Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Gold Medal Holds One Sweet Distributors’ Conference
When Gold Medal Products Co. holds its annual Distributors' Conference, it's not your typical business meeting. From December 2-4, the fun foods manufacturer packed the halls of the Sharonville Convention Center with popcorn, cotton candy, funnel cakes, Sno-Kones® and more! The atmosphere rivaled that of a carnival, but don't be mistaken—Gold Medal is one serious industry leader.
Gold Medal is known as the leading manufacturer and supplier for concession equipment and supplies. Its success is largely attributed to a loyal worldwide distributor network.
"The relationship with our dealers is the core of our business. We've hosted our annual distributors' conference for 56 years. This is our way of not only saying thank you, but also equipping attendees to grow their businesses in the year ahead," said Gold Medal President and CEO, Dan Kroeger. "It's the only event like it in the industry. And it's one heck of a party," he quips.
Every year, this exclusive three-day event is held in Cincinnati. The 2014 conference, entitled "Swinging for Success," saw over 350 in attendance, representing more than 25 countries. The setting is a full sensory experience: lighted machines line the main hall; ears are met by the sounds of popcorn popping and savory aromas fill the air. Of course, there's plenty of taste-testing various treats throughout the day.
The main attraction is to introduce what's new for the upcoming year. Among the many new items and improvements for 2015, Gold Medal is launching SunPop™ Select, popcorn that's specifically designed for the more health-conscious consumer. It is whole grain, gluten-free and non-GMO. In addition, the company will also release SunnyPop™. It was specially developed to give schools a popcorn that complies with the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutritional standards.
Attendees have their choice of business-building roundtables addressing a variety of topics from sales, marketing, engineering and business management. In addition, product demonstrations give the hands-on opportunity to experience the equipment in action. Gold Medal also treated its guests to enjoy night life by hosting a dinner at Cincinnati’s world-famous Montgomery Inn Boathouse and an evening of fun and games at Dave & Buster’s. The event concluded with the company’s annual awards banquet, with over 200 awards recognizing noteworthy sales accomplishments.
"Gold Medal is committed to making this an impressive experience that keeps our guests returning year after year," stated Kroeger. "We deliver the education, entertainment and engagement that will leave you motivated to drive sales."