Member Spotlight: Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors

Welcome to the latest edition of Regulate Smarter’s “Member Spotlight,” a weekly segment where we go in-depth on the priorities and background of our members.

This week, we look at the Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors, also known as the Southern.

Established in 1922 and headquartered in Georgia, The Southern is a regional trade association representing the interests of corporations and individuals involved in the manufacturing, sales, and distribution of convenience products. The 14 states that comprise the region covered by The Southern contain nearly 50% or 66,653 of all convenience stores in the country. Member states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Dedicated to supporting and building a strong distribution system while enhancing its members' ability to conduct successful and profitable businesses, The Southern advocates for wholesale distributors by promoting understanding of their responsibilities, functions, and needs before government, corporations, foundations, and community leaders at all levels of government.

Last October, in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential campaign, The Southern, along with fellow Regulate Smarter members the Northeast Wholesalers Association and the Michigan Distributors and Vendors Association, commissioned a poll among suburban female voters across the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia. The survey found respondents extremely concerned about illegal disposable vapes flooding the United States from China and more likely to vote for a candidate that will take action to stop this growing problem.

According to the data, an overwhelming 78% of suburban female voters agreed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should take more aggressive enforcement action against illegal disposable vape products. Furthermore, three-quarters of respondents wanted the next president to push the FDA to fully utilize the multi-agency taskforce to combat the influx of illegal vapes. These findings underscore a widespread sentiment among suburban women that decisive action is needed to protect communities from unregulated vape products that are often unsafe and circumvent existing laws.

Getting tough on illegal vapes is a staple of Regulate Smarter’s mission, and we are thrilled to have the Southern alongside us in this fight.

For more information on the Southern, visit their official site at https://the-southern.org/