Interactive Edge CEO to Speak on Next Generation of Category Management at Saint Joseph's University

Zel Bianco, President and CEO of Interactive Edge, an award winning software company to the Consumer Goods Industry, will speak at the Executive MBA Program at world renowned Saint Joseph's University School of Food Marketing.

New York, NY – May 1, 2009 – Although the overall theme of this seminar will focus on Supply Chain industry dynamics, Mr. Bianco has been asked to speak on Category Management with an emphasis on how Category Management is a critical piece in understanding the consumer and the demand that needs to be considered as part of the overall Supply Chain plan. The talk will also include the critical need for incorporating shopper insights. “With collaboration imperative in winning at the shelf, understanding that working in partnership with retailers means not only understanding their shoppers, but also knowing their competitor’s shoppers in depth.”  There is a wealth of information in shopper insights data leveraging the data in front of retailers is critical. Making the data interactive allows users to drill down directly into key shopper insights questions such as who is the shopper, when are they shopping and what are the reasons behind their purchases. “Retailers need to see the overall picture of shoppers from pre-trip decisions to in-store purchase influencers, index calculations and shopper segmentations to provide an added value for retailers.”

Some of the items that will be covered include a timeline of Category Management and how it has evolved from a retailer focus to more of a consumer focus and the important role that is played in better understanding the consumer.  Trends shaping the next generation of Category Management, the need for data integration, and the importance of the presentation on relevant information for Category Management and Supply Chain were also discussed.

About Interactive Edge

Interactive Edge LLC develops and markets data solutions designed to put the right information, in the right hands, at the right time.

The company’s flagship solution, the award-winning XP3 Suite, combines a powerful data analysis engine with flexible end-user tools to summarize and illustrate useful, compelling information on demand; and has proven itself highly effective as a point-of-impact solution for distributed sales and management teams. Interactive Edge is a Microsoft Certified Partner and a SAP Certified Integration Partner. The Company is the recipient of multiple Consumer Goods Technology awards, including “Best in Class for Sales Force Automation & Analytics” and “#1 in Customer Experience,” for two consecutive years. Headquartered in New York, NY, customers include Cadbury-Schweppes America’s Beverages, OSRAM Sylvania, and many Fortune 500 consumer goods and services providers.

About Saint Joseph's University

The Department of Food Marketing in the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University offers an internationally recognized food marketing degree program at both the graduate and undergraduate level. The department is one of the largest majors in the university and provides students job placement with manufacturers such as General Mills and PepsiCo, retailers such as Wegmans and Wal-Mart, and suppliers such as AC Nielsen, and IRI, as well as various advertising and consulting agencies.  The Department of Food Marketing is led by John L. Stanton, Ph.D., who has been in the food industry for about 30 years. Dr Stanton has held positions with some of the largest food manufacturers and advertising agencies in the world and has spoken at many major US food association meetings and conferences both in the US and internationally. Dr. Stanton writes a monthly column in Food Processing and has various articles published in the top trade magazines in food trade magazines and is currently the editor of the Journal of Food Products Marketing.

###

EDITORS’ NOTE: Copies of this news release, as well as the company’s press kit, are available by faxing requests to 646-478-9065, or by e-mailing pmoriarty@interactiveedge.com.

Interactive Edge, XP3 and XP3 Suite are trademarks of Interactive Edge LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

###
Note to editors; all trademarks and registered trademarks contained herein remain the property of their respective owners.