Greetings all Excel experts!

I am using Excel 2003. Is it possible to write a formula to take a
column of data with blank cells in between in COLUMN A and transfer
those data over to a different column (COLUMN B) without the blank
cells WITHOUT using pivot and/or macros. The only way I can achieve
this today is to record a macro that would
1. Copy the entire data range in column A
2. Paste special -- paste value to column B
3. Sort column B descending.

This is the only way I know how but it is using a macro to do this.
Are there any ways to achieve this same result WITHOUT pivot and
macro? See data sample below:

Column A is what the data I'm getting. Notice that cells A4, A5 and A8
are blanks. I need it to look like in Colunn B. The final results in
Column B does not have to be in that order but it CANNOT have blank
cells in between.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A B
1 Forks 1 Forks
2 Knives 2 Knives
3 Spoons 3 Spoons
4 4 Chopsticks
5 5 Napkins
6 Chopsticks 6 Cups
7 Napkins 7
8 8
9 Cups 9