BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Co-sponsors of the Friends of the Industry Dinner held annually at the Food Marketing Institute's Midwinter Executive Conference have presented more than $100,000 of educational scholarship funds to FMI member companies and trade associations since the event was launched four years ago, according to Bill Kies, co-founder, who is principal of Kies Consulting, based in Chicago.
the dinner. Distribution companies receiving scholarships included Alex Lee, Brookshire, Dairy Farm Group, Dorothy Lane Market, Food Lion, Hy-Vee, Hannaford Bros., Harris Teeter, IGA, International Spar, Jax Markets, Kroger, Lund Food Holdings, Marsh Supermarkets, Martin's Supermarkets, Nexpansion, Niemann Foods, Price Chopper, Publix Supermarkets, Roundy's, Schnuck Markets, Scolari's Food & Drug, Weis Markets and Winn-Dixie.
Associations receiving funds included FMI, Grocery Manufacturers of America, American Frozen Food Institute, General Merchandise Distributors Council, International Foodservice Distributors Association, International Dairy Foods Association, Network of Executive Women and Western Association of Food Chains.
Primary co-sponsors of the event and scholarships, whose executives were in attendance, included Hallmark, The Gillette Co., Nestle, ACNielsen, Time, ConAgra Foods Retail Products, Accenture, Nestle Purina PetCare Co., Dean Foods and Kies Consulting. Other companies contributing as clients of Kies Consulting were Mass Connections, Park City Group, Wenner Bread Products, Percipient, NCH Marketing Services, Syncra Systems, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., ECOLAB/Kay Chemical Co., Barilla America, Retail Marketing Professionals and Engage.