PRODUCTIVE FORCE

HOUSTON -- Close to 2,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors roamed deep into the heart of Texas for this year's 2001 Productivity Convention & Exposition (Oct. 21 to 24) at the George R. Brown Convention Center here. Dennis Madsen, vice president of education and operations for Food Distributors International, Falls Church, Va., said that while attendance was less than last year, show organizers were still pleased with the turnout in light of the tragic events of Sept. 11. FDI was one of the main sponsors along with FMI and NGA. This year's show featured a number of interesting aspects, including a call for a renewed emphasis on retail and wholesale distributors to pay closer attention to logistics.