NACDA and CCSA recognize the importance of product innovation

NACDA and the CCSA have been working together in recent months, and although the two associations did not formally affiliate as planned this past June at the CCSA Gala, their goal remains the same: to unite the industry.
8/30/2013

NACDA-Bouchard

NACDA and the CCSA have been working together in recent months, and although the two associations did not formally affiliate as planned this past June at the CCSA Gala, their goal remains the same: to unite the industry.

Suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers will convene at the Marriott Chateau Champlain in Montreal from October 22-24 for The National Convenience Industry Summit (NCIS). The event will be similar to previous NACDA Summits, but 2013 will be even bigger with the addition of the CCSA’s annual SOI and increased retailer attendance.

And the winner is …

The summit will provide the ideal platform to reward industry partners for outstanding achievements and innovation. Awards will be handed out at the Convenience Innovation Gala, which kicks off the event on October 22.

The Awards of Excellence are given to suppliers, distributors and individuals who strive to improve the industry. “We need these kinds of partners to keep the industry relevant,” says Marc Lefort, NACDA’s communications and event director.

The Convenience Innovation Awards, on the other hand, are given to the suppliers who invest in innovative products for the channel. “The convenience and gas channel is always evolving, so we need innovation to grow and prosper; without it, consumers may lose interest in brands,” says Lefort.

To learn more about the awards, visit convenienceinnovation.com/

Business sessions

Above all, the event will provide the opportunity for retailers, distributors, and suppliers to connect, share ideas, and do business. The Industry Business Exchange (IBX) sessions allow participants to engage in discussion with new suppliers, and to create stronger relationships with existing ones, says Lefort.

“Most of all, participants will learn new business concepts, and improve business planning by listening to all the great speakers,” says Lefort. For a list of speakers and their bios, visit nacdasummit.ca.

A new way forward

NACDA recently announced a new president, and with a new face comes a fresh perspective. Greg Gauthier comes to NACDA with decades of experience in the health care sector.

Gauthier has a clear path forward for NACDA, and as he says, it starts with the formal affiliation of NACDA and the CCSA.

“What we really need to do over the next 12 months is make sure NACDA looks at its value proposition and becomes more than just purely an event coordinator or event association,” says Gauthier. “It would be good for NACDA to be viewed by the industry as an association that adds value to its members, that continues to be recognized by the membership as a necessity, continues to be a good corporate citizen, becomes affiliated with the convenience store community, continues to provide for the manufacturers, and last but not least, as much as the market seems to be shrinking as far as the number of companies is concerned, it’s still important for NACDA to continue to increase its membership as we start to move forward.”

To learn more about the event, visit nacdasummit.ca.  

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