Manufacturer Retail Council

The Center for Retail Management's Manufacturer-Retailer Council at Northwestern University is a permanent organization of retailing and consumer goods manufacturing executives that addresses and explores critical issues in retailing.

Twice per year, the members of the Manufacturer-Retailer Council gather at the James L. Allen Center on Northwestern University's Evanston campus for a one-to-two day executive session. At each session, the Council is presented with cutting-edge research results on important retailing issues. The research is directed toward fueling thought - and driving action - on critical issues that have a direct impact on retail industry profitability.

Benefits
Council members are the first to see research findings about critical retailing issues. Coucil members have the opportunity to discuss the research and its implications at round table meetings with other members of the Council and with leading retail industry experts. Because the Council is comprised of executives from 8-10 leading retail organizations and 20-25 manufacturing companies, members hear different perspectives on many vital issues. Experienced moderators ensure that discussions are lively, productive and focused on specific managerial actions. Traditional views are challenged, and new ideas are offered and explored.

Research
Research topics are selected based on their importance to the members of the Council, potential to directly impact industry profitability and potential for ground-breaking research and discussion. The topics are selected by the Council members six months in advance, and the research is performed by the Center for Retail Management. The Center is part of the Kellogg School of Management, and is one of the largest academic research centers devoted to retailing in the country.

Panel
The Council's manufacturing members have the opportunity to discuss critical retailing issues with many of North America's more forward thinking retailers. The following retailers and manufacturers are members of the Council's Retailer Panel:

Retailer Panel

• H.E.Butt Grocery Co.
• Chapman Partners
• CVS (Consumer Value Stores)
• Kroger Delta
• Marsh Supermarkets
• Oshawa Foods
• Price Chopper Supermarkets
• Schnuck Markets
• Target Stores

Manufacturer Panel

• American Greetings Corporation
• Anheuser-Busch
• The Clorox Company
• Coca-Cola Foods
• Coca-Cola USA
• Frito-Lay Inc
• The Gillette Company
• Helene Curtis, Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Mars, Incorporated
• McNeil Consumer Products Co.
• Pillsbury
• The Quaker Oats Company
• Reckitt & Colman
• Unilever United States
• Whitehall-Robins Healthcare

Who Should Participate
The Council is targeted to senior level executives in sales, trade marketing and brand management. Given the high level of discussion, it is important that participants be knowledgeable about retailing trends and the global issues facing the retailing industry.

Fee
The annual fee (payable in U.S. dollars) is $10,000. This fee covers all research costs, research reports and presentations, accomodations at the James L. Allen Center, and all meals, coffee breaks and receptions for Council sessions.

last modified: 12/10/95