| March 7, 2008 | News for the wholesale distribution industry |
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- Spartan Stores balances roles as supplier, retailer
Spartan Stores Inc. has grown into a $2.6 billion regional powerhouse by deftly mixing its roles as distributor and retailer. When the grocery wholesaler first got into the retail business, many of its customers jumped ship, viewing it as a competitor. Today, however, the company's two divisions are equally sized, and independent stores see Spartan's retail experience as a plus rather than a minus. The Grand Rapids Press (Mich.)
(3/4)
    
- Sysco feeds on challenge, CEO says
Sysco Corp. has seen five consecutive quarters of double-digit earnings per share growth and expects ongoing sales growth this year, notwithstanding rising food costs and a softening economy. CEO Rick Schnieders said Tuesday the company is controlling costs, managing inventory and adjusting to customers' belt-tightening by offering alternative products. "We do better in more challenging times," he said. CNNMoney.com/Thomason Financial/AP
(3/4)
- Southern Wine wins Texas license
With the approval of its wholesaler's permit application in Texas, Southern Wine & Spirits of America says it now is the only major wine and spirits wholesaler-distributor with licenses in all five of the biggest wine and spirits markets in the U.S., which, in addition to the Lone Star State, include California, New York, Florida and Illinois. Southern Wine says it will either start a new distributorship or buy an existing business in Texas. American City Business Journals/South Florida
(3/4)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Recruitment firm to launch social-networking site
Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles is putting together a private social-networking site that will be the first of its kind for a large head-hunting firm and is designed to boost its top-manager recruitment business. The site, which is now in beta testing, will include the types of forums, photos and videos that are commonly seen on popular sites such as Facebook. BusinessWeek
(2/29)
- Survey: Companies work to boost employee wellness
A new survey of 117 U.S. businesses found that more than half of employers have integrated health risk assessments into their enrollment systems or plan to do so by next year. More than a third of the companies either currently urge their workers to enroll in disease management programs or they intend to do so by 2009. Manage Smarter
(3/3)
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- When it comes to sales, it's all about confidence
Confidence is the key to sales success, and people who lack it are going to have an uphill battle, an expert says. Age-old suggestions of having a winning attitude and making a positive impression are as current now as ever, and sales people should remember to put their body in the sale and use their voice effectively. American City Business Journals
(3/3)
| Small Business Manager | | |
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- Smaller firms offer professionals bigger rewards
Economic turmoil recently has prompted several major corporations to announce plans to reduce their work forces, but smaller firms have arms open for talented professionals. The rewards of working at a smaller shop include less bureaucracy, more responsibility, recognition of success, closer association with top management and more ability to improve the bottom line. The Wall Street Journal (free content)
(3/4)
| Executive Life | | |
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| NAW Insider | | |
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Wholesaler-distributors may be held liable for product defects
Although manufacturers, not wholesaler-distributors, usually are held responsible for injury arising from a defective product, wholesaler-distributors may be held liable for product defects under certain circumstances. Get more information here.
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New downloadable Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports
Download individual economic analysis reports that are most relevant to your business from the 19 major wholesale distribution sectors in the 2008 Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports. These reports supply a wealth of channel benchmarking data, including revenue and employment growth trends, the number and size distribution of companies, gross margins, wages and many other operating statistics. Quantity discounts apply.
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Has your company noticed a difference in freight volume?
After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you'd like.
 | Yes -- it has decreased. |
| No -- it has stayed about the same. |
| Yes -- it has increased. |
| We do not measure freight volume. |
| SmartQuote | | |
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