Western Grocer Serving the industry since 1916
GIC 2015 included many new innovative features. What were some of these features and how do you feel they resonated with exhibitors and attendees?
The new location was a hit with retailers and exhibitors. We also received positive feedback regarding the establishment of ‘pavilions’ which allowed us to group like categories together. The insights and innovations stage provided information that retailers felt they could use in their stores.
Part of the change from previous years was the re-location to the Toronto Congress Centre…do you feel this was a positive move and will it be part of future plans?
We have renewed for next year already and are working on 2017 and 2018.
In terms of the conference, what do you feel were the principal take-aways for your members?
John Herdman started day one off by asking the audience if they ‘were good’ at what they did. Johns’ positive message resonated with the crowd. The ‘Frank Conversation’ panel discussion, which was moderated by Ken Schley and included Frank Lovsin and Frank Coleman shared many years of grocery experience with the attendees, you can’t buy that type of insight. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois shared with us recent research regarding the state of the Canadian grocery business, which by all indicators appears to be healthy and growing. Mohit Grover closed the conference with an overview of how technology is and will impact the grocery channel. And as always Harold Lloyd captivated the audience with his common sense approach to grocery retail.
Numerous presenters at the conference indicated that independents will be well positioned moving forward in today’s competitive environment….why do you think that is?
The data certainly supports this belief. Retailers, especially independents, who take time to understand their customers’ needs are and delivering on those needs will continue to have a place in the Canadian grocery channel, those retailers who lose sight of that do so at their own peril.
