SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The year's first Food Marketing Institute/Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing joint event, Summer Seasonal Snack, Beverage & Grocery Efficient Program Planning session, will be held here at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort Jan. 24-27. Manager, buyer and supplier attendees will be introduced to new snack, beverage, ice cream and grocery products as well as marketing strategies through learning sessions and one-on-one meetings that pair retailers with manufacturers. The general session, “The World According to Shoppers,” will feature consumer insights and opportunities for growth from Patrick Walsh, senior director for industry relations, FMI. Another session, “Strategic Collaboration: Achieving a Competitive Advantage,” will focus on how retailer-led collaboration creates value for both trading partners. FMI and ECRM partnered in July to enhance both organizations' category-specific events and to bring increased efficiency to the consumer packaged goods sales and marketing process. During these events, ECRM's online software will be used to facilitate buyer-seller preparation, on-site productivity and post-meeting follow-up.
