Progressive Grocer - May 2009 - (Page 84)

Grocery Eye Candy Despite a not-so-sweet economy, this year’s All Candy Expo is once again shaping up to be the confectionery industry’s must-attend event. By Bridget Goldschmidt Projected attendance for this year’s show is on par with last year’s healthy turnout. T imes may be tough, but people still crave their candy fix. In fact, as the economy languishes and the employment rate continues to rise, a sweet escape may be just the ticket for many harried consumers. So notes Jenn Ellek, director of trade marketing & communications at the Washington-based National Confectioners Association (NCA), who refers to candy as a “recession-resistant” category. a feat in itself during an era of dwindling trade show attendance — but even more impressively, the association is close to 7 percent further along in the registration process than it was Last year, despite the poor economic outlook and a weak seasonal year for three out of four of its top holiday selling occasions, candy managed to log an “awesome” 2.2 percent increase, says Ellek, and 2009, with the advantage of a more favorable holiday date pattern, promises to be even better. In such a hopeful climate, it’s no wonder that the NCA’s annual All Candy Expo, which Ellek describes as the only trade show in the United States specifically for candy and snacks, is still a major attraction. For the 13th iteration of the event, “we’re expecting over 12,000 industry professionals, including 5,000 qualified customer attendees — the retailers and wholesalers,” explains Ellek, adding that the projected attendance is on par with last year’s draw — quite 84 • Progressive Grocer • May 2009 at the same time last year. Ellek attributes this to a “really aggressive” marketing message, including personal phone calls and messages to potential attendees, emphasizing all of the reasons to go to the show beyond the vast array of new products. This year, for instance, as Ellek points out, the expo will feature “a big presence in merchandising,” with the introduction of the first-ever Retail Merchandising Solution Center — a reflection of the fact that candy and snacks are the most responsive food categories to display treatment, according to the NCA. The center will not only serve as an area for retailers to source the latest fixtures and displays, but will also offer ideas and solutions that worked for other retailers, in the Magic of Merchandising Display Gallery. Helping Hand BEYOND SPONSORING the annual All Candy Expo, which presents attendees with myriad ways to increase candy and snack profits at their stores, the National Confectioners Association (NCA) goes the extra mile to assist retailers: the Washington-based organization is sharing the results of a recent research project, “Expanding the Dimensions of Confectionery: A $10 Billion Opportunity,” for which it visited and studied such major players as Wal-Mart, Target and Stop & Shop. Further, the NCA advises individual companies on category best practices, even occasionally sending experts out in the field to show operators the best ways to boost sales. “Supermarkets are the No. 1 profit center for candy, but the grocery channel isn’t growing as fast as other channels [such as drug stores and warehouse clubs],” notes NCA director of trade marketing & communications Jenn Ellek, as an example of why the group is offering the data. “This is new information,” adds Ellek. “We want to get it out to [retailers].” For more information, visit www.ecandy.com and under the “Industry Performance” section, choose “Best Practices for Growing Confectionery” from the drop-down menu. A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T www.progressivegrocer.com http://www.ecandy.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - May 2009

Progressive Grocer - May 2009
Contents
Nielsen's Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight: Candy/Chocolate Candy
Market Snapshot: Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.
The 76th Annual Report of the Grocery Industry: Opportunity Knocking
Industry Ranking: The Super 50
Independents Report: IGA's Stores Down Under Are Experts at Giving Back
Lempert Report: Sustainable Agriculture is the Key to Feeding the World
Store of the Month: Angels in the City
United Fresh Product Forecast: Save-A-Lot Savors Suite Life at United Fresh
Meat/Seafood: A Signature Cut
Show Preview: IDDBA's Dairy-Deli-Bake 2009
Beverage Alcohol: A Heads-Up for Hops
Confectionery: Eye Candy
Hand-Held Frozen Entrees: Holding On
Coffee: Bean Counters
Private Label Trends: Private Practice
HBC: A Healthy Boost
Technology Case Study: Employ Automated Hiring
Equipment: Reach for Safety
What's Next Editors' Picks for Innovative Products
General Merchandise Taking Stock

Progressive Grocer - May 2009

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