CHICAGO, Feb. 20, 2008 – Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), the leading global provider of consumer, shopper and market insights for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) retail, and healthcare industries, today announced a landmark addition to its Reinventing CPG and Retail Summit 2008 conference in Orlando, Florida, March 3 - 5. Featuring unfiltered industry insights of key convenience industry luminaries from 7-Eleven, BP AM/PM, Anheuser-Busch, Coors Brewing Company, and CSP Magazine, the IRI Convenience Retailing Forum – The Future of Convenient Shopping will offer the unique opportunity to discuss the facts and discover the truth about the evolving and innovative world of convenience retailing.
The Convenience Retailing Forum will occur on Wednesday, March 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All attendees of the forum will be invited to join IRI executives at a reception and dinner following the event.
Attendees at this select IRI event will have the exclusive opportunity to learn first-hand how the new “convenient shopping” experience is transforming the universe of CPG manufacturing and retailing—from product innovation and category management to store formats and merchandising strategies. The forum will also provide participants with the information and insights to set in motion their own preparations for creating next generation convenience retailing within their organizations.
“This is a moment of unparalleled change in c-store retailing,” said President of IRI Consulting and Innovation Thom Blischok. “We know through our breakthrough AllScan Convenience Store Tracking™ research platform that consumer demand is altering the definition of convenience, leading retailers and manufacturers to transform the shopping experience. Those caught guessing or groping for targeted research and shopper intelligence will be left behind. This forum is designed and dedicated to prevent that from happening.”
The forum panelists and participants will include:
- Joe Patti – Vice President, Category Management, Anheuser-Busch
- Kevin Elliott – Senior Vice President, Merchandising, 7-Eleven
- Bob Gulley – Senior Category Manager, BP AM/PM
- Paul Reuter – President/Chief Editor, CSP Magazine
- Kevin Coupe – Founder/Editor, MorningNewsBeat.com
- Joseph Vonder Haar – Vice President, Convenience Retailing, Anheuser-Busch
- Gregg DeBoever – Director, Category Management, Coors Brewing Company
- Thom Blischok – President, Consulting and Innovation, IRI
- Bump Williams – Executive Vice President, General Manager, Global Consulting, IRIIRI Summit 2008 is the one-of-its-kind annual gathering place of CPG experts, thought-leaders, media, and retailing and manufacturing innovators. The three-day symposium offers insider views and industry intelligence on the changing consumer trends, leading-edge research and dynamic market analysis that are redefining the CPG landscape.
For more information about the IRI Convenience Retail Forum, please visit: http://www.cpgsummit.com/Breakouts/ConvenienceForumOverview/tabid/78/Default.aspx
About Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is the world’s leading global provider of consumer, shopper, and retail market intelligence and insights, empowering consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail and healthcare companies to grow their business profitably in a complex marketplace. Driving breakthrough growth in the industries it serves. The company’s portfolio of services, solutions, and technology enable leading retailers and their suppliers around the globe to see what they are missing, act faster with greater confidence and win at the shelf. Ninety-five percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 in CPG and retail leverage IRI to power their business. For more information, visit: www.infores.com
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IRI CONTACTS:
John McIndoe
E-mail: john.mcindoe@infores.com
Phone: (312) 474-3862
Fax: (312) 474-2512
Shelley Hughes
E-mail: shelley.hughes@infores.com
Phone: (312) 474-3675
Fax: (312) 474-2512