AWMA C-Metrics Outlook Forum Lines Up Expert Speakers

FAIRFAX, Va. –- The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) C-Metrics Convenience Industry Outlook Forum will feature a lineup of four of the industry's foremost experts at the event's Category Close-Up sessions, during which they will discuss trends, reveal current data and offer projections for the future. The event will be held June 24-25 at the Loews Hotel in New Orleans.

The AWMA is the only international trade organization working on behalf of convenience distributors in the United States, and its distributor members represent more than $85 billion in U.S. convenience product sales, according to its website.

The Outlook Forum is one of two back-to-back programs designed to help c-store industry supply chain partners effectively use exclusive convenience data to improve operations and profit. The AWMA DEF Harmonizing Assortment conference will take place June 25-27, also at the Loews Hotel.

The C-Metrics Category Close-Up sessions on Tuesday, June 25, will provide participants with an analysis of current sales data and projections for the year, based on current sales data for the first five months of 2013, for the following categories:

• Cigarettes & Electronic Cigarettes – Presented by David Bishop, managing partner, Balvor LLC, a sales and marketing firm that provides analytic, consulting, research and sales support services to retailers, product suppliers and other organizations across foodservice and retail classes of trade.
   
• Other Tobacco Products (OTP) – Presented by Nik Modi, managing director, UBS Investment Bank, which specializes in the household, personal care and tobacco industries.
   
• Candy – Presented by Kit Dietz, principal, Dietz Consulting LLC and lead consultant to AWMA’s warehouse-delivered snacks committee.
   
• Salty Snacks & Alternative Snacks – Presented by Steve Montgomery, president, b2b Solutions, a consultancy that specializes in working with retailers and suppliers in the convenience retail/petroleum marketing industry.

The Outlook Forum will also feature a presentation on overall industry trends by a leading business analyst and a panel discussion focusing on supply chain perspectives, information, collaboration and innovation. C-Metrics, developed by global business intelligence leader InRhythm Inc., will provide a strategic look at how in-store warehouse-delivered products are performing today.

The event is open to all AWMA distributor members who may invite two of their retail customers to attend with complimentary registration, and all industry manufacturers that provide products through convenience distributors, according to the announcement.

Information and registration are available at www.awmanet.org.