Atlantic Coast Exposition Opens Oct 8 In Myrtle Beach Oktoberfest Themes 61st Annual Vending Show

MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- Education, networking and revelry are on tap for the Oktoberfest-themed 61st annual Atlantic Coast Exposition. The Southeast's largest vending industry trade show will be held from Oct. 8 to 10 at the Embassy Suites Kingston Plantation here.

The annual convention, which features a product exhibition, is sponsored by the North Carolina Vending Association, South Carolina Vending Association and Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association.

Showgoers can register for two optional half-day educational sessions, each for an additional $50 registration fee.

The first one, titled "People, Process, Products and Profit," will explore the latest trends in micromarkets. It will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and will be led by a panel of micromarket experts. Micromarket leaders 365 Retail Services, Avanti Markets, Breakroom Provisions and Three Square Markets are sponsoring this session.

On Friday morning, Oct. 9, Raleigh, NC-based motivational speaker Denise Ryan of Fire Star Speaking will present the second value-added seminar. Titled "Taking Care of Business: Delivering Excellent Customer Service," it's part of ACE's training program scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ACE's formal educational program, which is open to all registrants, also begins on Friday at 9 a.m. with a panel discussion on "Getting Started, Industry Changes & Trends" in office coffee service. Loss-prevention expert Mark Manney will follow, sharing his insights on "The Culture of Controls: Training, Technologies, Tools and Tactics Today, Tomorrow & Beyond." Warehouse automation expert Randy Smith of Lightspeed Automation will lead a panel discussion titled "SKU -- It's a Whole New World," which will conclude the program at 1:30 p.m.

A festive Oktoberfest-themed party will round out Friday's events, featuring entertainment, music and games.

ACE will present its annual industry awards at a breakfast ceremony on Saturday morning, Oct. 10. Keynoting the event will be Chad Henderson, head brew master at Charlotte, NC-based NoDa Brewing, who will present "TEDtoberfest: Crafting Your Dreams -- A TED-style Talk from a Craft Brewer."

A Saturday evening poolside party and corn hole tournament will wrap up the convention.

The ACE exhibit will be open on Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exhibitors will showcase the latest products, equipment and services to keep vending, office coffee service, micromarkets and foodservice operators on the cutting edge.

To register for the Atlantic Coast Exposition, operators and exhibitors can find forms at the show's website. Other helpful links include:
ACE's schedule of events
A description of the ACE education sessions
ACE's 2015 exhibitors listing

Last year's history-making 60th anniversary ACE saw a 34% increase in the number of participants. | SEE STORY