3-4 Minute Read
Click on any section of this table of contents to quickly navigate to that area of the blog post.
Southern Ice Exchange - 2026 Convention
We’re excited to announce that Cool Running Software will be attending the 134th Annual Southern Ice Exchange Convention, taking place March 22–25, 2026, at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa in Clearwater, Florida. The SIE Convention brings together ice manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers from across the Southeast and beyond for multiple days of networking, industry discussions, and collaboration.
Tony Dickson will be attending and will be available throughout the convention to showcase our latest features, including our new online ordering system, Cool Portal, and our newest addition to merchandiser tracking, Mobile Merchandiser Management. We’ll also be debuting a new convention display board built for regional events. Whether you are a current CRS customer or an ice company looking for better tools to manage your operations, we would love to connect.
If you’re attending the convention and want to see how Cool Running Software can help your ice business become more efficient and more profitable, come find us at the supplier showcase.
What Is The Southern Ice Exchange?
The Southern Ice Exchange (SIE) is the oldest trade association in the packaged ice industry, founded in 1889. It is a regional organization representing ice manufacturers throughout the Southeast and suppliers across the southern region of the United States.
The SIE was built on a simple idea: mutual opportunities and problems in the ice industry are best dealt with through cooperation. That philosophy continues today. Its members are among the most established and respected ice professionals in the country, and membership is entirely voluntary, with each member committed to providing quality ice products to the consuming public.
The purpose of the SIE is to promote the interests of the ice business and uphold high standards in the manufacturing and marketing of ice products. It furthers the education, skills, and techniques of its members, provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and goodwill, and represents the interests of the ice industry to government agencies as needed.
The SIE’s annual convention remains one of the longest running gatherings in the industry, bringing together ice companies and suppliers for education, networking, and business development.
For information on the convention agenda, visit www.southerniceexchange.com.
What To Expect at the 2026 SIE Convention
The 134th Annual SIE Convention takes place over four days at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The event includes roundtable discussions, supplier presentations, an IPIA update, networking opportunities, and dedicated time for exhibitors to connect with attendees throughout breakfasts, receptions, and the supplier cocktail party.
Attendees can expect to:
- Participate in roundtable discussions and focus sessions covering operational challenges, regulatory updates, and the latest developments in ice industry technology.
- Connect with suppliers and exhibitors during dedicated breakfasts, the Supplier Cocktail Reception, and Supplier Introductions where exhibitors present new products and technology to the group.
- Network with ice industry peers from across the region in a collaborative setting that the SIE has fostered for over a century.
Cool Running Software's Participation
Cool Running Software is looking forward to attending the 134th Annual SIE Convention. Tony Dickson will be on site throughout the event and available during the supplier showcases, breakfasts, and networking sessions for one on one conversations and live product demonstrations.
We have a lot of new things to show this year. Here is a quick look at what we will be demonstrating:
- Cool Portal — our 24/7 online ordering system that launched in January 2026. Your recurring customers get a branded portal to place orders, track deliveries, and send support requests without calling your office. Orders flow directly into CRS and RouteBuilder, ready for dispatch.
[Learn more about Cool Portal]
- Mobile Merchandiser Management — our newest feature in the CR Driver app. Your drivers and service techs can now add new merchandisers, edit any existing record, and assign units to customer locations directly from the field in real time.
[Read the full blog post]
- New convention display board designed for regional events. Come see it in person.
- Walkthroughs of our full platform including route planning and optimization tools, the CR driver app, accounting workflows, and much more.
Whether you are a current CRS customer or an ice company exploring what a modern platform can do for your operations, we would love to talk.
We Look Forward To Seeing You in Clearwater Beach
If you are attending the 134th Annual SIE Convention, come find us during the supplier showcases or any of the networking events throughout the week. We would love to show you what we have been working on.
Can’t make it to the convention? Schedule a no obligation demo call below to see how Cool Running Software can help your ice business heading into the 2026 season.
