Panini America on Location: A Fruitful First Day at the 2011 Industry Summit (Gallery)

March 21, 2011

LAS VEGAS — During a first day full of positive buzz and seemingly industry-wide optimism, Panini America made the biggest splash at the 2011 Industry Summit by revealing the details surrounding its much-discussed new distribution policy and unveiling plans for the industry’s first HD video trading card.

Oh, and there was also that little matter of dispensing the company’s perpetually popular Black Boxes.

Panini America executives commanded the attention of the more than 150 retailers in attendance during an early afternoon presentation inside The Orleans Hotel & Casino’s Mardi Gras Ballroom. The 90-minute meeting featured compelling contributions from Panini America CEO Mark Warsop, Sales VP Mike Anderson, Operations VP Jim Dryden and Marketing VP Jason Howarth — and no less than three rounds of applause.

“We’ve always made it pretty clear that it’s going to take a long time to get the industry to where we want to be,” Warsop told the rapt audience. “In the 18 months we’ve been in this business, there’s been a pretty vast improvement in the state of the market. Our promise is that we’ll continue to do what we believe is the right thing to do for the long-term sustainability of this business.

“We’re not in it to make some quick money and then get out. Two weeks ago we moved into our new offices on a 10-year lease, so Panini is in this industry for the long term, for the good of the category.”

Enjoy the following gallery from an action-packed day one, and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance this week for additional coverage from the 2011 Industry Summit, including exclusive video footage from the Panini America address and details on the pioneering Panini HD video trading card.