Press Releases
Date : 1st February 2012
Entering 2012 with confidence in coin-op
EAG 2012 will act as the ideal platform for the IOA Group to further its relationship with the UK manufacturing community. Ken Mullarkey, national sales executive, explains. "We have several reasons for visiting EAG. Firstly and most, we will of course be looking at new products and to discussing the development of future products with both established and new manufacturers. We enjoy a very close relationship with the UK manufacturing community and it¹s important to be able to progress those relationships in an industry environment. Because we are an independent organisation and not tied to any dogma or product type, it allows manufacturers to speak with us in confidence about their plans and ideas moving forward. It¹s also a great opportunity to meet with our customers informally and to look at and discuss products together."
The IOA Group stages its AGM on the opening day and we will also be staging the second IOA Group Innovation Awards which recognise those manufacturers, who, despite the pressure on budgets, continue to commit to innovation. And last, but certainly not least, the show gives us all a chance to let our hair down. We will be hosting a dinner for many of our customers and generally putting the world to rights.
I think there will be a continued pressure on cashbox due to the ongoing economic downturn. There may be some relief where retailers are discounting beer prices heavily, and we are now at a neutral year-on-year taxation level which helps. Obviously, the SWP sector is under immense pressure - even more so due to the bewildering proposal to include SWPs in MGD and at the higher rate.
My personal view is that we will also see a resurgence of some of the smaller AWP manufacturers who are coming to market with a raft of smart ideas and applications. On the political front, we are working very closely with BACTA and our customers in order to get some resolution and clarity from the Treasury on MGD.
The Triennial Review remains a key topic and one which we will be monitoring very closely. The Triennial de-politicises stakes and prizes and gives the business a pre-determined cycle to work to. It¹s crucial that we have atimetable for its re-introduction and a commitment from government going forward.
IOA contact: Ken Mullarkey (Sales Executive)Tel: 01622 719163
Mob: 07768 537101
Email: ken.mullarkey@i-o-a.com
Media enquiries to Chris Jones at Scott & Jones Communications
Tel: 01273 699900
Email: info@sjc.co.uk
