The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) concluded its annual Conference & Expo in New Orleans last week with a panel discussion on Competing Retail Models moderated by Margy Eckelkamp, editor of AgPro. The panel featured Alexander Reichert, co-founder and CEO of AgVend; Dave Thomas, executive vice president of Helena Agri-Enterprises LLC; and John Demerly, CEO of CommoditAg.

“Ag retailers are responding to how they can better serve their farmer customers with new products, services and digital interactions,” said Eckelkamp. “Technology is a tool retailers are embracing as it has the power to enhance their roles as trusted advisors.”

The interactive discussion included the presentation of recent findings from a recent AgPro study on purchasing decisions which showed 63 percent of farmers have ordered a product or service for farming from a mobile device. Attendees learned how farmer demographics, technology, and customer expectations are changing their business.

Listen to the discussion here:
ARA19 Panel on Competing Retail Models (1:01:00)