Welcome to CAGNY!
 
On behalf of the Board of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY), we are pleased to kick off our 39th year. As always, we plan to deliver another full slate of events, involving top-tier global Food, Beverage, Tobacco and Household/Personal Products companies.
 
Membership and Conference registration is now open for the 2010 CAGNY year, which runs from September 1, 2009 to September 1, 2010. Our annual conference will be held February 15-19, 2010 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Please find the preliminary conference agenda posted on the website now.

After battling through an extremely difficult year, we are pleased to announce that we have secured more favorable room rates for the upcoming CAGNY Conference in February, and that we will be holding membership dues flat at $400 (please see room rate details below).

We strongly encourage you to register on-line; it’s fast, simple and a good opportunity to verify your contact information. We also encourage early member registration and payment for those that wish to receive updates on the Annual Conference and the Monthly Meeting programs. Please remember that you need to be a registered 2009/10 CAGNY Member to attend the Annual Conference in February and/or the Monthly Meetings.

Better room rates for 2010 conference: in light of challenging economic conditions and with the goal of continuously working for our member base, we have secured lower absolute room rates, as well as greater number of lower-priced rooms for the 2010 conference. As always, rooms are available on a first come, first served basis, so please register on-line to guarantee the room and rate most attractive to you. Details of room rates are as follows:

• Cloister Traditional: $299/night (previously $395)
  
• Bungalow: $330/night (previously $395)
  
• Cloister Deluxe: $350/night (previously $395)
  
• Tower, Yacht and Bungalow Suite: $395/night (unchanged)
  
• Beach with Ocean View: $425/night (unchanged)
  
• Yacht with Commodore Club access: $570/night (unchanged)
  

Guest meal policy: Also, please be mindful of the guest meal policy: in order to facilitate interaction between CAGNY members and presenting company management teams, the meal policy was adjusted last year and remains as follows:

• Breakfast will continue to be open to members and all registered guests;
  
• Lunch will be open to members only;
  
• Dinner will be for members plus one guest.
  

CAGNY Board changes: there have been a number of changes to the CAGNY board. After serving as President last year, Bryan Spillane has graciously agreed to stay on as Conference Co-chair this year to assist our esteemed Conference Chair, Andrew Lazar, whose tireless work organizing the Big Show in February makes this whole event possible. Jonathan Feeney moves from Monthly Program Chair and is now Treasurer. Jonathan’s efforts of the past year have made the monthly lunch program one of the most successful we have seen yet. Last but not least, we welcome to the Board Ginger Chambless, who is now serving as our Monthly Program Chair. Ginger is already working on filling the schedule for 2010. As always, Len Teitelbaum remains on as special consultant to the CAGNY Board, always willing and able to help out with his advice and counsel when we need it.

Website information: the tentative agenda and other information on CAGNY can be found on our website at www.consumeranalystgroupny.com. To join CAGNY, go to the appropriate link on the left side of our home page. Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions.

Finally, we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the event-sponsoring companies of CAGNY 2010. It is your generosity, even in the most challenging of conditions, that makes this conference so unique in its format and certainly a best-in-class event. So on behalf of the CAGNY Board and membership base, thank you!

I look forward to seeing everyone in February.
 
Sincerely,
 
Chris Ferrara
President