Editorial

Despite the difficult national economy, with unemployment continuing to hover near the 10 percent mark, a large number of convenience distributors produced stronger sales in 2010 over the year before and many are expressing cautious optimism for 2011. Nevertheless, many distributors worry about external events, such as whether the economy will continue to improve, what will happen with taxes and government regulations, and nagging industry problems like the impact of declining cigarette volumes and continued under-pricing of products by competitors.

ATC Group
AWMA Show Booth #1121
ATC Group offers a full line of refrigerated merchandisers which are ideal for the display of fresh foods and beverages in retail outlets. Our comprehensive product line includes Open Air, Counter Top, and Glass Door Upright Coolers. We also provide support with nationwide installation, service, and customization.

The following is a conversation with Timothy Powell, director, research & consulting, Technomic Inc. You can hear more from him during an education session titled “The Role Distributors Must Play in Delivering C-Store Foodservice Success” during the AWMA Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 8:15 a.m.

AWMA’s foodservice initiative will help distributors to develop or improve their offerings.

As the deadline for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report on whether or not to ban menthol cigarettes nears, AWMA sent a strong letter to the agency’s Center for Tobacco Products expressing our “serious concern” over any such ban. While the new tobacco law passed by Congress bans flavored cigarettes, the issue of whether or not to regulate menthol as a flavor was expressly omitted from the legislation. Instead, Congress called for a study of the issue and a report to be issued by the FDA in March.