The Convenience & Impulse Retailing Expo is just weeks away and is shaping up to be a blast with more than 115 exhibitors and an elite line-up of industry speakers.
C&I Expo 2022 will be held across two days on 30-31 March at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, and will focus on reconnecting, renewing, and rebuilding.
The C&I Expo is the only convenience-focused national event compressed into two days, showcasing best industry practice and cutting-edge innovation. Visitors will experience the latest in convenience products, services, and merchandising.
For the first time in years, attendees will have the opportunity to come together in a face-to-face setting, and sample the latest release products, meet directly with suppliers, learn from industry experts, and network with likeminded convenience retailers from across the country.
Safa de Valois, Group Publisher and Commercial Director, C&I, said that there is still very limited exhibitor opportunities and encouraged suppliers to reach out quickly if they’d like to secure one of the few remaining stands.
“We have built a more successful event than previously, with even more exhibitors and retailers taking advantage of the opportunity to meet each other. We are equally excited about the morning line up of leadership speakers on both days to share quality insights, ideas, and motivation.
“Our trade show has been the leading trade-only event for all banners and brands in Australia for more than 30 years. With the events of recent years, the C&I Expo is now more important than ever, as it will give retailers and suppliers a much-needed opportunity to come together in one arena after an unprecedented loss of connection.”
The C&I Industry Symposium will open the Expo and will be chaired by Theo Foukkare, CEO, Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS). We’ve got some great speakers lined up including Carolyn Creswell, Founder, Carman’s Kitchen, Kym Coventry, COO, Australian United Retailers, Skye Jackson, General Manager Merchandise, Ampol, James Gully, Group GM, TPG Telecom, Leah Barroccu, Head of Field Sales, Nestle Australia, Stephen Richards, MD, Gilbarco Veeder-Root, and Dominic Biasi, Sales Director, Retail, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
Speakers will focus their talks on staffing and how to attract, train, and retain quality staff. They will also touch on how their businesses remained resilient through the COVID-19 pandemic and will talk about the future of roadside retailing.
Darryl Cotter, General Manager, Operations at OTR will be one of the speakers at the Symposium.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting up with other national convenience retailers and sharing our experience, insights and ideas for the future of the industry. The world has changed so much in the last 18 months and our industry, more than ever, is ready to provide customers with whatever they need whenever they need it in a safe way because we are at the heart of every community,” said Cotter.
Carolyn Creswell, Founder, Carman’s will also be speaking, and is looking forward to sharing her insights with the industry.
“I am thrilled to be part of this year’s C&I Expo and Symposium. It is always fantastic to see and meet with other businesses within the industry, especially after such a challenging year,” she said.
Tiger Coffee will be exhibiting at the C&I Expo and CEO George Miller, said they will be showcasing the latest innovations in coffee equipment.
“Tiger Coffee are looking forward to face-to-face discussions at this year’s C&I Expo in Melbourne where we will be showcasing the exciting range of Eversys Cameo and Enigma coffee machines.
“The recent innovations around coffee equipment technology and design have perfectly placed Eversys machines with Tiger Coffee to reconnect-renew-rebuild with those retailers determined to not only keep but also grow their market shares around the consumer coffee habits that have changed or accelerated dramatically over the last few years,” said Miller.
Also exhibiting at this year’s Expo will be DON Smallgoods, which is using the Expo as its official launch into the convenience channel.
“We will be participating in our first C&I Expo in March this year, which will be our official launch into convenience. We are looking forward to introducing ourselves to all retailers and sharing with attendees our innovative and tasty ranges of both chilled and ambient snacking offers. We are excited to be part of this year’s event,” Dean Trovarelli, National Convenience Channel Lead, DON Smallgoods.
To avoid missing out, register for the 2022 C&I Expo now.