Table 1 Characteristics of industry participants (n = 49)

Industry Role

  Major Food & Beverage Company Sales Representative and/or Distributor

  Wholesale Company Sales Representative and/or Distributor

  Independent Distributor

  Chain Store Category Manager

  Independent Store Owner/ Manager

15 (31)

8 (16)

4 (8)

12 (25)

10 (20)

Years of industry experience

  1–2 years

  3–5 years

  6–10 years

  10 + years

7 (14)

14 (28)

7 (14)

21 (43)

Store Types^a

  Convenience Stores

  Dollar Stores

  Gas-marts

  Grocery stores/ Supermarkets

  Pharmacies

  Other (e.g., Liquor Stores, Gyms, Schools)

32 (65)

13 (27)

38 (78)

12 (25)

16 (33)

9 (18)

Retailer market size^a

  Large National/ Regional Retail Chain^b

  Small Retail Chain/ Independent Store

29 (59)

44 (90)

Territory (US States)^a

  Alabama

  Florida

  Georgia

  Louisiana

  Mississippi

  North Carolina

  South Carolina

  Tennessee

7 (14)

5 (10)

30 (61)

6 (12)

11 (23)

3 (6)

5 (10)

4 (8)