The Federated Foods 2012 Summer Buying Show held July 22-24 at The Drake Hotel in Chicago drew more than 325 participants.
Pam Boynton, chief strategy officer, Federated Group, told The Shelby Report that “This show means business!”
“That’s what this show is all about,” she said. “The intention was to bring new value and new information to our participants, along with all the business meetings.
General sessions and one-on-one appointments brought together Federated’s customers and suppliers, and included a supplier showcase where exhibitors could showcase new products and programs.
“We believe that the participants feel there’s real added value because the show allows for customers and suppliers to get together in one place” Boynton said. “So we provide this opportunity for them twice a year.”
She said Federated has developed services and expertise not only as a private brand manager but as a brand owner, too.
In addition to a complete category sourcing and supplier management department, Federated has a complete quality assurance (QA) offering, Boynton said. The company has a lab and technicians that offer not only product review services and labeling support for its brands, but also specific services as required by customers and suppliers.
“We have developed a product lifecycle management system that supports the development of private brands from the very beginning of the ideation all the way through to getting that package on the shelf, so it manages the entire process for us,” Boynton said. “Then we also have a complete design studio and a logistics consolidation division, all to help our customers and suppliers grow their businesses.
Federated also has a strong membership-based foodservice buying group that allows us to offer a “hybrid (foodservice and retail) service model to c-store operators,” Boynton said.
“Supermarket foodservice is another area that has been a challenge to support, but now with a complete service offering in foodservice and retail, we can provide sensible solutions across all departments.”
Boynton, who has been with Federated since January, brings significant brand management experience to the job that includes developing private brand strategies and programs with Acosta and Daymon. And before that, she spent 18 years on the CPG side, with Mrs. Smith’s as president of the retail group and director of advertising/brand manager for Tyson Foods. She also has taught advertising at the University of Arkansas.
“This is my capstone job and career move,” she said. “I’m able to apply all those years of experience—making some mistakes along the way—hoping that I can help Federated take advantage of opportunities the private brand market presents today.”
Upcoming Federated Shows include the Federated Foodservice 2012 Annual Partnership Show to be held Nov. 6-8 at The Drake Hotel in Chicago and the Federated Foods 2013 Winter Buying Show to be held January 27-29 in the Buena Vista Palace Hotel in Orlando, Fla.