees Feb. 18 and 19 in New Orleans for inspiration and education.
Full-house general sessions provided an industry overview, as well as new ways to approach creativity and the future of artificial intelligence.
Well-attended category tracks relayed data and trends in eight breakout sessions: behind the counter, CBD, center store, dispensed beverages, foodservice, loyalty, packaged beverages and technology.
And one-on-one networking sessions gave retailers time to meet with a variety of product suppliers to find out what's new and what's coming.
Here's a peek at the event ...
Opening speaker Donna Hood Crecca of Technomic set the stage for the conference with an industry overview. Category management "is far more complex than in the past," she said. “You have to be creative and analytical at the same time."
CRU’s trade show-inspired speed networking allowed suppliers to meet one-on-one with a variety of retailers to learn their needs and share ideas.
Jeff Hoover, c-store data insights strategist for Paytronix, discusses direct digital customer engagement in a standing-room-only innovation forum.
Paul Crozier, sales manager of tobacco, CBD and lottery for Sheetz, accepts his Category Manager of the Year Award for the CBD category with award ceremony hosts Steve Holtz, CSP content director, and Danielle Holloway, senior director of industry engagement for Altria Group Distribution Co.
Keynote speaker Duncan Wardle, former head of innovation and creativity for Disney, gets the filled-to-capacity general session audience on its feet.
Receptions on the trade-show floor and at a parade-watching event encouraged attendees to connect.
Members of Juul Labs' category leadership team Alex Drew (left) and Adam Byrne during an innovation forum address leading positive change in age-restricted product categories.
Retailers hear the latest in lottery and sports wagering from Jesus Gutierrez, director of account management for InComm Lottery and Gaming.
A full house hears the reality of how artificial intelligence could play out in retail and beyond from Jesse Hirsh, owner of Metaviews Media Management.
A walking tour of New Orleans included visits to haunted locations, a historic cemetery and a final stop at legendary Cafe du Monde.
During a category track, Bill Hanifin, CEO of Hanifin Loyalty, addresses the connection between loyalty and delivery.
CRU 2020 wrapped up with a spirited watch party of a Mardi Gras parade down Canal Street.
Next year’s Convenience Retailing University will be held Feb. 23-24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. Click here for more information.
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