Squishmallows in the images of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger are on display at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
OMAHA, Neb. – Warren Buffett’s annual shopping event, the prelude to Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting, is wowing shareholders who flock here this weekend.
With more than 20,000 square feet of showroom space and more than 50,000 inventory items, the CHI Health Center exhibit hall features goodies from several Berkshire holdings, from Brooks Running to See’s Candies to Jazwares.
Only shareholders can participate in the event and they can purchase items at a special discount.
The annual meeting will be broadcast exclusively on CNBC and streamed live on CNBC.com. Special coverage begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Glasses
Squishmallow pit at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
Jazwares, the American toy manufacturer best known for its Squishmallows plush toy line, was a hit last year when it first showcased its wares at the Berkshire Hathaway conference, including the debut of a Warren Buffett plush toy. This year, the company expanded its exhibition in the Assembly Hall, making it three times larger.
Shown at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
Some highlights include the latest Squishmallows toys in images of Buffett and his longtime Berkshire partner Charlie Munger, a splashy Squishmallows pit and other displays.
‘Poor Charlie’s Almanac’
Charles Munger commemoration prior to Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
The Bookworm had only one book to sell this year: “Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger.” This was at the request of Buffett in honor of his more than 60-year-old business partner, who died in November at the age of 99.
Flight safety
FlightSafety at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
Berkshire acquired pilot training company FlightSafety in 1996. At the retail event on Friday, the company showed off a preview of what its training program looks like for professional pilots. Shareholders lined up to put on virtual reality goggles and experience the flight simulation training.
Pilot Travel Centers
Pilot Travel exhibit prior to Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
Truck stop giant Pilot Travel Centers set up a large display with a real-size red truck. The company is the largest operator of travel centers in North America, with more than 750 locations. Berkshire now fully owns Pilot Travel after purchasing the remaining 20% ownership stake from the Haslam family. The deal was not without drama, as the Haslams sued Berkshire last year in a complaint accusing the conglomerate of using so-called pushdown accounting without the family’s consent.
Duracell
Duracell exhibit at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
In 2016, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway bought Duracell from Procter & Gamble, offering the consumer giant $4.7 billion of the shares it owned in P&G in exchange for the battery maker.
Brooks running
Shown at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
Brooks Running attracted a long line of shareholders who bought the 2024 special edition of its running shoes with “brk” on the side and a cartoon of a running Buffett on the insoles. Many shareholders will also participate in the Brooks “Invest in Yourself” 5K fun run and walk on Sunday, the morning after the annual meeting.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen exhibit at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2024.
Sarah Min | CNBC
Warren Buffett bought Dairy Queen in 1998 in a transaction worth about $600 million, and has taken trips to the Omaha locations with his great-grandchildren. According to The Wall Street Journal, the billionaire investor has said in the past that his favorite DQ order is a vanilla soft serve topped with chocolate syrup and malted milk power.
Correction: Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting is held in Nebraska. Captions in an earlier version did not mention this condition.