Featuring an 80s theme, S. Abraham & Sons draws nearly 1,200 attendees and 175 booths in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Convenience store retailers from across the Midwest convened in Grand Rapids, Mich., for S. Abraham & Sons’ (SAS) 33rd Vendor Exhibit & Trade Show.
The annual exhibit and trade show, which featured a “Back to the 80’s with Mega Sales & Profits for Convenience Store Retailers” theme, boasted 1,200 attendees and 175 booths, which showcased the latest industry trends and products across dozens of key in-store categories, including foodservice, technology, tobacco, automotive and packaged beverages, according to Kaye Powell, vice president trade relations and event planning, at SAS.
“The value and partnership we have in SAS is exemplary and the trade show is an extension of that partnership by affording us the opportunity to buy innovative product at a discount,” Neal Frandsen, vice president of marketing for Certified Oil Co., in Columbus, Ohio, told Convenience Store Decisions. “We look forward to attending this event each year.”
For 2019, SAS designed a convenience store set right on the trade show floor, which it called “Fast Times at SAS C-Store.”
The mock store featured the latest in foodservice products, programs and equipment.
New breakfast merchandising concepts from Hussmann Equipment, as well as MerryChef convection microwave cooking equipment, were also on display.
“Retailers Resource Row” also featured behind-the-scenes ideas in merchandising, information technology and marketing.
New additions to the Fresh Bite Café program included BluTaco Tex-Mex from Pro Food Systems, Pure dispensed juices, and Jolly Rancher Hotties frozen drinks from Sunny Sky products.
Attendees were able to sample new “better for you” options from Fruit Ridge Farms and check out the newly refreshed Beantown Coffee program.
SAS launched the FreshBite Café in 2017. The concept brings all of SAS foodservice offerings under one umbrella and provides convenience store operators the opportunity to offer meal solutions, as well as healthy, tasty snacking alternatives to its customers throughout the day.
Retailers’ FreshBite choices include a variety of meal solutions for breakfast, lunch or dinner; featuring bakery sweets, cheeses, fruits and vegetables and many other healthy alternatives that families and Millennials desire.
FreshBite also features a wide selection of hot and cold beverages. Brands featured in the FreshBite Café are the SAS signature line of Fruit Ridge Farms fresh made wedge sandwiches, paninis, subs, salads, meal entrees, soups, meat snacks, veggie and fruit cups, and pastries.
