Challenges and Opportunities

However, Corey Reardon, president and CEO, AWA Alexander Watson Associates, expects the industry to grow at a slower pace due to market pressures. “The business environment continues to be very challenging,” he said. “In North America, as in Western Europe, margin pressures are being experienced across the value chain, along with greater demands on service levels—such as smaller order volumes coupled with just-in-time delivery. Growth continues to be soft throughout the entire sector, at about 2-3 percent.”