WASHINGTON, DC — December 22, 2005 — MARKETECHNICS® 2006 will present the latest technology solutions to many of today’s most pressing food retail industry challenges, including rising credit and debit card costs, front-end security and loss prevention, data synchronization and how to use technology to improve shopper satisfaction.
The convention will feature new technologies that are transforming the shopping experience — computer-generated “smart carts” that speed up shopping trips; interactive kiosks offering product locations, nutrition information and recipe suggestions; and biometric payment systems that allow for point-of-sale payments with just a fingerprint.
Sponsored by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the annual convention will be held January 30-February 1, in San Diego, California.
“Technology plays a critical role in all aspects of the competitive retail environment — building customer loyalty and satisfaction, improving efficiency and reducing costs,” said Bill Homa, senior vice president and CIO, Hannaford Bros. Co., and chair of the MARKETECHNICS® 2006 planning committee. “MARKETECHNICS® is the one place where retail company decision makers can see real-life applications of new technologies and discover practical and innovative solutions to generate growth and profits.”
Speakers, Educational Workshops Stress Innovation, Competition, Efficiency
Frank W. Abagnale, the subject of the Steven Spielberg movie Catch Me If You Can and one of the world’s most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents, will headline the program. Abagnale will discuss how technology can enable and combat many of today’s fast-growing financial crimes. Abagnale will offer advice on simple steps companies can take to reduce their risk.
Featured speakers include Dr. Kjell Nordstrom, co-author of Karaoke Capitalism and one of the world’s top management thinkers, who will discuss how to unite technology and business goals with the customer experience, and Marianne Jennings, professor of legal and ethical studies at Arizona State University’s School of Business, who will speak on ethical pitfalls in the fast-moving technological world.
More than two dozen educational workshops will cover topics such as mobile technology, radio frequency identification (RFID), security, electronic payments and merchandising. Sessions will be led by noted industry experts and presented in multiple formats, including general sessions, workshops and panels.
Exhibits Showcase Broad Variety of Technology Solutions
Nearly 200 companies — including 35 first-time exhibitors — representing the most comprehensive set of technology and service solutions for the retail and wholesale industries will be represented at the show. Product categories include:
- Branding
- Business-to-Business Commerce
- Electronic Coupons
- Electronic Payment Systems
- Fuel Technology
- Radio Frequency Identification/Electronic Product Code
- Security
- Self-Scanning Systems
- Wireless Communication
Technology Tours
Tours of the exhibit floor will be led by Tom Nowak, recently retired senior vice president, information systems, and CIO of The Golub Corporation, and Tom Murphy, president of Peak Tech Consulting and a former executive of The Kroger Co. They will guide attendees through dozens of exhibits, identifying hot new technology trends that could revolutionize food retail operations and consumer purchasing behaviors. A second set of targeted tours will be offered as well. Murphy will focus on supply chain technologies and Nowak will target point-of-sale and payment systems. Question and answer sessions will follow both sets of tours. A brief orientation is scheduled in the ballroom immediately following the opening session Monday, January 30 for everyone interested in any of the tours.
Co-Location With Loss Prevention and Retail Electronic Payment Systems Conferences
Two FMI events, the Loss Prevention Conference and the 2006 Retail Electronic Payment Systems Conference, will co-locate with MARKETECHNICS® 2006.
The Loss Prevention Conference will be held January 29 – February 1 at the Doubletree Hotel San Diego Mission Valley and will examine issues such as organized retail theft, data mining, identity theft, food chain defense and workplace violence.
The 2006 Retail Electronic Payment Systems Conference will be held January 31 – February 2 at the Omni San Diego Hotel. Key topics include interchange fees, payments trends, card security and fraud prevention.
Attendees of both events will receive free admission to MARKETECHNICS® 2006.
Discounts Available for Group Attendance
Groups of eight or more from any retail or wholesale company are invited to attend MARKETECHNICS® under the “Group Advantage Program.” Designed to help companies bring more employees for less money, the program offers a group registration discount, hotel room block assistance and company recognition in the Show Guide and onsite signage.
For more information and registration for MARKETECHNICS® 2006, visit www.marketechnics.com.
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