United Natural Foods is still working to sell Cub Foods and Shoppers Food Warehouse stores and expects "to have something to announce early in calendar year 2020," says CEO Steve Spinner. Most of the 81 Cub stores are company-owned, with 29 franchised locations.

The technology behind UPS' planned drone deliveries is a system created by California-based Matternet, consisting of drones, a cloud communications platform and the Matternet Station, which integrates the other components into a logistics network. The automated drone flies at about 40 miles per hour and can carry up to 5 pounds.

David Keane debunks myths about sales enablement, including that the strategy is solely the responsibility of sales, by emphasizing the importance of marketing's role in providing the right messaging and tools to make it successful. Sales enablement is not just a nice-to-have strategy, but is essential to ensure the proper alignment of marketing and sales teams to drive growth, he writes.

LinkedIn can be a valuable tool when sales professionals use it to properly research prospects so they can build a rapport when making contact, writes Mike Schultz. Salespeople should customize messages to potential buyers, provide a reason for their outreach and properly maintain their profiles in order to get the most out of the platform, Schultz advises.

Companies can retain dissatisfied customers with the MAMA method, which focuses on listening, apologizing and finding a solution together, writes Micah Solomon. "Even if you have no reason to feel that you're at fault, you should convey to the customer that you recognize and regret what they've gone through," he writes.

Before criticizing someone else, think about whether your words will help them improve or just give you a sense of superiority, Jane Perdue writes. "Disapproval about perceived mistakes or faults can be expressed without judgment, without personal attacks, and without mean-spirited nitpicking," she writes.

Did you know that an investment in yourself is also an investment toward the success of your business? Here are NAW's latest top 10 best-selling research studies, selected by distributors for distributors! These leading industry resources work to further develop your business goals and plans, professional skills, industry knowledge, career management skills and personal brand profile. Quantity discounts start with just two copies ordered. Stay up-to-date and relevant in distribution with these hot picks!

Growing in popularity within our industry, the NAW Certificate in Distribution Professional Management Program is ideal for high-potential managers who seek to complement their professional development with a strong emphasis on practical application within the distribution field. Two, one-week sessions at Texas A&M University focus on Generating and Managing Growth (Feb. 10-14) and Distributor Capability Development (April 13-17). Get all the details and enroll your high achievers today before the seats are gone.

In this Oct. 24 live webinar, Author Mark Dancer will share insights from his brand-new study, "Innovate to Dominate: The 12th Edition in the Facing the Forces of Change Series." He will be joined by SAP's Magnus Meier to explore essential requirements, including how to win by being human, how to engage customers through shared interests and mutual advantage, and how to optimize benefits through intentional combinations of human and technology forces of change. Register today! Sponsored by SAP.