GENERAL INFORMATION
AWMA BUYER'S PROGRAM
SHOW DEALS AT THE REAL DEAL EXPO
DAY ON THE HILL SILENT AUCTION
2005 SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
FULL SCHEDULE
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
EXHIBITORS AT A GLANCE
EXHIBITOR INFORMATION
EXHIBITOR SERVICE MANUAL
HOTEL INFORMATION


Distributors Jam AWMA REAL DEAL EXPO Seeking Great Deals & New Opportunities
photo by Mike Gatty
Business was booming on the REAL DEAL EXPO trade show floor Thursday in Las Vegas. Show deals were key objectives of many attendees.
AWMA members jammed the AWMA REAL DEAL EXPO show floor in Las Vegas Thursday looking for ways to build business, solve problems and stock up on great deals for the months ahead, all the while giving suppliers a terrific opportunity to connect with their customers and promote their new offerings.

The show opened at 10:30 a.m. Thursday after a morning session that featured baseball Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, who drew a standing ovation, and an informational program offered by consultant Kit Dietz that covered three key issues for distributors: distributor value and profit margins, opportunities with warehouse delivered snacks, and cigarette sales strategies.

"I attended the Buyer’s Program yesterday, and it was very well done," said Ron Scott, sales manager at L.J. Zucca, Inc., Vineland, NJ, after chatting with Bench and getting his autograph. "It brought a lot of things back that I had forgotten and I learned some new things. Today, I’m seeing new products on the show floor. That’s what we’re here for – that and the show deals, which we need more of."
photo by Mike Gatty
Paul Noorda, Gem State Distributors, Inc. (center) discusses warehouse inventory management with Retalix USA President Vic Hamilton (right) and Gary Jarvis, Retalix senior manager, customer service.
photo by Mike Gatty
Rick Gummer, Gummer Wholesale, Inc. (left) discusses cigarette sales strategy with Steve Altman, Mountain Service Distributors.

In fact, more than 50 companies offered special "show deals" to AWMA REAL DEAL EXPO attendees.
photo by Mike Gatty
AWMA President & CEO Scott Ramminger presents $2,500 check from Thursday’s drawing to Jean Jones, Andalusia Distributing.
"We’re loading up for the summer," confided Rick Gummer, Gummer Wholesale Inc., Heath, OH. "There are a lot of great deals here."

"And it’s a great venue for solving problems," pointed out Steve Altman, president and CEO, Mountain Service Distributors, South Fallsburg, NY.

Although the show floor had only been open less than two hours, many suppliers said the EXPO has become an invaluable tool for them to connect with their customers.

"It’s a great opportunity for us to align ourselves with our customers and to show them the latest and greatest opportunities that we have to offer," said Michael Harris, Kraft Foods.

But it wasn’t all candy, tobacco and snack that distributors were checking out during the EXPO show. Foodservice has become an important profit center for increasing numbers of c-store distributors and many are also working to increase profitability by improving warehouse inventory management.

Rob Hackett, Burklund Distributors, Inc., East Peoria, IL, said the company is working closely with OMNI Food Concepts, Inc. to help meet the foodservice needs of Burklund customers. He said OMNI’s Bellarico’s Pizza and new upscale sandwich offerings are helping retailer customers meet consumer demand and build profit without inordinate labor demands. Hackett stopped at OMNI’s booth to catch up with Don Pungitore, the company’s president, where both pizza and sandwich samples were being offered.

"There is about a 20 to 25 percent markup opportunity on these products for the distributor. It is a profit item for them," Pungitore said. "We’re glad to be here to meet with so many customers and potential customers."

At the Retalix USA booth, Paul Noorda, president and CEO of Gem State Distributors, Inc., Pocatello, ID, met with Vic Hamilton, Retalix president, and Gary Jarvis, senior manager, customer service, where they discussed warehouse inventory management services and systems.

"This show gives us an opportunity to discuss current issues with all of our vendors and suppliers," Noorda said. "It also gives us a chance to find new items and new opportunities. In fact, there are a lot of new opportunities here."

"I think this is one of the best shows available for finding new opportunity," Jarvis said. "It works extremely well for us."

For more information on attending the REAL DEAL EXPO, contact customer service at either 800-564-4220 or 703-449-6418 or awmaregistration@jspargo.com