Select Criteria: Tracks = Operating for Excellence

Sunday, September 19, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Promoting Healthy Eating

  • Room: Ballys Bronze 2
For many consumers, the pandemic has affirmed the importance of a healthy diet. Today’s shoppers are looking to their local grocery store for guidance when it comes to planning easy, affordable and nutritious meals for their household. We’ll review the last consumer trends data regarding diet and shopping patterns, the... Read More
Speaker(s)
Moderator
Jonna Parker
Principal, IRI Fresh Center of Excellence
IRI Worldwide
Panelist
Lisa Swanson
Communications Director
Hugo's Family Marketplace/ Hugo's Wine & Spirits
Panelist
Sarah Ludmer
Sr. Director, KNA Wellbeing & Regulatory Affairs
The Kellogg Company
Track(s)
Handout(s)

Monday, September 20, 7:00 AM - 8:15 AM

The Independent's Guide To Navigating Growth During Complex and Volatile Times -- Wargaming 2022

  • Room: Ballys Event Center
The challenges facing independent retailers in 2022 are expected to significantly intensify as both traditional and digital major market players converge on competing in the evolving retail landscape.  Our discussion focuses on the forces and factors of change destined to reshape the retail environment going forward.  The changing consumer dynamics of... Read More
Speaker(s)
Panelist
Barry Queen
Owner
Queen's Price Chopper
Panelist
Bob Richardson
Director of Sales, Customer Industry Development
The Clorox Company
Panelist
David Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Associated Wholesale Grocers
Speaker
Denny Belcastro
Vice President, Industry & Customer Collaboration
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Panelist
James Neumann
President
Valu Market
Moderator
Thom Blischok
Chairman and CEO
The Dialogic Group
Track(s)
Handout(s)
Sponsored by

Monday, September 20, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Diversity + Equity and Inclusion = Profits

  • Room: Ballys Bronze 4
Understanding the role implicit (unconscious) bias plays in your hiring practices, who gets promoted and in customer relations is vital as grocers operate in more culturally diverse communities. Creating teams with diverse backgrounds and perspectives has been proven to also lead to greater profitability for companies in all sectors. This... Read More
Speaker(s)
Speaker
Cassandra Pye
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
Lucas Public Affairs
Track(s)
Handout(s)

Monday, September 20, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Monday, September 20, 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

The Pioneers’ Perspective: Practical Solutions to Address Labor and Inventory Woes

  • Room: Thought Leadership Theater
Eighteen months after the start of the pandemic, our industry is still facing uncertainty and shortages when it comes to labor and inventory availability. What are you doing to solve for it? Is it working? Join Brandon Hill, CEO and Co-founder of Vori; John Fukumoto, Director of IT at Berkeley Bowl;... Read More
Speaker(s)
Speaker
Brandon Hill
CEO & Co-founder
Vori
Speaker
John Fukumoto
Director of IT
Berkeley Bowl Marketplace
Speaker
Michelle Dufresne
Vice President of Sales, Independent Natural Channel
KeHe Distributors
Track(s)
Sponsored by

Tuesday, September 21, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

The Power of a “Smile”(y) -- Continuous Real-time Feedback Collection and Applications

  • Room: Thought Leadership Theater
Looking for the answer to increase customer satisfaction?  Want to improve waiting times, correct service procedures, optimize staffing and ultimately increase profits?  You’ll find what you are looking for here…let us introduce you to HappyOrNot and our simple, yet powerful solution which helps companies like yours engage with their customers... Read More
Speaker(s)
Speaker
Corey Conger
Sales Director, Midwest Region
HappyorNot
Track(s)
Handout(s)
Sponsored by

Tuesday, September 21, 1:15 PM - 1:40 PM

Washington Update

  • Room: Ballys Bronze 4
NGA’s Government Relations team is actively tracking and influencing key legislative and regulatory issues that directly impact independent grocers.  Hear what the Biden Administration and a new Democratic majority in Congress means for the industry.    ...
Speaker(s)
Speaker
Christopher Jones
Senior Vice President, Government Relations & Counsel
National Grocers Association
Track(s)
Handout(s)

Tuesday, September 21, 1:50 PM - 2:15 PM

State of the Industry

  • Room: Ballys Bronze 4
How healthy is the independent sector of the food retail industry?  We’ll examine the latest industry operational and financial statistics and assess the impact of the pandemic on independent grocers.   ...
Speaker(s)
Speaker
Bob Graybill
CEO
FMS Solutions Holdings LLC
Track(s)

Tuesday, September 21, 2:30 PM - 2:55 PM

M&A Outlook for the Food Industry

  • Room: Ballys Bronze 4
Covid has strengthened the financial position at grocery retail and distribution.  Post Covid, anticipate an acceleration in consolidation.  How are buyers going to value opportunities post Covid.   ...
Speaker(s)
Speaker
James Floyd
The Partnering Group
Track(s)
Handout(s)

Tuesday, September 21, 3:05 PM - 3:30 PM

Federal Labor Law Outlook & the New Vaccine Mandate - What Does It Mean For You?

  • Room: Ballys Bronze 4
On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued new Executive Orders requiring federal contractors and healthcare employers, including pharmacies located in grocery stores, to implement “hard” vaccine mandates, and directed federal OSHA to issue a new Emergency Temporary Standard that would require many employers to provide paid time for employees to... Read More
Speaker(s)
Speaker
Kara Maciel
Chair, Labor • Employment Practice
Conn Maciel Carey LLP
Track(s)
Handout(s)