Food Forum: Total(ly) Expo(sed)

The NACDS Total Store Expo offers grocery items and drug store products under one roof. By Randy Edeker Whether you are a supermarket retailer or a supplier, it is probably safe to say that one of your goals for 2015 is increasing sales. With the first quarter of the year already under our belts, are you still wondering how you can accomplish this? Now is the perfect time for grocery stores to look at how their pharmacy can work harder to provide shoppers what they are looking for—grocery items and drug store products under one roof. It is also a great time for suppliers to think about how to get in front of supermarket and drug store executives at companies where they would like to sell their products. How can supermarket retailers and suppliers do this together in one place? The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Total Store Expo is just a few months away, Aug. 22-25 in Denver, and provides exactly that—a forum for grocery stores and suppliers to build and enhance relationships and learn about what is new and exciting in the industry. Total Store Expo blends tradeshow and senior-level conference formats into a powerful appointment-based show to enable strategic and tactical collaboration across functions within retailers and suppliers. From Meet the Market and Meet the Retailer events to the Product Showcase—to name just a few of the benefits—this is your opportunity to make connections within the grocery store and drug store industry, and with suppliers to help grow your brand. For grocery retailers, more of your time is devoted to health and wellness products in your stores. This is a growing and profitable segment of your business. The Total Store Expo will give you all the tools to be successful in this competitive environment. For suppliers, the NACDS Total Store Expo allows you to maximize selling opportunities to retailers while getting the most out of your trade show investment. Included in your booth fee is the highly acclaimed “Meet the Market,” a value-added program open to exhibitors with new products and services. This opportunity guarantees appointments with key retail buyers in your category through a series of 10-minute pre-set meetings on the day prior to the opening of the exhibit hall. Suppliers can also showcase a new product in the Product Showcase, which is prominently displayed in showcases on the NACDS Total Store Expo exhibit hall floor. Product Showcase exhibitors will also have their products featured on the website. “Meet the Retailer” is a great opportunity for all exhibitors to kick-off the conference and to learn about business development and sales opportunities across the total store from leading retail and health executives. This program features presentations by key executives about their total store. It includes an overview of the company, how they use the NACDS Total Show Expo to conduct business and topics they expect to discuss with suppliers. The NACDS Total Store Expo is a one of a kind opportunity for retailers and their suppliers to gather to create a new dialogue that will drive not only the top line, but also operational efficiencies. If you are looking to make new connections, add the Total Store Expo to your calendar and register now. This is your chance to join your retail peers from 350 companies at the Expo to make important connections and learn about what is going on and coming up in the industry. Randy Edeker is president and CEO of Hy-Vee and Chairman of the Board for NACDS. For more information and to register for the NACDS Total Store Expo, visit tse.nacds.org.