NFFA PLANS RETAIL EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE

BARBARA MURRAY

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The National Frozen Food Association here will hold its 8th annual Retail Executive Conference April 17-19 at the Hilton DFW Lakes Conference Center, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

The conference provides a forum to discuss the rapid changes affecting the frozen food department, and how to balance these changes to maximize consumer interest, sales, profits and department image. "It requires cooperation from all levels -- retailer, wholesaler, broker, distributor and manufacturer -- to explore opportunities that exist in promoting frozen foods on a year-round basis," according to a statement from the NFFA.

The tentative agenda has George Chirtea, an industry consultant who was formerly with Supervalu, speaking on Supermarketing in the New Millennium, and Dave Shanker, senior vice president, retail client services for Information Resources, Inc., Chicago, giving a state-of-the-industry address touching on where the category is with respect to e-retailing.

Ken Harris, a partner in Cannondale Associates, Wilton, Conn., is slated to talk about consumer loyalty programs and what they really mean.

Eric Norquist, president of Norquist Retail Consulting, is scheduled to speak on space allocation in the frozens department. On April 19, Dan Raftery, president of Prime Consulting, will discuss redefining meal solutions. Later that morning, Raftery will moderate a panel discussion on promoting and merchandising frozen food.

Also during the conference, the NFFA will release its study on ice cream profitability, according to Skip Shaw, executive director of the NFFA.