NAMA Plans Early Bird Triple Play Research Seminar For OneShow

CHICAGO -- The National Automatic Merchandising Association has announced that the educational program at its upcoming OneShow annual convention and exhibit will feature a first look at the latest research findings of three brand-new studies.

The information and analysis will be explored at a new half-day early bird session, the Industry Research Triple Play, set for 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21. The program has been underwritten by the NAMA Foundation, so separate registration is not required for OneShow badgeholders.

Slated for release at the event are the new "NAMA 2014 Census of the Refreshment Services Industry," based on data provided by Technomic (Chicago); an update to the ongoing micromarket consumer and transactional research conducted by Bachtelle & Associates (Tustin, CA); and "Defining the Refreshment Services Experience of the Future," with data from Heart+Mind Strategies (Reston, VA).

NAMA's 2014 overview will include operator benchmarking data, such as sales per route averages and the impact of adopting nutritional standards; vending, coffee service and micromarket sales compared with the foodservice industry as a whole; total food and beverage sales; and operator and vending machine statistics.

Bachtelle & Associates, which has been compiling detailed micromarket operational data since the new segment coalesced in 2011, will summarize its current insights into segment influencers, product and category volumes, consumer perspectives and competitive advantages.

Heart+Mind conducted an innovative consumer research study of the growing influence of "millennials" for NAMA, and its findings will be reviewed at the Triple Play seminar. Participants will learn about current consumer workplace trends that they can leverage to revitalize the refreshment services experience, and about realistic, target-driven strategies to engage millennials in the coffee service, vending and micromarket segments.

Also scheduled for April 21 is the latest NAMA Quality Coffee Certificate Program, now in its 15th year. Designed to give industry professionals a solid grounding in the best practices, ingredients and techniques required to brew great coffee. It's led by industry veteran Mike Tompkins, Coffee Products Associates (Bloomingdale, IL), and features two interactive workshops. Coffee Fundamentals will be presented from 8 a.m. to noon; Brewing Technologies will follow, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Separate registration is required. NAMA's Women in the Industry and Emerging Leaders networks will conduct a networking reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

The 2015 NAMA OneShow opens formally on Wednesday, April 22, and runs through Friday, April 24. Information is available at namaoneshow.org.