In 1966 the company’s first trade show kicked off in St. Charles, Ill.
Eby-Brown Co. LLC recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first trade show, now called the Eby-Expo.
A consumer products distributor to the convenience industry, Eby-Brown has grown from a local Illinois tobacco and candy distributor to a national distribution company, delivering thousands of products to over 13,500 retail locations.
When Eby-Brown hosted its trade show in 1966, it was the first event of its kind. The trade show was built from a single concept of connecting a distributor with customers and vendors, showcasing the best products in the market, creating unique opportunities for all involved. Today, the Eby-Expo follows the same bedrock principal of bringing people together with the goal of growing relationships and businesses.
Although the foundation remains the same, the Eby-Expo has evolved considerably over the past 50 years. The first show was a single day event, held at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Ill. The 2015 Eby-Expo was a three-day event, held at the Blue Chip Hotel & Casino in Michigan City, Ind. and saw record attendance of over 1,800 people. The event featured a robust trade show, cocktail receptions, dinner and live entertainment.
Eby-Brown’s longtime retail partner, Dan Coles, president/CEO of Mickey Mart, said, “The team at Eby-Brown hosted another impressive event at this year’s Expo. After working with Eby for several years and attending many of their trade shows throughout that period, this year’s was undoubtedly their best. ”
“Eby-Brown has been a family-owned and family-run business since our very first truck hit the streets of Chicago,” said Tom Wake, Eby-Brown’s co-president. “While our geography and offerings have expanded, the staple of our success has remained the same; an unwavering commitment to our partners. This year’s Eby-Expo is a celebration of all of our mutual successes.”