WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) plan to host a seminar this month at the NACDS Marketplace Conference in Boston to spur collaboration between food and consumer product manufacturers and retailers in the drug store channel.
NACDS said Monday that the seminar, to be held June 26 at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, will spotlight trading partner collaboration strategies and model practices. The focus is to serve shoppers "completely and efficiently," particularly consumers in so-called "food deserts," or areas that lack grocery stores, according to NACDS.
Todd Hale, senior vice president of consumer and shopper insights for The Nielsen Co., will offer keynote remarks about how food products are performing in the drug store and dollar store channels.
Hale will be followed by two in-depth panel discussions. One panel will focus on the products, services and other tools trading partners are offering to help consumers lead healthier lifestyles, while the other panel will examine trading partner collaboration opportunities to help shoppers as they look to drug stores and other small-format stores for food purchases.
Seminar participants include representatives of General Mills Inc., The Hershey Co., Kraft Foods, Navarro Discount Pharmacies, Rite Aid Corp. and Unilever.
"NACDS is pleased to partner with GMA on this food marketing program," NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. "The NACDS Marketplace Conference is an appropriate venue for this seminar as we strive to provide retailers and suppliers with opportunities to grow their businesses and maximize their conference experience."
The seminar reflects the growing crossover of pharmacy and grocery as consumers seek more convenient ways to shop as well as address their health and wellness needs.
For example, Rite Aid and Supervalu Inc.’s Save-A-Lot supermarket chain are piloting co-branded stores in South Carolina that offer a full-service pharmacy and limited-assortment discount grocery department under one roof. Walgreen Co. and CVS Caremark Corp., meanwhile, have rolled out formats with bigger grocery selections and an assortment of grab-and-go foods. Also, leading supermarket chains have ramped up their pharmacy and health care services as well as launched in-store nutrition programs that tie together their grocery and drug departments more closely.
"GMA and NACDS members share a common goal of helping consumers lead better lives by delivering high-value products and services in a convenient way," commented GMA president and CEO Pamela Bailey. "Bringing them together in this forum will go a long way toward meeting this goal and speaks to the priority GMA places on facilitating multichannel trading partner collaboration initiatives on behalf of its members."
