FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GMA Head Stresses Focus on New Collaboration Model between
Retailers and Manufacturers
Contact:
Scott Openshaw, Director, Communications, 202-295-3957
Brian Kennedy, Director, Communications, 202-639-5994
September, 22 2008
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) Interim President and CEO C. Manly Molpus today announced a renewed emphasis on customer and channel collaboration before an industry audience at the co-located Merchandising, Sales and Marketing Conference and the Joint Industry Unsaleables Management Conference.
“The time is right for a new model of collaboration,” said Molpus. “GMA is committed to working with the Food Marketing Institute to undertake a full scale evaluation of all industry affairs initiatives, committees and conferences to find synergies and new and better ways of working together. This effort is currently underway.”
In his comments, Molpus also provided an overview of other GMA priorities, including an announcement that the organization will be infusing additional resources into its food before fuel initiative. Molpus also discussed prospects for the bipartisan FDA Food Safety Modernization Act pending before Congress as well as the success of industry self-regulation on advertising directed towards children. Changes to the association’s annual Executive Conference were also discussed.
“Everything is moving full speed ahead at GMA,” continued Molpus. “Trade associations are always busy places, but the challenging economic conditions of late make GMA’s role within the industry more important than ever.”
As examples of the association’s leadership, Molpus also highlighted recently released GMA research, including three highly anticipated industry reports being released at the conferences in the next two days: Delivering the Promise of Shopper Marketing: Mastering Execution for Competitive Advantage; the 2008 Customer and Channel Management Survey- Doing More with Less: Winning Sales Strategies to Navigate a Challenging Market; and the 2008 Joint Industry Unsaleables Management Study: The Real Causes and Actionable Solutions.
“This research showcases GMA’s thought leadership on critical industry issues that is helping to drive change where it is needed,” Molpus concluded.
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Based in Washington, D.C., the Grocery Manufacturers Association is the voice of more than 300 leading food, beverage and consumer product companies that sustain and enhance the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people in the United States and around the globe. Founded in 1908, GMA is an active, vocal advocate for its member companies and a trusted source of information about the industry and the products consumers rely on and enjoy every day. The association and its member companies are committed to meeting the needs of consumers through product innovation, responsible business practices and effective public policy solutions developed through a genuine partnership with policymakers and other stakeholders. In keeping with its founding principles, GMA helps its members produce safe products through a strong and ongoing commitment to scientific research, testing and evaluation and to providing consumers with the products, tools and information they need to achieve a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. The food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry in the United States generates sales of $2.1 trillion annually, employs 14 million workers and contributes $1 trillion in added value to the economy every year.
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