More than 350 Express managers and other Exchange leaders from around the world are gathering in Orlando, Fla., this week to trade ideas and learn about selling techniques and product innovations that they hope will drive even more on-the-go shoppers to their stores.
At their annual conference, managers are enjoying opportunities to see what’s ahead for their Expresses, especially for BE FIT items and quick-serve meals that will pack their shelves in 2018.
“We are by far on the cutting edge of better-for-you options for the grab-and-go customer,” said Eric Sideman, vice president of convenience channel merchandising. “One of our biggest strategies is expanding BE FIT products and continuing our ongoing efforts to grow Expresses with new merchandise to meet the needs of a growing number of constantly on-the-go Soldiers and Airmen. Our shoppers will see products from new vendors and more of what attracts the typical customer to a convenience store.
“Although most Soldiers and Airmen live off base, they probably spend 40 or more hours on the installations, so our Expresses will take on an even greater significance in the Exchange’s overall performance.”
37 percent of Exchange business
Express stores account for $2.1 billion in sales, including gas—37 percent of the Exchange’s overall retail business.
In 2018, the Exchange’s Convenience Channel team will increase its Express marketing efforts and work through social media to publicize product-sampling events to drum up customer excitement.
About 110 vendors are presenting at the conference, including AQUAHydrate, Del Monte, Hunt Brothers Pizza, J. Walken Chicken, Nestle Waters and new vendors Field Trip Meat Snacks, Fresh Bakery Network and Halo Top, an ice-cream company.
At the conference, managers will present the Exchange’s suppliers of the year awards to these vendors for increasing sales and meeting the needs of Soldiers, Airmen and their families:
- Home Market Foods
- Nestle North America
- Oberto
- Pabst Brewing Co.
Helping hurricane victims
Nestle Waters, for example, partnered with the Exchange to deliver 600,000 gallons of water to shoppers in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico affected by last fall’s devastating hurricanes.
Catch up with news from the conference all week on internal social media: @exchangeassoc on Twitter and @exchangeassoc on Instagram.
On the conference’s last day, retired NFL linebacker David Vobora, owner of Performance Vault and founder of the non-profit Adaptive Training Foundation, will present a motivational talk about working with Wounded Warriors and adaptive athletes at his Dallas gym and how his mission relates to the Exchange core value, “Family Serving Family. Marine Blake Watson, a Wounded Warrior who works out at Vobora’s gym, will join him to share his testimonial.
“I’m truly excited about what 2018 holds for the Expresses,” Sidman said. “The merchant team has assembled top-notch assortments and programs, and we have a terrific team of associates in our Expresses who go above and beyond to meet the needs of Soldiers, Airmen and their families.”
Check out pictures from the Express seminar in Flickr! Keep coming back because more photos will be added throughout the week.
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