DSN Industry Issues Summit breaks attendance records

NEW YORK — Record-breaking attendance, a high-profile keynote speaker, four engaging panel discussions on some of the hottest issues facing the industry and exclusive consumer videos set the stage for the 13th annual Drug Store News Industry Issues conference held on Nov. 29 in New York City.


Industry Issues Summit has evolved from an intimate, closed-door event to a highlight of the New York City winter industry events held each year. This year, more than 30 retailers and 200 industry suppliers packed the New York Athletic Club for the must-attend day of education, networking and dialogue, with four separate panel discussions: Health, Wellness and Technology; Diabetes Leadership Forum; Industry Issues Summit; and Specialty Pharmacy Leadership Summit.


This year’s luncheon keynote speaker was former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, a leading voice in the Republican Party, who addressed the current political climate, including healthcare reform, taxes, education, the economy and the deficit. 


Meanwhile, retailer and supplier panelists discussed an array of hot-button issues from how retailers and manufacturers are maximizing the convergence of beauty and overall wellness, to the hidden intangible assets that companies can bring to the retailer relationship, to the real value proposition of biosimilars, to the 2012 drivers that will impact specialty pharmacy.


Guest moderators included Bob Dufour of Blue Ocean Innovative Solutions; Dave Wendland of Hamacher Resource Group; Dave Van Howe of MPG Drug; Dan Mack of Swanson Group/Elevation Forum; and Dave Fong of Dave Fong Rx Consulting.


Participating retailers included CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Sam’s Club, H-E-B and more than a dozen others. 


Sponsor companies included Armada Health Care, Catalina Marketing, Emdeon, Endo Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Hyland’s, Kay’s Naturals, Kony Solutions, MedTravellers, Moonshado, Novartis Consumer Health, Novo Nordisk, Numera Social, Pacific World, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, PharmaSmart International, Pharmavite, RedPrairie, SoloHealth, Surveyor Health, Tabs Group, Takeda and UltiMed.