SNAC World - Official State of the Industry 2020 - 10

SNAC UPDATE

a pillar of

by David Walsh

The onset of the global pandemic caused
uncertainty across the snack industry.
immediate
ediate uncert
u
began locking down in mid-March,
As the
e natio
nation beg
agencies published new guidance
various
us federal
fede ag
documents
ments nearly every day. Navigating through
this constant outpouring of information became
increasingly difficult.
To help members steer a path forward, SNAC
International quickly launched a publicly available
Coronavirus Resource Center, updated daily with the
latest available information along with accompanying
detailed analysis from legal counsel and experts.
SNAC also kept members ahead of the shifting
guidance by distributing information in real-time to its
Government Affairs Contacts group. During "normal"
times, members have come to rely on SNAC as
the source for the latest information and analysis
on regulatory and legislative issues impacting their
businesses. In 2020, the role of SNAC's education
and advocacy pillars were more crucial than ever.

THE BEST OF SNAXPO PRESENTED VIRTUALLY
While SNAC members could not meet in-person at
SNAXPO 2020, they were still able to benefit from
the most highly anticipated educational sessions.
The annual State of the Industry, with Sally
Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president and practice
leader, IRI, was presented virtually to a recordbreaking webinar audience. She unveiled the very
latest data from IRI on how Americans snack
during and despite COVID-19. As part of SNAC's
commitment to the WinS (Women in Snacks)
initiative, Elizabeth Avery, SNAC president and chief
executive officer, sat down for a virtual conversation
with Ellen Taaffe, assistant professor and director,
Women's Leadership Programs, Kellogg School
at Northwestern University. Ms. Taaffe, a former
Fortune 50 executive, discussed valuing action
over perfection, finding balance as a working
mom, overcoming implicit bias, the importance of

SNAC WORLD 2020

mentors, and understanding social conditioning.
Both virtual events are available on-demand for
members to view on the SNAC website.

LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT: "UNPACKED AND ONLINE"
SNAC's annual Legislative Summit moved online
to host virtual meetings with members of Congress
and SNAC standing committees convening
throughout June. The snack industry's voice
was still heard, but in a new way, on key issues
including payroll tax relief for frontline workers and
liability protection for employers during COVID-19.
The virtual meetings provided an easy avenue for
members and legislators to converse on a personal
level, creating a different sense of connectivity.
For example, the keynote address was offered by
Senator John Cornyn of Texas live via Zoom from the
senator's home. Sen. Cornyn shared his views on
the outlook for additional COVID-19 relief legislation,
including support for limited liability protection, as
well as his important work to establish a bipartisan
National Commission on Criminal Justice. To
round out the month of engagement, senior SNAC
executives were invited to a virtual roundtable with
Boston Consulting Group on Changing Consumer
Sentiment During COVID-19.

NEW EDUCATION FOR SNACK MARKETERS
For the first time, SNAC partnered with
Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management to
hold the Elevating Marketing Excellence in Changing
Times virtual program, an event spanning three
mornings July 29-31. Kellogg professors drilled deep
into the topic of disruption and how to build strategic
understanding and deliver marketing excellence
when faced with category, channel and environment
disruptors. Kellogg faculty also discussed digital
marketing transformation and how to rewire
conventional marketing into agile initiatives. The
program featured 45 SNAC members.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

SNAC World - Official State of the Industry 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SNAC World - Official State of the Industry 2020