Continued from previous page have traditionally thought about being a convenience store, but the end consumer. Consumer behavior is changing at hyper-speed, driven by the Millennial’s desire for healthier options and accelerated by Gen Z’s desire to have variety, uniqueness, health and ease of acquisition. In short, they want it all and they want it now! How does that affect us as wholesalers? These are the challenges of our retail customers. Looking through the lens of today’s consumer might give you a glimpse into crafting a future vision. We have to leverage technology to become more efficient and drive cost out of the supply chain. Our focus on delivering the perfect order, on time and without damage or error has to improve. We must have smarter ordering technologies, enhanced driver handhelds and improve our ability to exchange meaningful data with our customers. But if we are being honest with ourselves isn’t this what we have been doing for decades. We know the future holds uncertainty, but one thing is clear...our consumer wants products faster, fresher and more frequently than what we offer today. They want frictionless retail interactions that make them feel valued. They are not creatures of habit and will change product loyalty on a whim, and are constantly leveraging their phone (a virtual extension of their body) as an important factor in their decision-making process. The convenience wholesaler of the future will have to play an integral role in helping their retail convenience stores be progressive in meeting consumer demands. We have to provide more dynamic product selections, alternative distribution options via a dynamic supply chain that is constantly predicting where the consumer is going. This decade will be one for the ages and I look forward to watching the members of The Southern lead our industry.
Scott McPherson SAWD President
NOTICE
WELCOME TO THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING! As we all adjust to the “new normal,” your safety is our number one priority. We are committed to your health and well-being while hosting the world-class event you have known for years. The Southern is taking every possible step to ensure the Annual Meeting follows all the recommended guidelines, including social distancing, as it pertains to events in the wake of COVID-19. The Sheraton Panama Beach Golf and Spa Resort, a Marriott property, has adopted new protocols to ensure guests have safe, clean and healthy hotel stays. Marriott has developed a task force, dubbed the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council, that includes infectious disease experts, public health and food safety scientists, in addition to representatives from its housekeeping, occupational health and associate well-being divisions. At the time of this writing, some of the safety initiatives implemented by the council include electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitize surfaces, testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing keys for guests and an enhanced food safety program. We know “business as usual” has a new definition today, but The Southern staff and its partners are committed to your safety.
