Grocery association hosts upstream initiative at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

The Grocery Mfrs.’s Association (GMA) is launching its new initiative, “GMA Upstream,”at PACK EXPO. GMA represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. 

The association focuses on helping its members create value with and for their customers by advancing their brands and products in a fashion that responsibly improves the quality of consumers’ lives. GMA works to help its members improve product safety, demonstrate corporate responsibility, and drive customer and channel collaboration that cuts costs out of the supply chain and improves value for consumers.

“The GMA member companies develop and market some of the leading brands that drive consumer sales around the globe, and are longtime PACK EXPO attendees,” notes
Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO of the Packaging Machinery Mfrs. Institute (PMMI). “Having GMA host its ‘upstream initiative’ during PACK EXPO is a strong value-add to our joint customers.” “GMA Upstream” focuses on achieving new levels of manufacturing and engineering excellence within both sectors–solving tomorrow’s manufacturing issues today.
 
It is intended to identify and understand the needs of CPG manufacturing, engineering and product development managers; recognize potential solution providers; and deliver programs and services that help GMA members to produce innovative products that meet the needs of consumers. The program was developed within a framework of three “centers” of excellence:

• Solutions Center: A laser focused, small group of collaborative and customized problem-solving meetings.

• Learning Center: For peer networking, share groups and conferences in face-to-face and virtual models.

• Food Safety Center: Designed to expand the support of current GMA initiatives.

“As part of GMA’s effort to engage stakeholders along the entire CPG supply chain, with the goal of developing innovative business solutions and strengthening the association’s advocacy mission, I am pleased to announce the formation of ‘GMA Upstream,’” says GMA senior vp and COO of Science and Regulatory Affairs Craig Henry,
PhD.

“GMA Upstream is an exciting new initiative that will strengthen collaboration between CPG manufacturers and our allies from the packaging machinery industry. PACK EXPO, with its focus on cutting-edge manufacturing machinery technologies and the latest trends in packaging and processing business solutions, is the perfect platform for GMA to launch this new initiative.”

“One of the goals PMMI has for this year’s PACK EXPO was to create the great value for attendees,” adds Yuska. “When groups like GMA leverage PACK EXPO as a venue for important meetings, their members benefit from doing business and networking with suppliers and colleagues on the show floor as well as with their peers.”