ALL CANDY MARKETPLACE Manufacturer Benefits

Manufacturer Participation Levels:

A) The Sweet Club
Pre-scheduled, 20-minute or 40-minute private strategic and seasonal planning meetings will occur over a 2.5-day period (Tuesday–Thursday).
Private meetings focus on seasonal merchandising and collaborative strategic planning, utilizing technologies that allow instant communication between all parties.
Everyone who participates in these sessions will benefit.

ALL CANDY MARKETPLACE Participation

Top management represents manufacturers. Retailer participants are invited to send up to four people at no cost and encouraged to send category managers, buyers and merchandising department heads. NCA broker members are invited as local representation for merchandising planning. Manufacturers are not limited as to the number of company personnel they may bring.

Research and Education

NCA will offer exclusive research, presenting a “blueprint” for seasonal candy growth and category optimization. This will be implemented through collaboration among the manufacturers and retailers to focus on delighting the consumer. NCA is conducting groundbreaking research for participating industry members.
NCA also will offer detailed industry analysis with past and projected future performance, based on retail and manufacturer statistics.

Technology

NCA’s web-based item database management allows for pre-marketplace planning, scanning technology on-site and post marketplace followup. There also will be note taking and product scanning capabilities, enabling retailers to access item information and personal notes, based upon the products in which they have expressed interest. NCA staff will provide follow-up notes to the retailers either on-site or immediately following the event, depending on buyers’ needs.

Networking

The ALL CANDY MARKETPLACE offers multiple networking opportunities, in addition to the private meetings. The all-inclusive event features all evening functions, breakfasts and lunches.
On Wednesday evening, NCA will arrange a dine-around in which attendees will be able to choose the restaurant of their choice and be seated with other MARKETPLACE attendees. The price of the dine-around is included in your registration.

Quality Business Partners

In today’s business environment, it is essential that retailers and manufacturers choose their business partners well. The ALL CANDY MARKETPLACE offers a forum between leading retailers and manufacturers to strategically plan business-building ideas for seasonal merchandising and annual events.