Super Hospitality  

Many thanks to PAUL LUCAS, JIM WRIGHT and DAVID HERVEY of MillerCoors for hosting the WGA's quarter Board of Directors meeting.  Great meeting facilities (including the Pub), a wonderful historical tour and fantastic hospitality made for a great board meeting!! 

WGA Innovation Expo 2010

Register Today!  The WGA’s Innovation Expo returns to Milwaukee on September 21 & 22 at the City Center Hilton and the Frontier Airline Center.   Information packed seminars designed to help cut your costs and improve your business, a top flight trade show, prestigious awards, a Brewer’s tailgate party & game, the Chairman’s Banquet and more await your arrival.  Click Here to Register or go to Expo Info & Registration Form. Or email CHERYL LYTLE or call her at (608) 244-7150 ext 303.  Do it today!

Find out more by clicking here!

Make reservations at Hilton Milwaukee City Center by clicking here.

Brandon Scholz, WGA President and CEO

Last Chance to showcase your products and services!   There are a limited amount of booth spaces left in the Wisconsin Grocer Trade Show during the WGA's Innovation Expo!  It's a great opportunity to be face-to-face with your bread and butter.  All exhibitors receive conference registration and complimentary sponsor spotlight in the Wisconsin Grocer magazine!  Call Cheryl Lytle at (888) 342-5942 ext. 303 to hold a booth for your company!

Baking Up a Winner   The WGA's BRANDON SCHOLZ completed the last leg of the WGA 2010 Innovation Expo surprise award presentations by making a special appearance at Valley Bakers Cooperative Association in Greenville.  The WGA's Vendor of the Year Award was presented to VB's Vice President RICH WISE who was nominated by Festival Foods baker boss JOE FURST.  Joining company President MARK MUNROE were Rich's wife SUZZANE, his parents CHARLIE & BARB and many of the company's employees gathered to share the special presentation.  See all of the award winners in the Innovation Expo issue of the Wisconsin Grocer.

Likely to Buy   Thought Tech, a daily business brain-tweaker noted the report from Retailer Today that said, "...in the U.S., 51% of consumers are more likely to make an in-store purchase as a result of a marketing email, with 42% less likely to buy and 4% not affected." The trade-off and risk here is moving from traditional radio, print, direct mail and television.  Part of figuring out the balance is knowing how to properly implement outbound email and social promotional email marketing.  A good example of a small retailer who really "gets" and is taking advantage of the Kraft B2C website.  Hanke's Supervalu in Wittenberg (www.hankessupervalu.com) has filled out their store description and provided their Facebook link to show up on their B2C store locator profile. On their Facebook page they are promoting the campaign with pictures, information, and even links to the B2C site.

Egg Recall Effectiveness     Note the comments to food safety inspectors in the field from DATCP:  If you have obtained information from any establishments you inspect in response to this recall, please (forward) the establishment and the results of your inquiry. We are currently working with FDA on creating recall efficiency check assignments throughout the state.  A timely response to my request for information will aid in eliminating duplication of efforts or including an establishment in the assignment that has already been contacted.  Additionally please be aware that FDA investigators are conducting ongoing recall effectiveness checks that may and have included retail establishments, restaurants, care facilities, food processors and food warehouses throughout the state.  In this instance we are received this information after the contact has been made and have not been able to give you prior notice.    Egg recall, investigation and response information including a searchable list can be found at:  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/MajorProductRecalls/ucm223522.htm

Court Reinstates Wisconsin Minimum Markup Law  BizTimes Daily.com reports the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today reinstated Wisconsin's minimum markup law on gasoline. The court in Chicago ruled in favor of the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, which had argued that mom-and-pop gas station owners would be driven out of business by larger competitors if the law was struck down, according to The Associated Press. The law requires stations to sell gas above their cost, thereby discouraging large-volume gas station chains from undercutting smaller operators.  A federal judge had ruled last year that the law was unconstitutional and conflicted with federal antitrust law. That decision was overturned today.

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