NACS Serves Up a Record-setting Show
October 29, 2013
National Association of Convenience Stores Association’s 2013 NACS Show set a new record with 396,000 net square feet, up 4 percent compared with 2012.
The annual event took place Oct. 12-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta and attracted 1,160 exhibitors, including 195 first-timers, and about 22,000 attendees from 65 countries.
“The growth of the NACS Show is impressive, and it’s also a clear indicator that the supplier community is serious about partnering with convenience store operators to leverage business connections and solidify their position within this dynamic and highly innovative retail channel of trade,” said NACS Supplier Board Chairman Bob Sears, director, trade & state relations, training & compliance at Altria Group Distribution Co.
The 2012 NACS Show ranked the 48th on the TSNN’s 2012 Top 250 U.S. Trade Shows.
This year, for the first time, exhibitors could secure booth space online via NACSshow.com. The space was sold out by early June 2013, with more than 230 companies on the waiting list.
New this year to the NACS Show were three evening networking events. Replacing the traditional Welcome Reception, approximately 2,000 Show attendees joined their peers at the NACS Show Kick-Off Party at Atlanta’s Restaurant Row.
On Sunday and Monday, two evening events took place immediately following NACS Show expo hours and attracted more than 2,000 attendees each: the NACS Show Tailgate Party and Convenience in Motion - 2014 NACS Show Launch Party.
Earlier this year NACS, partnered with GenieConnect to offer a new NACS Events mobile app and the MyShow Planner online tool for attendees to pre-schedule the events and sessions and map out the exhibitors they wanted to visit at the NACS Show. Usage for the NACS Events app increased 32 percent, compared with the previous 2012 NACS Show mobile app, reaching nearly 11,800 downloads.
Also new this year, retailers attending the NACS Show received the first-ever NACS Show Product Bag, which was full of product samples and literature from more than 30 exhibiting companies. By the end of the Show, NACS staff handed out 3,000 bags.
“The record-setting expo, combined with our motivational and inspiring keynote speakers, leading content experts in the educational sessions and our new networking events, prove to me that each year the NACS Show is an indispensable event that I cannot afford to miss,” said NACS Vice Chairman of Convention Jack Kofdarali, president of J & T Management Company Inc.
At the conclusion of the NACS Show, a total of 47 tons (93,438 pounds) of leftover product from exhibitors was donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, which delivers food and groceries to Food pantries, community kitchens, childcare centers, night shelters and senior centers in 29 metro Atlanta and north Georgia counties.
The 2014 NACS Show will take place Oct. 7-10 in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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