HONOLULU- The American Logistics Association Hawaii Exhibition is expanding this year to encourage more local company participation.
Companies interested in selling to the military commissaries and combined military exchanges can sign up to participate in the American Logistics Association (ALA) Hawaii Show, August 20, Pacific Beach Hotel Waikiki. The cost to schedule a booth at the show is $495. Products must be made in Hawaii, unique to Hawaii and or best-selling national items sold only in Hawaii.
In July, ALA Hawaii will conduct a new sales and distribution meeting to assist companies with forming business marketing partnerships. This will augment the regularly scheduled advance class preparing companies for meeting military sales requirements and navigating government paperwork.
According to ALA Hawaii Show Chairwoman, Sharon Zambo-Fan, “Each year we are faced with turning away companies because of space limitations. This year the location will accommodate up to 40 additional companies allowing over 100 exhibitors to participate. ALA Hawaii is also expanding the show to include more nonfood items for consideration by the military exchange buyers. The show’s expansion will open the door to companies who manufacture furniture, candles, perfume, clothing, and gift items in addition to grocery and food products.”
The ALA Hawaii show is the annual opportunity for worldwide Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and combined Military Exchange buyers to review Hawaii products. The buyers’ evaluation involves hours of structured taste-testing and one-on-one discussions with companies to find products that best satisfy shoppers. Local companies get invaluable feedback from the professional DeCA and Exchange buyers who will share suggestions on improving packaging, products, distribution and make recommendations on how to increase sales.
Last year, 175 new items were selected for inclusion in the commissary system on Oahu as a result of the show. This included products from eight companies that had previously never done business with DeCA. The combined military exchanges also added 15 new companies and 150 new line items to their selection. Over the course of the show’s sixteen year history, 2,267 local products have been added to Commissary shelves.
According to Zambo-Fan, “This is a tremendous opportunity for local companies to partner and grow sales locally with the possibility of
expanding beyond Hawaii.”
DeCA grosses over $6 billion dollars annually with sales from the four Oahu commissaries accounting for over $260 million.
For more information on the show or for a registration form or reach Mark Honda at markhonda@hawnsun.com. Show registrations accepted on a space available basis.
The American Logistics Association (ALA) is a nonprofit trade association of manufacturers, manufacturers, representatives, brokers, distributors, publishers and service providers, who sell or provide products to the military resale systems and to various military morale, welfare and recreation services activities.