By Shane T Williams in Dubai
Liquor Marketing Group (LMG) is well positioned against any fallout from potential retail consolidation that may occur in the liquor industry in the coming years, company executives said this week.
At the 2013 LMG conference in Dubai, CEO Doug Misener paid tribute to strategic projects manager Gary Phipps, who is retiring after joining LMG in 1999.
In a busy day of conferencing, Misener on Wednesday revealed that Phipps has been working on 'Project Access' for LMG over the past 18 months, which will give the company access and control over the data generated by its members. [continued below]
L-R: LMG managing director Sean Hogan with Pernod Ricard Australia managing director Julien Hemard
Phipps told delegates the improved data capability – a combination of scan data and reads from the warehouse – will better equip LMG to make marketing decisions as well as negotiate with suppliers.
Delivering his keynote speech, managing director Sean Hogan said better data along with a renewed focus on marketing and the closure of the company's wholesale arm, HLW "changes the way we do business".
He said LMG has a vision of how its business will look in the future and suppliers that understand the new model will benefit.
As delegates prepared for a stunning gala dinner in the Arabian desert, CEO Doug Misener announced that the 2014 LMG conference will be held in Queenstown, New Zealand.