Indianapolis Fruit organic seminar deemed a success
Indianapolis Fruit organic seminar deemed a success
An April 24-25 seminar on merchandising and handling organic produce "was everything we hoped it would be," said Mike Mascari, owner and president of Indianapolis Fruit Co. in Indianapolis.
The seminar attracted 240 people, many from a large section of the middle of the United States, and was deemed "a large success" by Mr. Mascari.
He noted that "not listed in any particular order of importance, we had produce directors and produce managers and a few store directors and a few owners and people from the shipping community, a governmental agency and the produce press."
The produce distributor hosted an invitation-only seminar titled "Winning at Retail: Developing Organics as a Strategic Point of Difference."
Mr. Mascari said that one of the conference speakers, Harold Lloyd, "was someone who really helped not only because of his experience in organics but with his knowledge of retail."
Mr. Lloyd, who is based in Virginia Beach, VA, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania business school and the University of Chicago. He was president of a family retail company prior to beginning a consulting firm geared toward the retail business 19 years ago.
Mr. Mascari said that Indianapolis Fruit sponsored the conference because "we believe in education and we are committed to it. I'm not only talking about education and training for our associates, but working with customers to do whatever we can in changing the environment to keep them on the cutting edge."
Shane Towne, marketing and new business development coordinator for Indianapolis Fruit, who organized the seminar, said, "We received 10 or 12 responses the next day with the sentiment that as a whole, the presentation re-established their passion for the industry. Any time you talk issues and attendees pull away one thing, it's good. Our attendees pulled away several pearls. They were reinvigorated and will take that back to the store. If they do that, the seminar was a success."
Mr. Mascari said, "Our plan is to do this again next year."
Among the lessons he learned is not to schedule the next session so close to the FMI/United show, so as to reduce conflicts for those invited. It will probably be held late next winter.
In closing, Mr. Mascari said, "We are only as good as our customers. If we help make them better, it will benefit all of us."
The seminar attracted 240 people, many from a large section of the middle of the United States, and was deemed "a large success" by Mr. Mascari.
He noted that "not listed in any particular order of importance, we had produce directors and produce managers and a few store directors and a few owners and people from the shipping community, a governmental agency and the produce press."
The produce distributor hosted an invitation-only seminar titled "Winning at Retail: Developing Organics as a Strategic Point of Difference."
Mr. Mascari said that one of the conference speakers, Harold Lloyd, "was someone who really helped not only because of his experience in organics but with his knowledge of retail."
Mr. Lloyd, who is based in Virginia Beach, VA, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania business school and the University of Chicago. He was president of a family retail company prior to beginning a consulting firm geared toward the retail business 19 years ago.
Mr. Mascari said that Indianapolis Fruit sponsored the conference because "we believe in education and we are committed to it. I'm not only talking about education and training for our associates, but working with customers to do whatever we can in changing the environment to keep them on the cutting edge."
Shane Towne, marketing and new business development coordinator for Indianapolis Fruit, who organized the seminar, said, "We received 10 or 12 responses the next day with the sentiment that as a whole, the presentation re-established their passion for the industry. Any time you talk issues and attendees pull away one thing, it's good. Our attendees pulled away several pearls. They were reinvigorated and will take that back to the store. If they do that, the seminar was a success."
Mr. Mascari said, "Our plan is to do this again next year."
Among the lessons he learned is not to schedule the next session so close to the FMI/United show, so as to reduce conflicts for those invited. It will probably be held late next winter.
In closing, Mr. Mascari said, "We are only as good as our customers. If we help make them better, it will benefit all of us."
