Pride in Our Evolution

As a member and board member of the SLD, I have been privileged to attend many memorable events over the last fourteen years. However, none stands out more than our first trip to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2009. Upon arrival, my wife and I were greeted by the legendary “Boudreaux,” (aka Greg Martin). His task was to keep our group in line, which proved to be no easy feat on Bourbon Street.

Over the years, I have witnessed the industry evolve and change. As the Vice President and CIO for Merchants Grocery Company, I have personally been involved in the recent focus on automation. The SLD has been instrumental in helping me navigate through these times of change.

The future of our industry is on the cusp of major technological advances, with automation being one of the most significant. In keeping with the SLD mission of gaining hands-on experience with current technologies, we took a fascinating tour of the ITG Brands Manufacturing Plant, during the November SLD meeting. We were able to witness the different levels of automation used in the manufacturing and packaging of cigarettes, and I believe that the SLD should continue to explore more opportunities like this to gain insights into the future of our industry.

Change can be daunting, but it is necessary for growth and evolution. As wholesalers and manufacturers, we should be excited about the potential new technologies that will be introduced in the near future. I am eagerly looking forward to all the new possibilities that our industry will see in the coming years.

Sincerely,

Robbie Surratt

FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: VJ MAYOR, CAE