NACS Show 2014 Draws Second-Highest Attendance Ever
LAS VEGAS — Attendance at the 2014 NACS Show increased by 6.1 percent to reach 23,624 attendees, 9,176 of which were classified as buyers (retailers, grocery wholesalers and distributors).
Both totals, which include Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) buyer registration, mark the second-highest attendance ever for the annual event.
Attendees from 60 countries were at the NACS Show, which took place Oct. 7-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Total international attendance reached 2,465 delegates, according to NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing.
"The impressive number of retailers who attended this year's NACS Show proves to me that our industry is committed to developing world-class operations that exceed consumer expectations, improve store efficiencies and deliver new and exciting products to our customers," stated new NACS Chairman Steve Loehr. "The NACS Show truly is an essential event for everyone in our industry, whether you are part of a one-store company or one with 1,000 stores."
Compared to the 2013 event, this year's NACS Show saw a 2-percent exhibitor increase with 1,114 exhibiting companies, 134 of which were new. Exhibiting companies increased their booth footprint size by an average of 10 percent. The record-setting 403,000 net square feet reportedly ranks the NACS Show among the top 50 trade shows in the country.
Additionally, the Cool New Products Preview Room featured 290 products and services, and drew more than 1,800 visitors. The Preview Room averaged 19 product scans per person and set a NACS Show record of 34,260 total product scans.
The 2014 NACS Show featured three days of general sessions, 69 educational sessions and four independent-operator training sessions. Educational sessions drew 12,400 attendees, with an average of 175 attendees per session -- the most ever recorded. General sessions were translated into Portuguese, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, and select educational sessions were translated into Portuguese and Spanish, reflecting the growing international scope of the NACS Show.
As a new addition, Technology Edge provided retailer technology professionals with a more robust educational track with 12 new sessions. This included four facilitated discussions on topics ranging from mobile commerce to IT security. More than 250 retailers participated in these sessions.
More than 59 tons of leftover product from exhibitors was donated to the Three Square Food Bank at the conclusion of the event.
NACS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTION
Also during the 2014 NACS Show, these NACS retail members were named to the NACS executive committee:
- Vice Chairman-Treasurer: Jack Kofdarali, president of Corona, Calif.-based J&T Management Inc.;
- Vice Chairman, Legislative: Peter Tedeschi, president and CEO of Rockland, Mass.-based Tedeschi Food Shops;
- Vice Chairman, Convention: Wendy Chronister, CEO of Chronister Oil Co. (Qik-n-EZ);
- Vice Chairman, Research: Joe Sheetz, president and CEO of Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz Inc.;
- Vice Chairman, Member Services: Rahim Budhwani, CEO of Hoover, Ala.-based 6040 LLC;
- Vice Chairman, International: Frank Gleeson, managing director of Dublin, Ireland-based Aramark Ireland; and
- Vice Chairman: Tony Kenney, president of Enon, Ohio-based Speedway LLC.
The 2015 NACS Show will take place Oct. 11-14 in Las Vegas.