NATO to Take Part in 2017 Tobacco Plus Expo

MOORPARK, Calif. — The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) will bring its renewed focus on legislative issues to the 2017 Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE). 

At the January show, NATO Executive Director Thomas Briant will present two educational seminars designed to help independent tobacco retailers learn about current local, state and federal legislation and regulations, and how to become engaged and respond to these threats.

TPE 2017 has been expanded over previous years to now include a comprehensive conference session each day of the show — offering a vibrant learning platform and idea exchange for the industry. The show will takke place Jan. 25-26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In addition to his role at NATO, Briant is also a TPE Advisory Board member and will help guide session content in an effort to better prepare retailers and manufacturers for the challenging regulatory path ahead.

"TPE is proud to have the expert guidance of Tom Briant and we welcome the entire NATO team and its members/retailers to further strengthen and solidify TPE as the leading [business-to-business] show in the tobacco, vapor and alternative industries," said Jason Carignan, chief marketing officer at Kretek, parent company of TPE.

"The addition of our conference track is an important step in the show's evolution that will help educate retailers and manufacturers for a changing regulatory and competitive landscape," he added.
 
Additionally, TPE will house the NATO headquarters on the expo floor, giving show attendees an on-site doorway to take their first steps towards mobilizing and helping to change the laws that will directly affect their businesses.

Earlier this year NATO announced the 2016 NATO Show, which took place in April in Las Vegas, would be its last. The board of directors made the decision after reviewing NATO's purpose and mission. The move comes as a patchwork of tobacco regulations sweeps across the United States, as CSNews Online previously reported.

"Now that NATO recently elected to focus its efforts primarily on fighting local anti-tobacco initiatives, the TPE is an excellent foundation to communicate our message to the thousands of retailers that come to the show," Briant said. "Together, we can prepare them with the tools and techniques necessary to succeed and thrive in this new tobacco era."

That will be accomplished right along with the start of the new year. 

"The TPE, which is a growing part of Tobacco Media Group (TMG) and the Kretek family of companies, is excited for an environment that brings retailers and manufacturers together in an industry of constant scrutiny and competitive pressure," said Mark Cassar, president and CEO at Kretek. "TPE 2017 is a place where tobacco businesses can truly do business; it's the first, best show of the year, created so the industry can best plan for the year ahead."